Geological, Mineralogical and Geochemical Features of the Kiziltepe (Aladag) Skarn Deposit (Ezine/Canakkale-North West Turkey).

Abstract

Kiziltepe Skarn Mineralization located 35 km south of the Canakkale and 8 km southwest of Ezine County near the Kestanbol Pluton. Cambrian to Holocene aged magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks crop out in the study area. The basement of the study area is formed by Pre(?)-Lower Cambrian metasandstone, metaconglomerate, phyllite and chalcschist of low-grade metamorphic Geyikli formation. Recrystallized limestones of the Middle-Late Permian Bozalan Formation cover the Geyikli Formation. Cretaceous Denizgoren Ophiolites thrusted over the older units. Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene Hallaclar Volcanics composed of altered andesite and rhyolite. Kestanbol Pluton represented by quartzmonzonite and monzonite besides monzodiorite syenite and quartz-syenite porphyry are cut the older units. Lower- Middle Miocene Ezine Volcanics composed of pyroxene-andesite and trachyte. Kiziltepe skarn deposit was developed close to Kestanbol Pluton contacts with the carbonaceous rocks of the Bozalan Formation and Denizgoren Ophiolites. Therefore Ca-silicates and some metallic enrichment such as iron, copper, zinc and lead were developed in this altered zone. Mainly garnet (grossular), tremolite/actinolite, epidote and zoisite/clinozoisite paragenesis was observed while minor amount of talc, wollastonite, augite, diopside were determined in the skarn zone Main ore minerals are magnetite, hematite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galenite, cerussite, covellite, digenite, malachite and pyrite. Chemical data obtained from samples reveal that Cu-Pb-Zn>1% ppm and Au, Ag, Cd, Mo, and Fe2O3 contents reach up to 67.30 ppb, 72.20 ppm, 710 ppm, 936 ppm and 87.95%. Many ancient mining exploitation cavities were coincided located near the Kiziltepe area. 1110 ppb and 724.90 ppb Au values were detected from two samples taken from skarn mineralization.