doi: 10.1111/j.1751-3928.2010.00149.x Resource Geology Vol. 61, No.

1: 7690

Original Article rge_149 76..90

Alteration Geochemistry of Volcanic Rocks around

Sarcheshmeh Porphyry Copper Deposit, Rafsanjan,
Kerman, Iran: Implications for Regional Exploration

Alijan Aftabi1 and Habibeh Atapour2

1
Department of Geology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and 2Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration of Iran,
Kerman, Iran

Abstract
To discriminate the mineral potentiality of the trachybasalt around the Miocene Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper
deposit, petrogeochemical characteristics of more than 45 samples of the volcanic rocks were studied.
Sarcheshmeh is one of the worlds largest Miocene porphyry copper deposits in a continental arc setting and
contains about 1200 million tonnes of ores with an average grade of 1.2 percent copper, 0.03 percent molyb-
denum, 3.9 g/t Ag and 0.11 g/t Au. The biotized and sericitized trachybasalts around the Sarcheshmeh deposit
are associated with chalcopyrite, pyrite and molybdenite and and are enriched in Cu (>3108 ppm), K2O
(>4.2%), Rb (>155 ppm) and MgO (>2.9%), but depleted in yttrium (<11 ppm), MnO (<0.06%), CaO (<0.6%),
Na2O (<0.33%), Sr (<107 ppm), and Ba (<181 ppm). The propylitized trachybasalts are enriched in CaO (>9.1%),
Na2O (>3.2%), MnO (>0.24%), Y (>18.2 ppm), and Ba (>323 ppm). The results demonstrate that the diagrams of
loss on ignition - Cu, Cu - Y, K2O/K2O + Na2O + CaO - Cu and Y - MnO may be used as an exploration guide
for undiscovered porphyry copper mineralization in the Central Iranian volcanoplutonic copper belt.
Keywords: alteration geochemistry, discrimination diagrams, regional exploration guides, sarcheshmeh por-
phyry copper, trachybasalt.

1. Introduction genic studies, yet diagnostic criteria for prospecting

Sequential wallrock alteration and geochemical
anomalies of mobile elements in volcanic rocks around
porphyry copper deposits are more widespread than
the mineralized areas and thus become a possible indi-
cation of the deposits (Boyle, 1974; Olade & Fletcher,
1976; Hedenquist & Richards, 1998; Watanabe &
Hedenquist, 2001; Sillitoe & Perello, 2005; Seedorff
et al., 2005). Understanding of the geochemical dis-
crimination between altered and fresh volcanic rocks
in porphyry copper deposits is essential to mineral
exploration, regional resource appraisal, and metallo-
and predicting mineralization are scarce (Helgeson,
1970; Hollister, 1974; Warren et al., 1974; Kesler et al.,
1975; Chaffee, 1976; Olade & Fletcher, 1976; Armbrus
et al., 1977; Mason & Feiss, 1979; Baldwin & Pearce,
1982). The previous discrimination attempts for explo-
ration have used bar graphs and a YMnO diagram in
both intrusive and volcanic rocks (Baldwin & Pearce,
1982). However, the results have met with mixed
success and overlapping of the elements, in particular
copper values in mineralized (altered) and nonminer-
alized (fresh) samples. The Sarcheshmeh porphyry
copper deposit is located in Central Iran, and is one of

Received 18 September 2008. Accepted for publication 7 August 2010.

Corresponding author: A. AFTABI, Department of Geology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, P.O.Box 76135-133, Kerman, Iran.
Email: aftabi@mail.uk.ac.ir

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76 Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology
 Geochemistry around Sarcheshmeh porphyry Copper

the worlds largest Miocene porphyry copper deposits

of continental arc setting. The orebody contains about
1200 million tonnes ore with an average of 1.2 percent
copper, 0.03 percent molybdenum, 3.9 g/t Ag and
0.11 g/t Au (Waterman & Hamilton, 1975; Ellis, 1991;
McInnes et al., 2005).
This investigation presents geochemical data of
altered and fresh volcanic rocks around the Sarchesh-
meh porphyry copper deposit, in which more than 50
percent of the copper ore occurs in altered trachybasalt
(Waterman & Hamilton, 1975). Despite the large
volume of research on the alteration zones around por-
phyry deposits, this study discriminates the geochemi-
cal signatures of altered and fresh volcanic rocks for
further regional exploration targets that have not been
recognized yet.

