The evolution of Pan-African mafic-felsic suite of the Dara area, Northern Eastern Desert, Egypt: Implication for the genesis of Iron Oxide-Copper–Gold (IOCG) mineralization

New geochemical data of the Iron Oxide-Copper–Gold (IOCG) mineralization and its host rocks in the Dara area, North Eastern Desert of Egypt, are investigated for a better understanding of their petrogenesis. The host rocks are classified into metagabbro-diorite and I-type younger granitoids (monzogranite and alkali feldspar granites). The metagabbro-diorite rocks are volcanic arcs with calc-alkaline affinity and were generated by partial melting of mantle related to the subduction zone. The monzogranite and alkali feldspar granite are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous with calc-alkaline and highly fractionated I-type affinity, respectively. The monzogranite was suggested to be generated from the partial melting of the lower mafic crust, whereas the alkali feldspar granites were from the upper continental crust. IOCG mineralization at the Dara prospect is confined along contacts between the metagabbro-diorite and monzogranite rock types in the form of quartz and quartz-carbonate veins surrounded by alteration zones. The IOCG mineralization is structurally controlled where the quartz and quartz-carbonate veins follow rejuvenation NW–SE compressional Najd fault to E-W and NE-SW extensional fault systems. The hydrothermal mineralization consists of magnetite, hematite, specularite, quartz, calcite, chalcopyrite, minor pyrite, and native gold. Hydrothermal alteration is subdivided into inner sericite-rich and outer chlorite-rich zones. Chemical discrimination using CCPI (chlorite-carbonate-pyrite chemical index), AI (alteration index), and mass balance calculation suggests a redistribution of most elements during alteration without extensive elemental changes except for Eu and Ho. The field, mineralogical, and geochemical features advocated that the mineralization is akin to be related to the Iron Oxide-Cu-Au (IOCG) system that could be linked to the post-collisional tectonic setting of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS).