Abstract

Khakriz-Bagh Kandi iron deposit is located in Central Iran zone, 30 km southwest of Zanjan. Rock units exposed in the area consist of limestone, dolomite and shale units (eq. to Mila Formation) that are intruded by intrusive bodies; caused contact metamorphic and skarn halos. Petrographic studies show that plutons are graphitic granite and porphyrytic granite in composition and represent, respectively, graphitic, seriate and porphyritic textures. Iron mineralization occurs as lens-shaped bodies and bands within marble units of Mila Formation. Based on mineralography, ore minerals are magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite and oligist; garnet, pyroxene, epidote and calcite are present as gangue minerals. Hematite, goethite and covellite have been formed during supergene processes. The ore minerals show disseminated, banded, vein-veinlet and massive textures. Results of this study indicate that iron mineralization in the Khakriz-Bagh Kandi deposit seems to be skarn type. This skarn include exoskarn and endoskarn zones. Endoskarn zone is formed within the porphyritic granite pluton. Exoskarn is composed of garnet skarn, pyroxene skarn and marble sub-zones. Khakriz-Bagh Kandi iron skarn is a good example of a calcic iron skarn deposit.