Investigation on mineralization and genesis of stratiform copper in Cheshmeh-Konan area of Tasuj, East-Azarbaijan province

Cheshmeh-Konan area is located ~15 km northwest of Tasuj, East-Azarbaidjan province. The most important lithologic units of the area are red sandstones, green-gray sandstones, shale, and marl (Miocene). Based on field evidence and petrographical investigations, the host sediments were deposited in a peritidal setting associated with a sabkha-type environment. Copper mineralization in the area occurred as stratiform within the green-gray coarse-grained sandstones and includes minerals such as chalcocite, covellite, bornite, chalcopyrite, malachite, and azurite. Considering the obtained results, control of the mineralization in the area is in relation to sandstone sedimentary facies and concentration of organic matters. Combination of the obtained results from field, petrographical and mineralographical investigations indicate that factors such as accessibility to chloride ligands, presence of high quantities of organic matters, diagenetic processes, function of marls and shales as geochemical barriers, and the existence of fault systems have played a major role in copper mineralization at Chesmeh-Konan area. The obtained results show that copper mineralization in the area is mostly similar to Red Bed type sedimentary copper deposits.