2. Tectonic setting
The Central Iranian volcanicplutonic arc contains vol-
canic rocks of basic to intermediate calc-alkaline or
shoshonitic character of Eocene age (Aftabi & Atapour,
2000; Atapour & Aftabi, 2007). The arc extends over
500 km, and 40 to 50 km wide (Fig. 1). This arc includes
some porphyry copper deposits, represented by
Sarcheshmeh (Fig. 1) (Atapour & Aftabi, 2007). The
porphyry mineralization of the arc is divided into two
phases. The rst phase deposits are related to plutonic
rocks of Miocene age that intruded into the Eocene
volcanic rocks. The second phase deposits are related
to porphyry diorite and quartz diorite of Miocene
Pliocene age in dacitic and rhyodacitic volcanic rocks
(Aftabi, 2003; Atapour, 2007; Aftabi & Atapour, 2009).
The porphyry copper mineralization occurs mainly in
apical parts of intrusive rocks and rarely in the volcanic
host rocks. Polymetallic vein mineralization is recog-
nized less commonly in the intrusive rocks, but fre-
quently in the surrounding sheared and faulted
volcanic rocks (Atapour, 2007). The surcial alteration
zones (e.g. propylitic, sericitic and potassic) around the
deposits range from 115 km2 and occur along the con-
tacts between the volcanic and intrusive rocks (Nedi-
movic, 1973).
3. Geologic setting
The Sarcheshmeh deposit is situated at 2958N and
5551E and about 160 km southwest of Kerman city
(Fig. 1). The Miocene porphyritic granitoid, consisting
of diorite, quartz diorite, granodiorite, and quartz
monzonite are distributed near the Sarcheshmeh
Fig. 1 Map of Iran, showing the volcano-plutonic mag-
matic arc and Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit
(modied after Aghanabati, 1986; Aftabi & Atapour,
2000).
deposit (Fig. 2 and Table 1). The main Eocene volcanic
rocks in the area are trachybasalt and trachyandesite,
which host the Miocene quartz diorite, granodiorite
and quartz monzonite. The copper- molybdenum min-
eralization and associated alteration occur both in tra-
chybasalt and in the porphyry stock of quartz
monzonite (Ghorashizadeh, 1978; Atapour & Aftabi,
2007). The alteration zone covers an area of more than
2 km2 (Nedimovic, 1973). There are several generation
of porphyry dikes that intrude the volcanic and intru-
sive rocks (Table 1).
4. Samples and analytical procedures
To investigate the geochemistry of altered and fresh
rocks, more than 45 samples each of weight 1 to 2 kg
were collected. This study excludes the rocks with
supergene alteration or weathering, because supergene
and weathering cause signicant modication in
chemical composition. The sample interval was gener-
ally 0.2 to 1 km (Fig. 2). Major oxides, Sr, Rb, Zr, Y, Ba,
Nb, Ta, Th, and U contents were analyzed by X-ray
uorescence spectrometer (XRF) and Cu, V, Cr, Co and

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A. Aftabi and H. Atapour

Fig. 2 Geological map around the

Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper
deposit (modied after Nedi-
movic, 1973). AB is an approxi-
mate geotraverse shown on
Figure 6. Also the approximate
position of the Figure 6 (open pit)
is shown as an ellipse.

Table 1 Pulses and sequence of magmatichydrothermal events at the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit (Ghora-
shizadeh, 1978; Aftabi, 2003; Atapour, 2007; Aftabi & Atapour, 2009)
Pulses of events Rock types Age (Ma)
Sarcheshmeh Hot spring Travertine and calcareous terraces or onyx marble (P10) <2
complex Post-mineral volcanic pulse Late dacite and ignimbrite of adakitic afnity (P9) 2.8
Biotite porphyry dike of adakitic afnity (P8) 9.3
Early dacite of adakitic afnity (P7) 10.2
Syn-mineral intrusive pulse Feldspar porphyry dike (P6) 1210.2
Hornblende porphyry dike (P5) 12
Late porphyry plug (P4) 12.1
Mineralized quartz monzonite and granodiorite of potassic 15.512.1
afnity (P3)
Quartz diorite and monzodiorite stock (P2) 29
Pre-mineral volcanic Pulse Trachybasalt and trachyandesite with potassic afnity (P1) 4937

Ni contents were determined by atomic absorption at 5. Mineralogy, petrography

the Geological Survey of Iran. Ferrous iron contents
were determined by KMnO4 titration. The loss on igni-
tion (L.O.I) was calculated by heating the oven dried
(110C) powdered samples at about 1100C in a
furnace for an hour, and measuring the weight loss as
weight percent.
and geochemistry
The results of petrography of the volcanic and
intrusive rocks are shown in Table 2. The fresh trachy-
basalts contain labradorite phenocrysts (520%),
microlitic plagioclase of andesine composition (30%),

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 Geochemistry around Sarcheshmeh porphyry Copper

Table 2 Pragenesis of the volcanic and intrusive rocks around the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper deposit
Minerals Trachybasalt Trachyandesite Quartz diorite and quartz monzonite
Fresh Altered Fresh Altered
Olivine
Clinopyroxene
Plagioclase
Hornblende ----------- ----------- -----------
Biotite ----------- PB PB
Orthoclase P P
Anorthoclase
Sericite B S BS
Chlorite Pr - - - - - - - - - - - Pr
Epidote Pr
Zeolite Pr
Clay minerals A ----------- A
Quartz B SP S
Apatite ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Pyrite PBS PBS
Chalcopyrite PBS PBS
Molybdenite PBS PBS
Calcite - - - - - - - - - - - Pr - - - - - - - - - - - Pr
Oligoclase - - - - - - - - - - - Pr ----------- - - - - - - - - - - - Pr
Magnetite ----------- PBS PBS
Iddingsite - - - - - - - - - - - Pr

- - - -: Rare, : Frequent, P: Potassic, B: biotized, S: sericitized or phyllic, Pr: propylitic-zeolitic, A: argillic. The line P B S indicates
zonation from potassic to biotitic and sericitic.

