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Tourmaline is a borosilicate mineral with general formula of XY3Z6[T6O18](BO3)3V3W. Experimental studies demonstrate a wide range of stability for tourmaline-supergroup minerals to record different geological processes. They occur in metamorphic, granitic pegmatites, and clastic sedimentary rocks and are associated with hydrothermal activities (Dutrow and Henry, 2011; Slack and Trumbull, 2011). Textural and compositional features of tourmaline can be used as an indicator of environment in which it crystallized. Tourmaline from porphyry deposits generally show a. frequently crystal zoning, b. development from Fe-rich to Mg-rich, and c. total Mg content is ~2 apfu in copper deposits and 1-2 apfu in Au deposits (Baksheev et al., 2012). It is believed that the world-class Dashkasan gold deposit records the transformation of porphyry to low-sulfide epithermal (Richards et al., 2006). The Dashkasan gold deposit located in the Kurdistan Province can be a significant region for better understanding the origin and the evolution of ore-forming fluids using chemistry of tourmaline. For the present study, we also tried to apply fluid inclusions data on quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins from the Dashkasan deposit.Materials and MethodsPolished-thin sections of various tourmalines of the Dashkasan deposit were examined using a Cameca SX100 Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) at the Iran Mineral Processing Research Center, Karaj. Fluid inclusion studies were performed on quartz crystals of quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins. The microthermometric parametes of fluid inclsions were measured by Linkam-THMS-600 stage at the University of Isfahan.Results and DiscussionThe Dashkasan gold deposit with 52 Mt of oxidized ore and average grades of 1.77 g/t Au is hosted by the Middle-Miocene porphyritic dacite/rhyodacite and dacitic breccia rocks. The main minerals are quartz, K-feldspar, hornblende and biotite mainly altered.. This deposit is characterized by the transition from the porphyry to the epidermal system with the presence of tourmaline minerals in phyllic and silicification alteration associated with gold veins. As petrographic examination shows tourmaline occurs as disseminated, vein/veinlet, and breccia textures in three types: Tur-1 occurred as needle shape in dacitic rocks associated with phyllic alteration; Tur-2 crystallized as radial shape mainly coexisting with silicification; and Tur-3 with elongated shape is present in dacitic breccia with phyllic alteration.Mineral ChemistryThe geochemical composition of three types tourmalines points to the nature and the evolution of ore-forming fluids. Electron microprobe analyses of the studied tourmalines indicate that the Tur-1 and Tur-3 are dravite, and the Tur-2 is dravite to schorl in composition and they belong to alkaline group. The third type, unlike the other two, is characterized by poor zoning and higher values of Na, K, Fe, Mg and lower values of Ca. On Fetot-Ca-Mg ternary diagram, they plotted in the Ca-poor metapelites, metapsammites, and quartz-tourmaline rocks host. Magmatic genesis inferred from the higher Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio for Tur-1 and Tur-2, while this ratio in the Tur-3 is different and shifted towards hydrothermal source.Microthermometric StudyRichards et al. (2006) present the fluid inclusion assemblages from quartz-tourmaline veins in sericitized wall rocks in the Dashkasan deposit consisting of hypersaline and rare vapor-rich inclusion. They have homogenization temperatures of 246° to 360 ℃, yielding salinities of 34.4 to 46.1 wt% NaCl equiv. (Richards et al., 2006). Fluids inclusions studies on quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins related to transition between stage-1 and stage-2 of mineralization in the Dashkasan shows a salinity values from 15.9 to 16.8 wt% NaCl equiv. and homogenization temperature values between 185° to 254 °C.ConclusionsOn the basis of optical and scanning electron microscopy, three tourmaline types(Turs -1,-2 and -3) in the Dashkasan deposit, can be distinguished. Despite the lack of zoning in Tur-1 and Tur-2, the third type displays the poor zoning. The first-and the third-types of tourmalines are dravite (Mg-rich), whereas the second-type is dravite to schorl in composition. Magmatic genesis is reflected by higher Ʃ(Fe+Mg) and FeO/(MgO+FeO) ratios for the first two types. While these ratios in the Tur-3 is different and shifted toward hydrothermal source. To sum up, the occurrence of quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins in the Dashkasan deposit is due to the existence of a fault system under the physicochemical performance of the ore-mineralized fluid by a sudden depressurization and probably gradual mixing with shallow water.AcknowledgmentsWe thank Dr. Gholizadeh and Dr. Shabanian for their assistance with experiments for EPMA. This study was financially supported by the University of Isfahan.

