Mineralogical, and Geochemical Investigation of Sulfide Mineralization in Ushiri Valley, Western Kohistan Island Arc, Pakistan: Implications for Genesis
Keywords:
Sulfide mineralization, hydrothermal alteration, S-O isotopes, magmatic-hydrothermal fluidsAbstract
The Ushiri Valley sulfide mineralization, a newly identified deposit in the Upper Dir region, is located in the western part of the Kohistan Island Arc, northern Pakistan. The mineralization occurs within massive amphibolites of the Kamila Amphibolites and the granodiorite and granite of the Kohistan Batholith. Three types of mineralization have been identified: 1) sulfide mineralization along quartz veins, 2) disseminated sulfide mineralization in the host rocks, and 3) supergene enrichment along localized shear zones. The amphibolites, granodiorite, and granite of the study area are extensively intruded by quartz veins, which generally host sulfide mineralization mainly in the form of chalcopyrite and pyrite, with a lesser amounts of bornite, galena, and sphalerite. Secondary minerals such as malachite, azurite, and limonite/hematite occur as products of supergene enrichment. The host rocks adjacent to the mineralized quartz veins contain the same sulfide mineral assemblage in disseminated form. Hydrothermal alteration, including saussuritization, sericitization, kaolinization, propylitization, and silicification is commonly observed in the mineralized host rocks within shear zones and at the contact between mineralized quartz veins and the host rocks. Geochemical data from hydrothermally altered host rocks indicate that the mineralizing hydrothermal fluids were significantly enriched in FeO, K2O, and Cu, while the Pb, Zn, W, Cr, Ni, and Co show slight enrichment. Sulfur (δ34S) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopic data suggest the involvement of heavy magmatic fluids related to deep-seated intrusions. These fluids likey formed metal complexes and acted as high-temperature metalliferous fluids responsible for the precipitation of base metals sulfides within quartz veins and the associated host rocks, which can be correlated with a porphyry-type mineralizaton system.
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