Mineralogy and stable sulfur isotopes of the sulfide mineralization in the kuradawe area, mawat ophiolite, Kurdistan Region, Northeastern Iraq

Abstract EN

The study area is located in the Kuradawe village, 30 Km NE of Sulaimania City, in the east of the Kurdistan Region.

The sulfide mineralization in the Kuradawe area is hosted by gabbro of the Mawat ophiolite.

The petrographic study shows that the metagabbro has various microdomains, which contain different amphiboles and plagioclase.

This indicates that the original magmatic rock and minerals were influenced by metamorphic overprint.

The mineral assemblage of the metagabbro is represented by white amphibole, green amphibole, plagioclase, chlorite, quartz, epidote, pyrite, chalcopyrite, goethite and hematite.

The metamorphic history can be subdivided into three stages (M1, M2, and M3).

The first stage of metamorphism is recorded by the formation of green amphibole (tschermakite) replacing clinopyroxene.

The second stage shows a decrease of temperature and pressure which resulted in the formation of white amphibole (tremolite); growing on the previous amphibole.

While the late stage of metamorphism is recorded by the formation of chlorite and epidote.

Three stages of mineralization are concluded from ore microscopic study: orthomagmatic stage, hypogene stage and supergene enrichment stage.

Pyrite and chalcopyrite represent the main primary sulfide ore minerals.

Hematite and goethite are the secondary ore minerals occurring as alteration products of the primary ore minerals.

The δ34S values of the sulfides range from + 7 to + 9 ‰, which indicate granitic composition for the mineralized fluids.