diopsideaugite clinopyroxene phenocrysts (20%),
alkali feldspar (10%) and minor amounts of olivine
(2%) in a glassy to ne-grained groundmass (20%).
Due to the ne-grained trachytic texture of the rocks,
the precise modal mineralogical composition is not
available. The presence of olivine, labradorite and cli-
nopyroxene, and the absence of quartz with a trachytic
texture show a mineralogical composition close to tra-
chybasalt. The microprobe analyses of unzonned pla-
gioclases in the fresh volcanic rocks give a composition
of An 65 (Etminan, 1977), which is typical of trachyba-
salt and basalt (Hyndman, 1972) rather than andesite.
Some volcanic rocks lack in olivine but contain more
clinopyroxene, suggesting a characteristic of tra-
chyandesite. The geochemical composition of the vol-
canic rocks (Table 3 and Appendix Table A1), indicates
that the average composition of the fresh volcanic rocks
at Sarcheshmeh is similar to trachybasalt or tra-
chyandesite reported by Le Maitre et al. (1989). The
Sr/Y ratios (2021) of the fresh Eocene volcanic and
Miocene intrusive rocks are far from adakitic rocks
(Atapour, 2007; Aftabi & Atapour, 2009). The fresh
Eocene volcanic rocks are of continental arc and shos-
honitic afnity (Fig. 3a,b). In altered volcanic rocks,
SiO2, K2O and L.O.I (Table 3) values are higher than
those of the fresh rocks. However, CaO value is only
enriched in propylitized volcanic rocks. MnO value in
propylitized trachybasalt is higher than that of the
fresh volcanic rocks, whereas copper value is highly
enriched in altered volcanic rocks. The K2O/K2O +
Na2O + CaO and A12O3/K2O + Na2O + CaO ratios of
propylitized trachybasalt is lower than those of the
fresh one (Table 3). The values for MnO, Sr and Ba are
higher in propylitized volcanic rocks than other types
of altered rocks.
6. Alteration and mineralization
The alteration and associated mineralization is com-
posed of disseminated and stockwork pyrite, chal-
copyrite, molybdenite and quartz that is summarized
in Table 2 and as follows (Jacobsen, 1975; Waterman &
Hamilton, 1975; Ghorashizadeh, 1978; Shahabpour,
1982; Atapour & Aftabi, 2007). Figure 4 shows the
details of geology and alteration zones from the center
outward at the Sarcheshmeh deposit. The alteration
patterns are similar to those of typical continental arc
porphyry copper deposits worldwide.
6.1 Potassic alteration
The potassic and/or biotitic alteration occurs in the
inner zone of the orebody at Sarcheshmeh and is

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A. Aftabi and H. Atapour

Table 3 Average composition of the fresh and altered volcanic rocks around the Sarcheshmeh deposit. Major elements
(wt %) and minor elements (ppm)
Fresh rocks (12 samples) Altered rocks (18 samples)
Elements Trachybasalt Trachyandesite Biotized Sericitized Propylitized
(7 samples) (5 samples) trachybasalt trachybasalt trachybasalt
(4 samples) (8 samples) (6 samples)
SiO2 49.4 55.66 51.35 51.81 52.5
TiO2 1.12 0.86 1.1 1.17 1.07
A12O3 17.73 17.7 18.17 18.22 15.94
Fe2O3 3.35 2.7 3.6 4.3 4.6
FeO 6.25 4.56 6.14 7.4 5.1
MnO 0.18 0.14 0.055 0.07 0.25
MgO 5.45 2.66 7.32 2.9 3.45
CaO 8.12 5.98 0.71 0.61 9.4
Na2O 3.24 3.68 0.7 0.33 3.2
K2O 1.96 3.16 4.35 4.88 0.99
P 2 O5 0.44 0.51 0.27 0.26 0.33
L.O.I 1.66 1.64 6.63 8.73 3.73
Cu 32.28 32 3702 3108.75 166.83
V 218.42 136.8 261.2 144.87 227
Cr 50.28 44.4 54 36.75 25.83
Co 29.14 14.4 20.25 14 10.33
Ni 60.28 22.8 42.75 35.37 19.5
Rb 106.71 104.8 195 155.87 68.16
Sr 514.5 484.2 107.25 57 251.83
Y 23.66 23.8 12.5 10.87 18.16
Zr 132.85 121.4 128.5 137.5 141.83
Nb 5.42 7 7 4.12 6.1
Ba 335.14 789.2 181.2 135.5 323.16
Ta 0.56 0.6 0.65 0.55 0.54
Th 4.14 2.8 2.75 2.36 4.16
K2O/K2O+Na2O+CaO 0.14 0.24 0.75 0.84 0.07
A12O3/K2O+Na2O+CaO 1.33 1.38 3.15 3.1 1.17
Sr/Y 21.74 20.3 8.57 5 14

Fig. 3 (a) K2O-SiO2 diagram of Peccerillo and Taylor (1976) for the fresh trachybasalts (open circles) and trachyandesite
(open squares). (b) Zr/YZr discrimination diagram for volcanic rocks (Pearce, 1983). The shaded area is the eld of
overlap.

characterized by the presence of secondary K- feldspar, tion in surcial outcrops, in particular along the
biotite, minor sericite, quartz and chlorite, replacing contacts between trachybasalt and intrusive rocks.
plagioclases and pyroxenes in trachybasalts. Biotitiza- Although, there is no different meaning between K-
tion is observed within the zones of copper mineraliza- silicate, potassic and biotitic alteration (Reed, 1997;

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Fig. 4 Geology of (a) rock units and
(b) alteration zones at the
Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper
deposit (modied after Jacobsen,
1975; Waterman & Hamilton,
1975; Atapour & Aftabi, 2007).
The approximate position of this
gure is shown in Figure 2.
Watanabe & Hedenquist, 2001), the biotitic alteration at
Sarcheshmeh can be divided from potassic alteration
by frequent occurrence of hydrothermal brown biotite
(>50 percent), sericite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and molyb-
denite and forms the proximal ore zone described by
Ghorashizadeh (1978) and Atapour and Aftabi (2007)
with pyrite-chalcopyrite ratio between 1.5 and 2.5. This
style of alteration may indicate ductile rock behavior as
evidenced by the typically sinuous, and rather discon-
tinuous stockworks and vein patterns. The quartz
monzonitic stock includes stockwork of pyrite, chal-
copyrite and molybdenite with pyritechalcopyrite
ratio of about 3:1 (Atapour & Aftabi, 2007).
6.2 Phyllic alteration
The phyllic alteration occurs as interdistal halo and is
the most intensive and common hydrothermal alter-
ation in trachybasalt at Sarcheshmeh porphyry stock
and around all other porphyry copper deposits in the
area. It is characterized by abundant sericite, granular
quartz and minor chlorite, replacing plagioclase, alkali
feldspar, and biotite. The sulde minerals include
abundant pyrite with minor chalcopyrite, molybdenite
and pyrite-chalcopyrite ratio greater than 10 (Atapour
& Aftabi, 2007). This alteration changes to argillic alter-
ation patches in trachybasalt and Sarcheshmeh stock
and includes clouding kaolinite, albite, chlorite, and
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Geochemistry around Sarcheshmeh porphyry Copper
calcite that replace plagioclase and alkali feldspar with
very minor amount of pyrite and chalcopyrite with
pyrite-chalcopyrite ratio of 10.
6.3 Propylitic alteration
The propylitic distal alteration zone (outer zone) is the
most prominent alteration in trachybaslt. The alteration
mineral assemblage include epidote, chlorite, albite,
calcite, zeolite, kaolinite, leucoxene and minor sphaler-
ite, galena, pyrite and chalcopyrite. The pyrite-
chalcopyrite ratio is about 4. These hydrothermal
minerals are mainly formed by propylitization of pla-
gioclases, but igneous pyroxene, hornblende and
biotite grains are also subjected to this type of alter-
ation. This alteration changes to zeolitic alteration in
the most peripheral zone (Atapour & Aftabi, 2007). The
minerals in zeolitic zone assemblage occur as veins,
veinlets and cavitiy llings of zeolites, in particular
mesolite and natrolite with calcite and quartz replacing
plagioclases.
7. Gain and loss of elements
We calculate gain and loss of elements according to
Doucette (2000), who used the equation below by
assuming A12O3 as an immobile oxide at constant
volume: CB (measured value) = (rA/rB)CA, in which rA,
81
A. Aftabi and H. Atapour
rB and CA represent the density of fresh rock, density of
altered rock and elemental values of fresh rock, respec-
tively. The difference between the measured values and
that of the fresh rock is considered as either positive
values (gains) or negative values (losses). The results of
gains and losses of major and minor elements in
altered trachybasalt around the Sarcheshmeh deposit
are shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 shows that silica is
mainly added to propylitized and biotized trachybaslt
in the form of quartz veins or veinlets, but depleted in
sericitized and biotized rocks by high proportion of
low-silica mac alteration products. Iron is enriched in
the form of pyrite in sericitized trachybasalt, but
depleted in other types of alteration. Calcium, magne-
sium, sodium, manganese, and phosphorous are
strongly depleted in all types of alteration zone.
However, magnesium is enriched in biotized volcanic
rocks and calcium and manganese are also added to
the propylitized trachybasalt. Potassium is strongly
added in biotized and sericitized trachybasalt, as
hydrothermal biotite and sericite, but depleted in pro-
pylitized volcanic rocks. Titanium is mainly added in
all alteration types in the form of sphene and rutile. The
total content of volatiles (e.g. H2O, CO2 and S), which
correspond to loss on ignition (L.O.I) is signicantly
added to all types of alteration zone in the form of
hydrous and carbonate minerals. Figure 6 illustrates
that copper is strongly enriched in biotized and seric-
itized trachybasalt as chalcopyrite. In contrast to
copper, yttrium, strontium, nickel, cobalt and to a
lesser extent chromium are diluted in altered trachyba-
salt. Rubidium shows an overall increase in biotized
and sericitized trachybasalt, but depleted in propyli-
tized volcanic rocks. Barium behavior is reverse from
that of rubidium and is strongly added to the propyli-
tized trachybasalt in the form of barite. Zirconium is
slightly added to all types of alteration zone. Vanadium
is increased in biotized and propylitized trachybasalt,
but depleted in sericitized ones.
8. Geochemical zonation of major and
minor elements
Figure 6 shows enrichment and depletion of the ele-
ments near the contact with biotized and sericitized
trachybasalt. Cu, K, Rb, and L.O.I are enriched and are
mineralogically indicated by the presence of chalcopy-
rite, molybdenite, pyrite, hydrothermal biotite, ortho-
clase and sericite. Calcium, Na, Sr, Ba, Mn and Y show
depletion in biotized and sericitized trachybasalts.
Magnesium is enriched in the biotized, but depleted in
82
the sericitized zone. The distal propyliticzeolitic alter-
ation zone is low in copper, but high in calcium, man-
ganese and barium. All major and trace elements may
give exploration guides, in particular high values of
MnO, Ba and Y for vein type mineralization in pro-
phylitic zones. This is indicated by the occurrence of
polymetallic (Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au) and sulfosalt epither-
mal mineralization in propylitic-zeolitic zones around
Sarcheshmeh and other porphyry copper deposits
within Central Iranian volcano-plutonic arc (Atapour,
2007). K2O/K2O + Na2O + CaO ratio may also reect the
distance to the potassic and phyllic alteration zones.
9. Geochemical discrimination diagrams;
a possible exploration tool
The results of geochemical discrimination are pre-
sented as variation bar graphs and co-variation dia-
grams (Figs 7, 8). Figure 7 shows the bar graphs for
some major oxides and minor elements. The back-
ground content for different elements of known tra-
chybasalts similar to the Sarcheshmeh volcanic rocks is
taken from Cox et al. (1979), Rose et al. (1979) and
Levinson (1980) and is illustrated in Figure 7 as open
circles.
9.1 Potassium
The average potassium oxide content in the biotized
and sericitized volcanic rocks is close to 4 wt%, which
is two times higher than the fresh rocks (Fig. 7). It is
evident that potassium was added by hydrothermal
potassic (biotized) or sericitic alteration. This is in
accord with the presence of hydrothermal biotite,
orthoclase and sericite in the altered trachybasalts. The
potassic nature of these alteration halos may be attrib-
uted to the potassium-rich parental magma of potassic
and shoshonitic afnity. In the propylitized volcanic
rocks, potassium is leached and declined to as low as
about 0.9 wt%, two times lower than the fresh volcanic
rocks. This is related to the leaching of potassium by
hydrothermal solutions, as no major potassium
bearing minerals occur in propylitized trachybasalts.
As is illustrated in Figure 8, there is a good covaria-
tion between high copper and potassium values in the
biotized and sericitized volcanic rocks, which could be
used as a regional exploration guide for blind crypto-
porphyry copper ores.
9.2 Sodium
The average sodium oxide values in biotized and seric-
itized volcanic rocks is almost nine times lower (Fig. 7)
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Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology
 Geochemistry around Sarcheshmeh porphyry Copper

