Petrology and alteration geochemistry of the epithermal Balya Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, NW Turkey

Abstract

The 1.5 km-large hydrothermal system of Balya is characterized by three alteration styles which from the outer halo towards the center are: (i) propylitic alteration with the hydrothermal mineral assemblage of calcitedaphnite-albite-epidote-quartz-pyrite; (ii) argillic/phyllic alteration with the hydrothermal mineral assemblage of sericite/muscovite-kaolinite-rutile-quartz + pyrite; (iii) advanced argillic alteration with the hydrothermal mineral assemblage of alunite-jarosite-kaolinite-quartz-sericite __+ pyrite. Hornblende andesite is the protolith of the hydrothermal alteration system. Enrichment in Si, Sb and Rb, and depletion in Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, P, Ba, Sr, and Zn distinguishes the argillic/phyllic and advanced alteration types from propylitic alteration and the unaltered hornblende andesite protolith. REE distribution patterns indicate an essentially immobile behaviour of REEs during the alteration cycle. K-Ar age data for unaltered and hydrothermally altered rocks define a synchronous age of 25.3 __+ 1.2 Ma for both igneous and hydrothermal activity.

Geology, mineralogy and fluid inclusion data from the Arapucan Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag deposit, Canakkale, Turkey

“…This paper describes the geological and mineralogical characteristics of the Arapucan Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag deposit. Various aspects of the mineralization have been discussed previously by Bingöl (1968), Krushensky et al (1971), Yücelay (1971), Anıl (1979), Aydın and Ö ztunalı (1981) and Agdemir et al (1994). This preliminary information is integrated with additional data on the geological setting, ore mineralogy, geochemistry and fluid inclusions, with a view to understanding the genesis of the Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag and the Arapucan hydrothermal system.…”

“…1A) This deposit is one of the many epigenetic Pb-Zn deposits in the Yenice-Kalkım mineral district of the Kazdag Massif and occurs in same province as the Balya Mine which was the main producer of Pb and Ag in Turkey during period . Some authors consider that both deposits have a similar origin (Anıl, 1979;Aydın and Ö ztunalı, 1981;Agdemir et al, 1994).…”

“…The mining history of the Arapucan deposit, like the Balya Mine, goes back to ancient time when the mine probably supplied the first known lead products to nearby Troy (Agdemir et al, 1994). Modern metal exploration at Arapucan has been conducted by the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (MRE), through a research project entitled 'The Geological Study of the Arapucan Pb-Zn-Cu Mineralization'.…”

Effect of Geogenic Factors on Water Quality and Its Relation to Human Health around Mount Ida, Turkey

“…Houssa [14] has studied industrial minerals such as clay, coal, and others that are present in the study area. On the other hand, geothermal resources and their alterations as well as lead-zinc-copper and gold deposits of the region were determined and studied by a large group of researchers [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Epithermal Au-Ag deposits including high, low and intermediate-sulfidation styles, porphyry Au-Cu-Mo and base-metal skarn systems are economically considered to be the most important resource in Biga Peninsula.…”

Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Fluid Inclusion Data from the Tumanpınarı Volcanic Rock-Hosted Fe-Mn-Ba Deposit, Balıkesir-Dursunbey, Turkey

“…Numerous research has been conducted in the western Anatolia metallogenic province, focusing mainly on the geology and mineralogy of the deposits [2][3][4][5][6]. The economically significant deposits in the province are related to calc-alkaline magmatism which was extensively studied by Yılmaz (1990) [7] and Ercan et al (1985) [8].…”