Econ. Lec. No. 7 and 8 Minerogenic zonation in Iraq - University of ...

Econ. Lec. No. 7 and 8
Minerogenic zonation in Iraq
Main objective:
A concept frequently referred to in the pages that follow is distinction
between ore deposits type in Iraq and especially those that are distribute
through north and northern part of Kurdistan. This subject emphasize
on the main localities of metallic ore deposits in Kurdistan, economic
important of the ore and give an idea about the mineralogy of the ore
and associated gangue minerals.

Topics
Minerogenic Zonation in Iraq
Distribution of the main ore types in Iraq
Metallic mineral deposits in the suture zone
(Kurdistan Region)
Ora Thrust Zone metallic mineral deposits
Mineralization in the Zagrose Suture zone.

Minerogenic Zonation in Iraq:
The Mineral and industrial rock potential was summarized in a map published
by GEOSURV at 1: 1,000000 scale (AL- Bassam, et.al., 1987).
Iraq was divided into minerogenic provinces, zone and districts according to
the type and origin of the dominant mineral commodity available at the
surface or near-surface.
The surface and near surface geology and tectonic subdivision were used to
define genetic subdivisions.
They comprise,
A- Non-metallic deposits
1- Marine sedimentary deposits
2- Marine evaporate
3- Continental evaporate
4- Fluvial deposits
5- Aeolian deposits
6- Laterites
7- Biogenic deposits
B- Metallic mineralization
1- Low temperature hydrothermal vein and strata-bound deposits.
2- Placer and secondary deposits
3- Magmatic deposits
4- Hydrothermal vein and strata-bound (regionally metamorphosed ) deposits,
5- Volcanosedimentary deposits

Fig.1

Table 1 Distribution of the main ore types in Iraq
Formation
Gaara
Triassic unit with
Qandil series
Mullusa
Hussainiat
Amij
Qulqula
Age
Permian -Carboniferous
Triassic
Upper Triassic
Middle Jurassic
Middle Jurassic
L.Jurassic-Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous
Cretaceous
Kaolin, Silica sand, Ironstone
Pb,Zn, Pyrite, Barite
Dolomite
Ore type
Kaolin, Ironstone
Heavy minerals (Zr,Rutile), Sand,
Fe ñ Mn Deposits
Karst fill deposits, Bauxite,
Kaolinite
Basic & ultra basic (Ni,Cr,Cu)

Digma
Aqra-Bakhma
Akashat
Walash Series
Ratga
Damam
Euphrates
Fatha
Injana
Dibdiba
Upper Cretaceous
Upper Cretaceous
Paleocene
Paleocene
Eocene
Eocene
Early Miocene
Middle Miocene
Late Miocene
Pliocene
Quaternary
Phosphorite, Montimorllonite,
Palygorskite
Pb,Zn, Ba deposits
Phosphorite ,clays, Porcalenite
Cr-Ni deposits
Phosphorite,Limestone
Limestone
Limestone , Dolostone, Uranium
Gypsum, Rack salt, native Sulfur
Palygorskite,Celestite
Sand, Celestite,Feldspars
Clay for cement, clay for bricks,gravel,
sand, Continental salt deposits(
Glauborite)

Metallic mineral deposits in the suture zone (Kurdistan Region):
Ora Thrust Zone metallic mineral deposits:
The Northern Thrust Zone contains base metal deposits with barite,
pyrite mineralization, rare copper and some siderite vein. Base metal
occurrences in Ora Thrust Zone occur in two districts,
1- The western district NE of Zakho
Includes seven occurrences of Lead and Zinc mineralization
accompanied by barite. The most important of these is:
Berzanik deposits which is restricted to a fault zone of NE-SW strike in
the Upper Permian Chia Zairi Formation Limestone and dolomites.
The total length of the mineralized zone is about 1200 m associated
with there outcrops of gossans with barite Figs.1,2, and 4,5,6, and 7
The mineralization consists of barite, limonite, galena, sphalerite,
simsthonite, calcite siderite and ankerite.
Similar outcrops of barite vein and gossans with Pb-Zn were also found
near Alansh, Patruma-Massis Banik, Shiranish Islam, Lefan and Bosol.

2 - Eastern district to the N of Amadia
They represent hydrothermal vein mineralization and described by
occurrence of Cu-Pb about 6 km W of Ora village. It comprises a vein
striking NW-SE about 1 m thick from which malachite, azurite,
chalcocite, and possibly even galena were obtained. Other
occurrences include Gire Zivi (Silver Hill) and Skefta Totaye.These
deposits are located near the contact of Chia Zairi Limestone and
Mirga Mir shales.They consist of tectonic breccia of limestone
fragments cemented by quartz, barite veins and pockets stained with
malachite and azurite are up of 0.5 m thick also altered limestone with
veinlets of barite and fluorite was found close to the outcrops.
Fluorite veinlets up to 1.5 cm thick comprised a massive, medium
grained, light violet to light green fluorite, and represent the only
occurrences of fluorite in Iraq. Pebbles and fragments of galena in
scree were found near Bevavi.

