Geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of Naweoba and Bagh Cyprus-type VMS deposits of the Late Cretaceous Zhob Valley Ophiolites, Pakistan: implications for genesis

The petrography, mineralization, and geochemistry and isotope studies of sulfide ores were used to determine the genesis of the Naweoba and Bagh Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) deposits. These deposits consist of minor stockwork, massive sulfide, and gossan zones. They are hosted by basaltic rocks in the Naweoba Block and Bagh Complex of Zhob Valley Ophiolites, respectively. The host rocks are strongly altered to chlorite and sericite. By using whole rock and pyrite in situ analyses, it is found that the Cu concentration is higher compared to Zn and Pb. Similarly, the primary mantle normalized data of Pb, Cu, Ag, Au, and Zn as well as the high Co/Ni ratios (> 1) in pyrite for both deposits indicate that these deposits have a mafic origin dominated by hydrothermal processes. The trace element signature in pyrite and chalcopyrite in these deposits suggests that mineralization formed at high to moderate temperatures. The δ 34 S values of pyrite (2.4–4.6‰) and chalcopyrite (2.7–5.7‰) indicate that hydrothermal fluids have derived sulfur largely from basaltic igneous rocks. The above signatures are all consistent with a Cyprus-type VMS ore deposits associated with ophiolites. Moreover, it was found that several trace elements (Ni, Co, Se, Zn, Pb, Sb, and As) show systematic variations in pyrite from Naweoba that are correlated to the stratigraphic depth and can be used as a proxy to separate deeper from shallower sulfide ores.