Ring structures and copper mineralization in Kerman porphyry copper belt, SE Iran

The role of some ring structures in the distribution of porphyry copper deposits in south Kerman porphyry copper belt is discussed. In the study area, ring structures are circular or elliptical shaped features which are partly recognized on satellite images. In this study, Landsat multispectral images were used to identify ring structures in the area. The rudimentary identification stages of the circles were mainly based on their circular characteristics on the images. These structures match with the regional tectonic features and can be seen mainly in two types; namely, large-magnitude and small scale circles. The associated mineralization in the study area is mainly porphyry Cu and vein type base metal sulfide deposits. There is a sensible relationship between the large circles and mineralization. These circles have encompassed almost entire Cu deposits and prospects in south part of Kerman porphyry copper belt. The small circles seem to be external traces of (porphyritic) intrusive bodies that appear on surface as small circles. Formation of the large circular structures do not appear to be related to the external processes and there is no clear indication of how they came into existence but, their arrangement around the edges of a positive residual anomaly area shows the probable role of this anomaly in their formation. This matter is also recognized on the generalized crustal thickness map of the region in which an updoming of the upper mantle is observed. This study can improve our collective knowledge for copper exploration in this region.