Introduction Tourmaline is a borosilicate mineral with general formula of XY3Z6[T6O18](BO3)3V3W. Experimental studies demonstrate a wide range of stability for tourmaline-supergroup minerals to record different geological processes. They occur in metamorphic, granitic pegmatites, and clastic sedimentary rocks and are associated with hydrothermal activities (Dutrow and Henry, 2011; Slack and Trumbull, 2011). Textural and compositional features of tourmaline can be used as an indicator of environment in which it crystallized. Tourmaline from porphyry deposits generally show a. frequently crystal zoning, b. development from Fe-rich to Mg-rich, and c. total Mg content is ~2 apfu in copper deposits and 1-2 apfu in Au deposits (Baksheev et al., 2012). It is believed that the worldclass Dashkasan gold deposit records the transformation of porphyry to low-sulfide epithermal (Richards et al., 2006). The Dashkasan gold deposit located in the Kurdistan Province can be a significant region for better understanding the origin and the evolution of ore-forming fluids using chemistry of tourmaline. For the present study, we also tried to apply fluid inclusions data on quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins from the Dashkasan deposit. Materials and Methods Polished-thin sections of various tourmalines of the Dashkasan deposit were examined using a Cameca SX100 Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) at the Iran Mineral Processing Research Center, Karaj. Fluid inclusion studies were performed on quartz crystals of quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins. The microthermometric parametes of fluid inclsions were measured by Linkam-THMS-600 stage at the University of Isfahan. Results and Discussion The Dashkasan gold deposit with 52 Mt of oxidized ore and average grades of 1.77 g/t Au is hosted by the Middle-Miocene porphyritic dacite/rhyodacite and dacitic breccia rocks. The main minerals are quartz, Kfeldspar, hornblende and biotite mainly altered.. This deposit is characterized by the transition from the porphyry to the epidermal system with the presence of tourmaline minerals in phyllic and silicification alteration associated with gold veins. As petrographic examination shows tourmaline occurs as disseminated, vein/veinlet, and breccia textures in three types: Tur-1 occurred as needle shape in dacitic rocks associated with phyllic alteration; Tur-2 crystallized as radial shape mainly coexisting with silicification; and Tur-3 with elongated shape is present in dacitic breccia with phyllic alteration. Mineral Chemistry The geochemical composition of three types tourmalines points to the nature and the evolution of ore-forming fluids. Electron microprobe analyses of the studied tourmalines indicate that the Tur-1 and Tur3 are dravite, and the Tur-2 is dravite to schorl in composition and they belong to alkaline group. The third type, unlike the other two, is characterized by poor zoning and higher values of Na, K, Fe, Mg and lower values of Ca. On Fetot-Ca-Mg ternary diagram, they plotted in the Ca-poor metapelites, metapsammites, and quartz-tourmaline rocks host. Magmatic genesis inferred from the higher Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio for Tur-1 and Tur-2, while this ratio in the Tur-3 is different and shifted towards hydrothermal source. Microthermometric Study Richards et al. (2006) present the fluid inclusion assemblages from quartz-tourmaline veins in sericitized wall rocks in the Dashkasan deposit consisting of hypersaline and rare vapor-rich inclusion. They have homogenization temperatures of 246° to 360 ℃, yielding salinities of 34.4 to 46.1 wt% NaCl equiv. (Richards et al., 2006). Fluids inclusions studies on quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins related to transition between stage-1 and stage-2 of mineralization in the Dashkasan shows a salinity values from 15.9 to 16.8 wt% NaCl equiv. and homogenization temperature values between 185° to 254 °C. Conclusions On the basis of optical and scanning electron microscopy, three tourmaline types(Turs -1,-2 and -3) in the Dashkasan deposit, can be distinguished. Despite the lack of zoning in Tur-1 and Tur-2, the third type displays the poor zoning. The first-and the third-types of tourmalines are dravite (Mg-rich), whereas the second-type is dravite to schorl in composition. Magmatic genesis is reflected by higher Ʃ(Fe+Mg) and FeO/(MgO+FeO) ratios for the first two types. While these ratios in the Tur-3 is different and shifted toward hydrothermal source. To sum up, the occurrence of quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins in the Dashkasan deposit is due to the existence of a fault system under the physicochemical performance of the oremineralized fluid by a sudden depressurization and probably gradual mixing with shallow water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims: Antimony (Sb) is locally found at potentially toxic concentrations in mineralized soils, usually together with arsenic (As). However, local adaptation of plant populations to Sb toxicity has never been shown thus far. Here we compared Sb tolerance and accumulation between a non-metallicolous (NM) population of Salvia spinosa, and a con-specific metallicolous (M) population from a strongly Sb/As-enriched soil in Dashkasan, Iran. Methods: Plants were exposed in hydroponics to a series of Sb[III] and Sb[V] concentrations. After 3 weeks the dry weights and Sb concentrations of roots and shoots were determined. Results: Estimated from the effects on shoot dry weight, the M population was more tolerant than the NM one, particularly to Sb[V], but to a lower degree also to Sb[III]. In both populations Sb[III] was taken up and translocated at higher rates than Sb[V]. The Sb concentrations in roots and shoots were slightly, but significantly higher in the M than in the NM population. Conclusions: Since Sb[V] and As[V] seem to follow very different detoxification pathways, it can be argued that the superior tolerance to Sb[V] in M represents a local adaptation to Sb[V] toxicity itself, rather than being a mere by-product of hypertolerance to its chemical analogue, As[V]. Since Sb[III] and As[III] or As[V] share common detoxification pathways, the apparent Sb[III] hypertolerance in the M population might represent a by-product of As hypertolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to determine the major source and extent of metal pollution in the vicinity of Dashkasan gold mine. Dashkasan mine has resulted in extensive contamination of soils by Arsenic (As) and potentially toxic ore-related elements including Mercury (Hg), Antimony (Sb) and Cadmium (Cd). Soils samples were collected and analyzed for As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Sb. The concentration of each heavy metal is controlled by different parameters (soil pH, iron and aluminum oxide content, clay content, organic matter and cation exchange capacity). The maximum content in the soils were 485, 3.2, 100, 2710 and 640 mg/kg for As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Sb, respectively. In particular, the extracted concentration of As, Cd, Hg and Sb are in excess of the tolerable levels. Positive correlation with organic matter and clay content but not with pH has been observed for most of elements analyzed in this study. Enrichment factor (EF) analysis and cluster analysis (CA) highlighted the lithogenic origin of heavy metals. It also revealed the need for detailed geochemical surveys in the future in order to decrease the uncertainty of discrimination between lithogenic and anthropogenic origin of metals of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]