Fig. 2 Metallic mineral occurrences of Northern Thrust Zone

The largest known deposit of base metal in Ora Thrust Zone is in
Serguza about 17 km NW of Amadia, (Fig.2 ) described by abundant
hematite breccias consisting of angular fragments of hematite enclosed
in ferruginous limestone of the Upper Cretaceous Hadina Formation.
Some gossans of unknown origin were reported from localities at
Moi, Kani Mase, Benavi , Serau, Noola these gossans have relatively
simple mineralogy, and dolomitic host rocks of Permian ñ Triassic age.

Mineralization in the Zagrose Suture zone.
Three types of Iron mineralization are found in the Zagrose suture are:
1- Contact metasomatic or skarn deposits.
2- Magmatic segregation deposits.
3- Hydrothermal veins and lenses of siderite.
The major iron occurrence of contact metasomatic character are
concentrated near Penjween the largest one is Asnawa deposit, located
about 3.5 km S,SW of penjween town (Fig.3 a) .
Skarn type magnetite mineralization was also described from Marapasta
area in the Qandil range of Zagrose suture Zone, NE of Ranya (Fig.3 b)
Magnetite occurs in small lenses in siliceous limestone and schist in the
lower unit of penjween group accompanied by minor pyrrhotite, pyrite,
chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite.

1- Magmatic segregation deposits.
Magmatic Iron ore occur as magmatic segregations associated with
chromite or are related to serpentinization of ultramafic bodies.
Magnetite ñ chromite bodies are restricted to two main districts:
A- Penjween and, B- Rawanduz.
Numerous small vein- like and irregular magnetite bodies accompanied
by chromite occur in ultramafic rocks (serpentinized peridotite) in the
Penjween Massive occurs in three main localities
1- Karigapla, 2- Buban 3- Kani Manga
Similar iron mineral deposits are associated with chromite in the
Mawat Massif.

Massive Chromite occurs in serpentinized peridotite near Kura Dawi
village, placer chromite was reported from Kani Sard NE
Sulaimani which probably derived from the Mawat Massif.
Manganese ore are mostly restricted to the Qulqula Group and are
exposed between Sulaimani and Penjween. Dome Mn occurrences
were also reported NE of Ranya. In both two localities the Mn
deposits associated with radiolarian chert suggest a deep oceanic
origin possibly related to manganese nodule formation
Small vein of Nickel mineralization were found at nine sites
near the Bardi-Zard village in Darband Rayat area.the mineralogy of
this type ore deposits represents by
Niccolite, rammeslsergite, arsenopyrite, pyrite carbonates
and secondary annabergite and marcasite

Cupper ore in the Zagrose Suture Zone Occur in two form
1- Disseminated mineralization in ultramafic and mafic magmatic
rocks and
2- Hydrothermal mineralization in quartz vein and most are not
economic interest.
They are related to serpentinized ultramafic rocks and gabbros of the
Penjween, Mawat and Bulfat massifs and metavolcanite.
The mineralization consist of
Malachite, chalcocite, chrysocolla, limonite (replacing pyrite) and
quartz. More than ten copper occurrences contain malachite and Cubearing
pyrite were reported near Jira village east of Qalat Diza (Fig.3b).
Hydrothermal Cu ore origin were investigated near spidareh village in
the Pushtashan Valley of the Qandil Range, they comprise local vein
and impregnation in tuffaceous phyllites and norite and quartz
albitophyres

In Waraz area of Mawat Massif the Cu were investigated
as copper associated with metabasalt (600 m thick) and
as lenses of malachite between gabbro or as disseminated
chalcopyrite within the volcanic basalt (Fig.3 b).

Fig.3 a- Distribution of
metallic mineral and
occurrences in the S -
part of Zagrose suture
Zone (after Vanecek,
1972)
A

Fig.3 b Distribution
of metallic mineral
and occurrences in
the N part of
Zagrose suture Zone
(after Vanecek,
1972)
B

Fig. 4 Mineralization zone in Banik area N- thrust zone

Fig. 5 Vein of barite in Aqra Formation Lfan areaN-thrust zone

Fig. 6 Coarse crystal of Galen associated with carbonate rocks in Lefan area N-
Thrust Zone

Smithsonite
Spalerite.
Siderite
Barite
Fig. 7 Association of Barite-sphalerite-smithsonite-siderite in Lefan area-
N-Thrust Zone

References:
Al-bassam, K. and Akif, A. 1977 The ore mineralogy of the Marabasta
Lead-Zinc deposit Northeastern Iraq, Jour. Of Geological Society of
Iraq, Vol. X, pp. 12-32.
Awadh, S.M. 2006 Mineralogy, geochemistry and origin of the Zinc-
Lead-Barite deposits from selected areas from north OF Zakho,
Northern Iraq, Unpublished PhD. Thesis, UNIVERSITY OF
BAGHDAD,182 p.
Jassim, S.Z. and Goff, C. Geology of Iraq, 2006, Published by
Dolin,Prague Moravian Museum, Brno, 341p.

Thank you for your attention
and
Good Luck
Instructor
Dr. Tola A. Mirza
Assistant Professor
tola.merza@univsul.net
2010-2011