Abstract

Arabshah Au mineralization is located about 30 km southwest of Takab, 7 km north of Arabshah. Rock units exposed in the area composed of Precambrian marble, mica-schist and muscovite-schist and Oligomiocene detrital sedimentary rocks. These units are intruded by Peliocene sub-volcanic dacitic domes. Some small outcrops of quaternary travertine deposits are also present. The host rocks of Au mineralization are Precabrian marbles. The main mineralized zone is an iron hydroxide- rich silicified zone within the marbles. Boxwork texture of bladed quartz and barite along with brecciated texture are dominant in this mineralizaed zone. Forthermore, some Cu- Pb- Zn-bearing quartz veins and Sb-bearing barite veins are also found in this area. As mineralization present as orpiment and realgar within the silicified marbles. Alteration zones consist of silicificstion, ankeritization, decalcification, dolomitization, pyritization and Fe- hydroxide. Pyrite, sphalerite, stibnite, galena, orpiment, realgar and some chalcopyrite present as primary ore minerals; malachite, azurite, smithzonite, cerosite and Fe- hydroxide found as secoundary minerals. The ore minerals show veinlets and disseminated textures. Quartz and barite are the most important gangue minerals. Alnalysis of selected samples from Fe- hydroxide rich silicified zone demonstrate high grades of Au (up to 5 ppm). Structural and textural evidences aling with mineral paragenesis and host rock (Precambrian marbles), show that Arabshah Au mineralization can be classified as epithermal (Carline type) Au deposits.