Mineral Resources of Iran An Overview: June 2015

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Mineral Resources of Iran; an overview
Conference Paper · June 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4776.5602
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‫ﻦا ﻢ‬ ‫ﻢا ا‬
Internationales Alumni-Symposium
Ressourcen für die Zukunft – Zukunft der Ressourcenwirtschaft
Islamic Azad University
Science and Research Branch, Tehran
Mineral Resources of Iran

(an overview)
www.islamoriente.com
Nima Nezafati
Nima.nezafati@gmail.com
18.06.2015
Mineral Resources of Iran (an Overview) - Ressourcen für die Zukunft, Freiberg 2015
http://sheldonkirshner.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Iran-map.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_(orthographic_projection).svg
Area: 1,648,195 km2 (17th)

Population: ~78,193,000 (17th, about 1% of the world’s population)
Iran has about 7% of global mineral resources, ranked among 15 major
mineral-rich countries, nevertheless mining sector is not well-developed
in the country.
Mineral production contributes less than 1% to the country’s GDP.
1
Dr. Nima Nezafati, IAU, Science & Research Branch, Tehran
Iran and Energy Resources
World oil reserves World natural gas reserves

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_proven_oil_reserves http://visualizing.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/embedded_vis_medium/images/gasmap2013.jpg
Proved reseves of crude oil

Rank Country Natural Gas Proven
(MMbbl) Rank Country
1 Venezuela 297,740 Reserves (M3)
2 Saudi Arabia 268,350 1 Russia 48,700,000,000,000
3 Canada 173,625 2 Iran 33,600,000,000,000
4 Iran 157,300 3 Qatar 24,700,000,000,000
http://www.opec.org/library/Annual%20Statistical%20Bulletin/interactive/current/FileZ/XL/T32.HTM
http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?tid=5&pid=57&aid=6&cid=regions&syid=2010&eyid=2014&unit=BB
After Russia possesses the second rank in

countries with most energy reserves.
2 http://www.rollingalpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Percent-Global-Reserves-pie-chart.jpg

Ancient Mining and Metallurgy
© Nima Nezafati
© Nima Nezafati
© Nima Nezafati
© Nima Nezafati
More than 6000 years of ancient mining and
metallurgical history
3 © Nima Nezafati © Nima Nezafati © Nima Nezafati

Iran’s Contribution to Global Mining
Assessment of mineral potenial, geological survey capacity, risk, and geological aid in Iran, after Kay et al. 2012
Commodity Unit Production World Rank
Matal Resources
Iron ore Million tonnes 45 9
Table based on the data from Kay et al. 2010-2012 and USGS 2015
Molybdenum Tonnes 6300 8
Copper Thousand tonnes 265 ..
Gold Tonnes 0.341 ..
Lead Thousand tonnes 35 ..
Zinc Thousand tonnes 65 ..
Bauxite Thousand tonnes 600 ..
Silver Tonnes 15 ..
Industrial Mineral Resources
Gypsum Thousand tonnes 13000 3
Cement Thousand tonnes 75000 4
Barite Thousand tonnes 270 6
Feldspar Thousand tonnes 600 7
Fluorspar Thousand tonnes 70 7
Kaolin Thousand tonnes 900 8
Mica Thousand tonnes 7 9
Lime Thousand tonnes 3000 12
Bentonite Thousand tonnes 400 57 67 types of mineral commodities have been reported to have
Limestone Thousand tonnes 55 ..
considerable reserves and/or resources in Iran.
Talc Thousand tonnes 80 ..
4 Coal Million tonnes 2.3 .. Iran is the major or the only producer of Fe, Mo, U, Cr, Cu, Au,
Pb-Zn, Mn, Al and coal in Western Asia (based on Mobbs et al. 2012)
Geology of Iran
© Nima Nezafati
Part of the Alpine-Himalayan (Alpide) orogenic belt or Tethys belt

5
Also named Tethyan-Eurasian Metallogenic Belt
6
© Nima Nezafati
Schematic cross-section of the Zagros Orogenic Belt

1 = Continental crust;
2 = Phanerozoic sedimentary cover;
3 = evaporates (blank) and dolomites (green) at the base
of the sedimentary cover;
4 = oceanic crust;
5 = extrusive rocks;
6 = intrusive rocks.
Modified after Alavi 1994; Asadi 2000; & Nezafati 2006.
7
Orogeny and Magmatism

Orogeny
• Quaternary (mostly volcanism)
Pasadenian
Austerian • Tertiary (volcanism and plutonism, most
Alpine
Pyrenean widespread magmatism)
Laramide
Late Cimmerian • Mesozoic (volcanism and plutonism)

http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/PIC/33gifs/fig3.gif
Early Cimmerian
Magmatism
• Permo-Triassic (volcanism and
plutonism)
Hercynian
Caledonian • Early Mid-Paleozoic (volcanism)
8 Pan-African (Assyntic) • Neoprotrozoic Magmatism (Plutonism

