Investigation of the Relationships Between Iron Oxide - (Cu-Au) and Epithermal Precious Metal Mineralizing Systems in the Ar Rayn Terrane, Saudi Arabia

氧化铁（Cu-Au）矿床是目前世界范围内的主要勘探目标。对这类矿床的了解一直受到例子缺乏和系统本身规模大的阻碍。对于这类矿床的几个关键特征，特别是关于蚀变和矿化流体的来源以及特定岩浆的作用，存在根本性的分歧。与这些争论相关的是氧化铁-铜-金矿床在时间和空间上与其他矿床类型的关系。矿床类型之间的这种联系不仅对矿物勘探很重要，而且对更好地了解大规模成矿系统的地球化学和水动力学方面也很重要。沙特阿拉伯中部的晚元古代arrayn地块为测试氧化铁系统与低硫化浅成热液金矿床之间的联系提供了一个理想的场所。根据地质关系和有限的地质年代学，该地块包含许多暴露良好的矿床和远景，包括氧化铁（铜-金）和浅成热液贵金属矿床，它们似乎具有遗传和时间相关性。这些矿藏虽然在沙特阿拉伯副矿产资源部的报告中有所描述，但在沙特阿拉伯以外的文献中几乎不为人知。该项目将记录矿床的地质和地球化学。从详细的露头测绘中获得的描述性信息将由矿物学、流体包裹体和稳定同位素地球化学研究补充，这些研究旨在量化从明显深埋、富含磁铁矿、氧化铁（Cu-Au）矿床到更浅、低硫化的浅成热液矿床过渡带所有部分的热液流体的物理和化学条件。此外，地质年代学研究将有助于确定这些矿化系统的时间关系。这些数据将允许对氧化铁系统和低硫化低温系统之间可能的联系进行批判性分析。该项目还将有助于建立沙特地质调查局与美国研究小组之间的关系。

HitzmanEAR-0207217Iron oxide-(Cu-Au) deposits are currently a prime exploration target worldwide. Understanding of this class of deposits has been hindered by the scarcity of examples and by the large scale of the systems themselves. There are fundamental disagreements on several key features of this deposit class, particularly in regard to the source of the fluids responsible for alteration and mineralization and the role of specific magmas. Tied to these debates is how the iron oxide-Cu-Au class of deposits relates in time and space to other deposit types. Such linkages between deposit types are critical not only for mineral exploration but also for better understanding the geochemical and hydrodynamic aspects of large-scale mineralizing systems.The Late Proterozoic Ar Rayn terrane in central Saudi Arabia provides an ideal site to test the linkages between iron oxide systems and low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposits. The terrane contains a number of well exposed mineral deposits and prospects, including iron oxide-(Cu-Au) and epithermal precious metal deposits which appear to be genetically and temporally related based on geological relationships and limited geochronology. The deposits, though described in reports by the Saudi Arabian Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources, are virtually unknown in the literature outside of Saudi Arabia.This project will document the geology and geochemistry of the deposits. Descriptive information from detailed outcrop mapping will be supplemented by mineralogic, fluid inclusion, and stable isotope geochemical studies designed to quantify physical and chemical conditions of the hydrothermal fluids across all parts of the zone of transition from apparently deep-seated, magnetite-rich, Fe-oxide-(Cu-Au) deposits to much shallower, low-sulfidation epithermal deposits. In addition, geochronological studies will allow determination of the temporal relationships of these mineralizing systems. These data will allow critical analysis of the possible linkage between iron oxide systems and low-sulfidation epithermal systems. The project will also aid in forging relationships between the Saudi Geological Survey and research groups in the United States.