10 5
% SiO2 % Fe2O3 (total) % MgO

3
5
0
1

0
-1

-5 -3 -5

3
6 % CaO % Na2O % K 2O
2 4
0
-2

-6 1
-3

-10

-14 -6 -2

0.1 0.4 0.1

% MnO % TiO2 % P2O5

0.2
0

0 -0.1

-0.1
-0.2

-0.2 -0.4 -0.3

Cu Ni
0
% L.O.I. 5000
-10
8
4000 -20

3000 -30

4 -40
2000
-50
1000 -60

0 0 -70
Co Cr V
0 20

10 50
-10
0

-20 -10
-50
-20
-30
-30
-40 -150
-40
Rb Ba Sr
150

200 -100
100

100 -300
50

0 0 -500

-50 -100 -700

Zr Y
0
3.5
Biotized rock
-5

-10 Propylitized rock

1.5

-15 Sericitized rock

-0.5 -20

Fig. 5 Changes in major and minor element abundances in altered trachybasalt. Horizontal lines represent the fresh
trachybasalt compositions.

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Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology 83
A. Aftabi and H. Atapour
Fig. 6 Major, minor and trace element abundances in surface exposures of fresh and hydrothermally altered trachybasalt
along the section AB in Figure 2.
than those of the fresh rocks. This is consistent with the
presence of biotite, sericite, and orthoclase, replacing
pyroxenes and plagioclases and by releasing calcium
and sodium into the propylitized volcanic rocks. In the
A12O3/CaO + K2O + Na2O - Cu diagram (Fig. 8) the
biotized and sericitized volcanic rocks are completely
separated from those of fresh and propylitized volcanic
rocks.
84
9.3 Calcium
The geochemical signature of calcium is similar to that
of sodium, as both elements are strongly depleted and
leached in the biotized and sericitized trachybasalts,
the extent of this depletion decreasing outward from
the center of the alteration zone. However, calcium in
propylitized trachybasalts is enriched two times
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Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology

Fig. 7 Bar graphs of the abundances (wt % and ppm) for major oxides and minor elements. The background values (open
circles) for fresh trachybasalt are taken from Cox et al. (1979) and Rose et al. (1979).
(Fig. 7) more than biotized and sericitized altered vol-
canic rocks. This is indicated by the presence of
epidote, calcite, albite and zeolites formed by albitiza-
tion of calcic plagioclase and chloritization of
pyroxenes. Depletion of calcium during biotitization
and sericitization may be related to the leaching of
calcium due to biotitization of pyroxene and alteration
of calcic plagioclase to K-feldspar and sericite. The low
values of calcium in the A12O3/CaO + K2O + Na2O - Cu
diagram (Fig. 8) is well correlated to higher copper
values in biotized and sericitized trachybasalts.
9.4 Manganese
The average manganese oxide values (Fig. 7) in
biotized and sericitized volcanic rocks is seven times
lower than those of the fresh volcanic rocks. Mn, like
Ca, is markedly reduced in the biotized and sericitized
trachybasalt, but is signicantly added in peripheral
propylitized zone, which gives higher values than
those of the fresh rocks. The lower manganese values
may be caused due to the hydrothermal leaching
during alteration.
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Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology
Geochemistry around Sarcheshmeh porphyry Copper
9.5 Magnesium
MgO was added to the biotized volcanic rocks, but
removed during propylitization of trachybasalt. The
average values are about two times higher (Fig. 7)
than the fresh rocks and three times higher than
sericitic and propylitic volcanic rocks. This increase
of MgO in biotized volcanic rocks is indicated by
the presence of Mg-rich biotite associated with pyrite.
It is noteworthy to mention that no siginicant
difference in MgO values can be seen between seric-
itized and propylitized volcanic rocks. This may be
related to the presence of Mg-free or iron -rich
mineral assemblages in the abovementioned alter-
ation zones.
9.6 Total volatile compounds (L.O.I.)
The average value of L.O.I in biotized and sericitized
trachybasalts are almost eight times higher (Fig. 7) than
those of the fresh and about two times of the propyli-
tized volcanic rocks. This enrichment is related to the
presence of biotite and sericite in the intensely sericit-
ized and biotized alteration zones, as these minerals
85
A. Aftabi and H. Atapour

Fig. 8 Figures showing the correla-

tion between elements for the
fresh and altered trachybasalt.
The fresh trachybasalt (open
circles), fresh trachyandesite
(open squares), propylitized
(open diamonds), biotized (open
triangles) and sericitized (stars).

2010 The Authors

86 Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology

consume more hydroxyl ion in their structure from
hydrothermal solutions. This is apparent from
Figure 8, in which there is a correlation between high
copper and L.O.I. values.
9.7 Copper
Copper is generally increased in all alteration zones
and has clearly been added to the hydrothermal
system as a whole. The average copper values in
biotized and sericitized trachybasalts are hundred
times and in propylitized rocks seventeen times
higher than those of the fresh volcanic rocks (Fig. 7).
This is mainly indicated by the presence of chalcopy-
rite and pyrite in sericitized and biotized and to a
lesser extent in the propylitized trachybasalt. As the
copper values between altered and fresh volcanic
rocks do not show overlapping, the utilization of fresh
and altered samples gives a better contrast for mineral
potentiality in porphyry systems. The biotized and
sericitized volcanic rocks which contain more than
1000 ppm copper (Fig. 8), could indicate the poten-
tially mineralized porphyry copper in depth. In K2O/
K2O + Na2O + CaO - Cu diagram (Fig. 8), the biotized
and sericitized trachybasalts are well separated from
those of propylitic and fresh volcanic rocks. This
exploration guide is somehow similar to K2O/Na2O
ratio proposed by Boyle (1974) and Olade and Fletcher
(1976).
9.8 Yttrium
The average values for yttrium in sericitized and
biotized trachybasalts are two times (Fig. 8) lower than
the fresh volcanic rocks. This indicates that yttrium is
leached from sericitized and biotized volcanic rocks.
Although, the values for the propylitized volcanic
rocks are higher than those of sericitized and biotized
altered zone, no signicant differences can be noted
(Fig. 8). The depletion in yttrium is related to the
hydrothermal leaching during alteration from the
structure of pyroxenes, biotites, apatite and possibly
sphene and or magnetite.
9.9 Rubidium
Rubidium was clearly added along with K to the
hydrothermally altered trachybasalt and is enriched in
the biotized and sericitized altered volcanic rocks,
where most samples contain higher than two times
(Fig. 7) rubidium compared to the fresh volcanic rocks.
2010 The Authors
Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology
Geochemistry around Sarcheshmeh porphyry Copper
The enrichment for rubidium parallels distribution pat-
terns to those of potassium, where rubidium shows an
overall gradual increase toward the altered rocks,
reaching the maximum in the biotized trachybasalt.
Rubidum was removed during propylitization as its
values are lower than the fresh volcanic rocks and may
largely have been lost from the hydrothermal solu-
tions, although some of this may have been added to
biotized and sericitized volcanic rocks or to retrograde
alteration assemblages. According to Figure 8, the
biotized and sericitized trachybasalts are signicantly
enriched in rubidium and well separated from the
fresh and propylitized rocks.
9.10 Barium
Barium was signicantly added to the propylitized tra-
chybasalt. The average barium values in propylitized
trachybasalts are two times higher than those of fresh
and biotized and sericitized volcanic rocks (Fig. 7).
According to eld observation, small barite veins have
been found in propylitic and zeolitic alteration zones in
volcanic rocks hosting some porphyry copper deposits
in Central Iranian volcano-plutonic copper belt
(Atapour, 2007).
9.11 Nickel
The average values of nickel in biotized, sericitized and
propylitized volcanic rocks are about two times (Fig. 7)
lower than that of the fresh volcanic rocks. This seems
normal as a compatible element like nickel prefers to
replace or concentrate in the olivine, pyroxene and
primary biotite rather than hydrothermal alteration
zones. This agrees with ndings of Crerar et al. (1985)
that nickel is typically sequestered in rst formed mac
minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, ilmenite and mag-
netite within a crystallizing magma and thus is not
normally concentrated in latestage oreforming
liquids or alteration zones.
9.12 Other elements
The rest of elements that are not indicated in Figure 7
do not show signicant variation. Chromium, cobalt,
and vanadium give similar changes as nickel, as they
tend to be replaced in the structure of olivine and
pyroxene. Therefore, the concentration of these ele-
ments in fresh volcanic rocks are higher than those of
the altered trachybasalts. Crerar et al. (1985) mentioned
that these elements do not concentrate in hydrothermal
87
A. Aftabi and H. Atapour
uids. However, slight increase of these elements in
biotized and sericitized volcanic rocks may be related
to their replacement in sulde minerals, biotite and
sericite. No signicant variation can be seen for
niobium, zirconium, tantalum and thorium both in
fresh and altered volcanic rocks.This may be due to
immobile nature of some of these elements.
10. Summary and conclusion
The main host rocks around the Sarcheshmeh por-
phyry copper deposit are Eocene trachybasalts that are
intruded by Miocene quartz monzonite and granodior-
ite in the Central Iranian volcanoplutonic copper belt.
The alteration geochemistry gives the following results:
Athough, no single element is an adequate
geochemical discriminant, but altered and fresh volca-
nic rocks are well separated by enrichment of Cu,Rb,
K2O, K2O/K2O + Na2O + CaO and L.O.I., in biotized
and sericitized trachybasalts and depletion of Na2O,
CaO, Sr, MnO, Y, Ba and Ni in the same abovemen-
tioned alteration zones.
Na2O, MnO, CaO, Sr, Y and Ba are enriched in pro-
pylitized alteration zones.
YCu, YMnO, YL.O.I., K2O/K2O + Na2O +
CaOCu and CuL.O.I. co-variation diagrams are the
possible geochemical discriminants in altered volcanic
rocks that may be used to detect Cu mineralized targets
in an exploration program.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the generous coop-
eration of Geological Survey of Iran for major and trace
element determination of samples. We also appreciate
the help of Dr Y. Watanabe, Managing Editor, Dr Y.
Kajiwara, Editor-in-Chief, of Resource Geology and
two anonymous reviewers for constructive and
thoughtful review comments.
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APPENDIX Table A1
Bulk chemical composition of the volcanic rocks in the Sarcheshmeh porphyry Cu deposit (unit: wt.%)
Sample Rock type Nature SiO2 TiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 MnO MgO CaO Na2O K2O P2O5 L.O.I Total

