Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

Origin, Geochemistry and Sulfur Isotope Rations of Pb-Zn-Cu Mineralization between Karadoru and Karaköy (Biga Peninsula, Çanakkale)

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the geochemistry and sulfur isotope ratios, as well as the origin of Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization, between Karadoru (Biga, Çanakkale) and Karaköy (Yenice, Çanakkale) in the Biga Peninsula (NWTurkey). Mineralization was observed at four locations: Karadoru, Peynirderesi, Madençeşme (Biga, Çanakkale) and Karaköy (Yenice, Çanakkale). The lowest tectonostratigraphic unit in the region is the Karakaya Complex. The Nilüfer unit, which is part of the Karakaya Complex and mainly consists of metabasic rocks, is overlain by the Hodul unit. The Hodul unit comprises limestones, spilitic basalt, diabase, and arkosic sandstones. The Karadoru, Sarıçayır, and Soğucak granitoids, which are Oligocene-Miocene in age, cut through units of the Karakaya Complex. Skarn zones developed in locations where many plutonic masses intersect with the units of the Karakaya Complex (Nilüferand Hodul). The Çan volcanics, which date back to the Miocene era, are found on top of the Karadoru, Sarıçayır, and Soğucak granitoid rocks. The Pb-Zn-Cu mineralizations were deposited as veins in the Nilüfer unit (epimetamorphics) in the Karadoru and Madençeşme locations within the Karakaya Complex, and in the Hodul unit (metadiabase and crystallized limestone) in the Peynirderesi and Karaköy (Arapuçandere) locations. The paragenesis includes galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, limonite, hematite, malachite, manganese, quartz, calcite, and chlorite. The δ34S values of galena and pyrite samples taken from the ore zones in the study area are as follows: Karadoru -3.4‰ and-3.9‰, Karaköy -1.7‰ and -1.6‰, and Peynirderesi -1.7‰ and -4.0‰. The examined Pb-Zn-Cu mineralizations had Sb/Bi ratio in galena ranging from 0.06-0.34 ppm, and Co/Ni ratio in pyrites ranging from 1-10 ppm. The sulfur isotope ratios are negative, indicating that the mineralization has magmatic hydrothermal origin and is due toI-type magmatic activity. The mineralization contains vein-shaped epigenetic deposits of Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization, high trace element contents (Pb, Zn, Cu, Bi, Sb, Ag, Au, W, As), and silicification, sericitization, argillization, and limonitization are observed. These characteristics support the view that the mineralization has hydrothermal origin.