1 Trachybasalt Fresh 49.1 1.60 17.9 10.59 0.16 5.47 7.6 3.5 1.9 0.51 1.75 101.08
2 Propylitic Altered 52.0 1.10 16.8 9.99 0.22 1.20 8.4 3.4 0.45 0.45 4.2 98.91
3 Sericitized Altered 51.0 1.20 21.0 9.95 0.09 2.80 0.6 0.7 4.2 0.26 7.5 99.3
4 Biotized Altered 48.5 1.12 18.2 10.98 0.04 7.50 0.9 0.8 4.5 0.24 6.7 99.48
5 Biotized Altered 52.4 1.20 18.1 9.19 0.09 6.70 0.75 0.81 4.5 0.30 6.0 100.04
6 Biotized Altered 49.4 1.10 19.5 8.38 0.06 8.10 0.4 0.2 4.7 0.28 7.6 99.72
8 Sericitized Altered 49.0 1.10 18.0 14.88 0.04 3.80 0.9 0.8 4.0 0.34 8.0 100.86
9 Sericitized Altered 53.8 0.90 18.9 11.30 0.06 3.35 0.4 0.31 3.8 0.28 8.8 101.9
11 Sericitized Altered 54.1 1.10 18.5 11.33 0.08 2.80 0.45 0.18 4.8 0.23 8.5 102.07
12 Sericitized Altered 52.5 1.60 17.2 10.50 0.07 2.50 0.5 0.26 5.2 0.24 9.5 100.07
14 Sericitized Altered 51.8 1.20 16.5 10.20 0.05 3.00 0.8 0.4 5.6 0.27 10.0 99.82
15 Sericitized Altered 49.8 1.10 17.1 11.60 0.08 3.20 0.7 0.3 6.5 0.29 8.8 99.47
16 Propylitic Altered 48.0 0.90 16.6 9.42 0.24 6.50 10.8 2.45 1.2 0.30 4.2 99.81
17 Propylitic Altered 56.4 1.30 14.5 10.33 0.25 2.30 4.8 5.4 0.71 0.32 3.8 100.15
18 Propylitic Altered 53.0 0.85 17.0 10.50 0.26 2.40 11.4 1.8 0.9 0.28 3.1 101.49
19 Biotized Altered 55.1 1.00 15.9 8.10 0.03 7.50 1.1 0.8 4.2 0.27 6.4 100.4
21 Porpylitic Altered 54.6 1.20 16.2 10.93 0.27 3.30 5.1 2.7 1.2 0.35 3.5 99.35
22 Trachybasalt Fresh 49.0 1.30 17.4 11.28 0.17 5.20 7.25 3.07 2.1 0.48 1.85 99.1
23 Propylitic Altered 51.0 1.10 16.5 10.10 0.28 5.40 8.6 3.0 1.5 0.28 4.1 101.86
24 Trachybasalt Fresh 50.1 1.20 16.8 10.25 0.18 5.40 6.7 3.85 2.2 0.53 1.75 98.96
25 Trachybasalt Fresh 49.7 1.20 18.1 10.78 0.25 5.46 9.2 2.8 1.56 0.41 1.75 101.27
30 Trachybasalt Fresh 48.2 0.95 18.5 9.72 0.21 6.36 10.2 2.5 1.5 0.40 1.08 99.59
31 Trachybasalt Fresh 48.5 0.86 18.9 9.76 0.23 5.70 9.6 2.6 1.67 0.38 1.8 100
32 Trachybasalt Fresh 51.2 0.77 18.5 9.45 0.11 4.40 6.6 3.3 2.8 0.43 1.58 99.14
33 Trachyandesite Fresh 53.6 0.85 19.5 7.98 0.11 3.30 7.5 3.3 2.8 0.38 1.9 101.22
34 Trachyandesite Fresh 54.0 0.50 17.6 8.88 0.14 2.75 7.4 2.7 4.1 0.44 1.6 100.11
35 Trachyandesite Fresh 56.8 0.90 18.6 7.96 0.14 2.10 5.1 3.56 2.5 0.56 1.5 99.72
36 Trachyandesite Fresh 57.5 1.16 16.7 6.71 0.16 2.57 4.9 4.26 3.3 0.66 1.4 99.32
37 Trachyandesite Fresh 56.4 0.90 18.1 6.50 0.17 2.60 5.0 4.6 3.1 0.54 1.8 99.71

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Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology 89
A. Aftabi and H. Atapour

Table A1 Continued
(unit: ppm)
Sample Rock Type Nature Cr Ni Co V Cu Rb Ba Sr Ta Nb Zr Y Th

1 TrachybasaIt Fresh 54 80 37 280 29 75 140 580 0.5 5 115 24 3

2 Propylitic Altered 26 16 9 241 134 60 273 220 0.6 5 136 12 4
3 Sericitized Altered 30 28 14 168 2940 160 120 91 0.6 6 132 14 2
4 Biotized Altered 44 34 18 240 3600 200 200 120 0.7 5 120 12 2
5 Biotized Altered 51 40 20 280 3858 180 175 81 0.5 8 128 15 3
6 Biotized Altered 68 30 22 260 1950 190 156 100 0.8 7 130 13 4
8 Sericitized Altered 61 58 18 121 3360 165 160 37 0.8 4 148 10 2
9 Sericitized Altered 45 58 14 80 4052 150 187 75 0.9 5 160 12 2
11 Sericitized Altered 20 28 14 200 2150 176 110 32 0.7 5 125 11 2
12 Sericitized Altered 32 26 12 160 3400 160 140 68 0.6 4 130 10 3
14 Sericitized Altered 30 24 10 180 3100 150 126 26 0.5 3 145 13 4
15 Sericitized Altered 40 36 14 150 2800 140 111 68 0.8 4 140 9 2
16 Propylitic Altered 22 20 11 252 60 81 340 178 0.7 6 150 13 3
17 Propylitic Altered 28 22 12 209 167 70 321 236 0.5 8 125 13 3
18 Propylitic Altered 19 14 8 230 140 58 250 210 0.7 6 120 11 5
19 Biotized Altered 53 67 21 265 3400 210 194 128 0.7 8 136 10 2
20 Sericitized Altered 36 25 16 100 2400 146 130 59 0.5 2 120 8 4
21 Propylitic Altered 32 27 10 200 320 65 405 387 0.8 7 140 10 4
22 Trachybasalt Fresh 51 70 32 250 35 84 150 271 0.6 4 120 23 4
23 Propylitic Altered 28 18 12 230 180 75 350 280 0.5 5 180 14 6
24 Trachybasalt Fresh 48 68 29 240 32 87 160 520 0.5 6 135 26 2
25 Trachybasalt Fresh 54 80 37 293 30 90 138 276 0.7 6 110 23 4
30 Trachybasalt Fresh 52 72 36 194 28 83 176 589 0.7 5 106 24 5
31 Trachybasalt Fresh 45 24 15 133 34 168 904 478 0.5 7 181 29 6
32 Trachybasalt Fresh 48 28 18 139 38 160 678 521 0.8 5 163 34 5
33 Trachyandesite Fresh 44 16 18 139 28 174 1015 491 0.7 8 135 22 6
34 Trachyandesite Fresh 47 17 14 116 36 99 1251 504 0.6 5 106 25 2
35 Trachyandesite Fresh 57 24 12 128 32 96 540 384 0.9 8 124 31 1
36 Trachyandesite Fresh 34 31 16 121 36 85 640 417 0.5 8 122 21 2
37 Trachyandesite Fresh 40 26 12 180 28 70 500 410 0.7 6 120 20 3

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90 Resource Geology 2010 The Society of Resource Geology