and volcanism)
Matallogenic Epochs of Iran

Orogeny,
Gold Lead-
Magmatism Iron Ophiolite-
(+As +Sb Zinc Barite Manganese Bauxite & Salt
and/or (+P Copper Uranium Phosphate related Coal
+Hg +W (+ Ag (+F) + Iron Laterite dome
Tethys +Mn+REE) deposits
+Sn) +Cu)
Ocean
Epithermal, U, Fe,
Sedimentary+Volc Porphyry Orogenic, SEDEX + Alpine Cr, Cu, Sr,
Major types Sedimentary Other Hydrother Sedimentary+V Hydrothermal- Sedimentary+
anogenic+Magmat (Cu+Mo+Au) Manto Intrusion- MVT VMS, Weathering etc
of deposits (Redbed) types mal olcanogenic Metasomatic Igneous
ic+IOCG + Skarn Related, +VMS Listwanite (Diapiris
IOCG m)
Alpine
Sarcheshmeh, Cu + Ni+ AghDarreh,
Cenozoic (Volcanism + Sangan
Sungun
Sorkheh, Nesr Veshnaveh
Co Astaneh
Khoshumi
Plutonism)
Chromite, Mn,
Late Laramide (V+P)-
Cu, Magnesite,
Mesozoic Late Neotethys Jade
Alborz-
Cimmerian Malayer- Azarbai
Metallogenic Mid- BabaAli, Galali, Guhjar, Torghabeh,
(V+P)-Early ShamsAbad Markasheh TareekDarreh
Esfahan zone, MehdiAbad jan and
Epoch Mesozoic Neotethys Mehdi Abad central
Iran
Permo- V+P-Late Duna, Elika, Komshejeh

? ? Zartorosht Jeirud Jajarm
Triassic Paleotethys Kuh Sormeh Fasakhod
Early-Mid- Caledonian
ZeberKuh ?
Paleozoic (V=Volcanism)
© Nima Nezafati
Pan-African
Proterozoic- Bafgh region Khungah, Angouran, Esphordi, Hormoz
(Assyntic) (V+P)- deposits DehMadan
Zarshuran
Koushk
Saghand
Gazestan Series
(Cambrian) Early Paleotethys
9
Table produced by Nima Nezafati (based on various references), June 2015

Geologic and Matallogenic Subdivisions of Iran
Major geological
subdivisions of Iran
modified after Stöcklin 1968, 1977;

Nabavi 1976, Aghanabati 2004,
publications
of the Geological Survey of Iran, and
Nezafati 2006
Nima Nezafati©2015
10

Khuzestan
Plain
The background map modified from: http://mapsof.net/uploads/static-maps/iran_topo_blank.jpg

Geologic Feature
Covered by alluvia
Geologic time
Quaternary and
Neogene
Resources
No metallic source,
but numerous oil
fields
11
Zagros
Fold Belt
Geologic Feature
Mainly folded thick
sediments (carbonate rocks
and carbonates) overlying
a high-grade metamorphic
Precambrian basement, salt
diapirs in the south
Geologic time
Protrozoic-Cambrian,
Carboniferous to late
Cretaceous, Cretaceous to
Recent
Resources
Few metal resources
including Pb, Fe, Cu, and
chromite
12
Zagros
Thrust
Geologic Feature
The same as Zagros fold
belt plus having ophiolite
melanges
Geologic time
Mesozoic
Resources
Chromite
13
Sanandaj-
Sirjan Zone
Geologic Feature
Mainly metamorphic rocks of
different ages along with
intrusive bodies + Ophiolite.
Lack of Cenozoic volcanism
Geologic time
Phanerozoic
(mainly Mesozoic)
+ Proterozoic
Resources
Fe,
Fe-Mn,
Pb-Zn (+Ag),
Au (+W+Sn+Cu),
Cr
Barite, Fluorite, Mica,
Silica, Garnet, Graphite,
etc.
14 One of the most productive metallogenic provinces of Iran
Urumieh-
Dokhtar
Magmatic Belt
Geologic Feature
Mainly volcanic (basalt to
dacite), pyroclastic (i.e. tuff
and ignembrite) and plutonic
( diorite to granite) rocks,
sporadically with numulitic
limestone
Geologic time
Post-Upper Jurassic to
Quaternary,
Peak of magmatic activities:
Eocene
Resources
Various metal resources;
Porphyry, VMS, skarn,
hydro- and epithermal
deposits of Cu (-Mo-Au),
Fe, Au, Pb-Zn, Mn, etc
15
Central
Domain
Geologic Feature
Horsts of Precambrian crystalline
basement, Paleozoic platform
sediments, Cambrian to Triassic
cover rocks + magmatic rocks
Geologic time
Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Triassic,
Tertiary
Resources
Cu (+ Ni+Co),
Pb-Zn,
Fe (+ Mn),
Au,
W-Cu-(+ Sn)-Au,
Mn,
Sb, etc
16
Alborz-
Azarbaijan
Geologic Feature
Sedimentary + Volcanic and
volcanoclastic rocks
Geologic time
Mainly Cenozoic
+ Proterozoic & Mid-
Mesozoic
Resources
Pb-Zn,
Cu (+ Mo+Au),
Fe,
Phosphate, Barite, Fluorite,
Bauxite-Laterite, Coal
17
Kopet Dagh
Geologic Feature
Sedimentary rocks
(mostly carbonates)
Geologic time
Mesozoic-Cenozoic
Resources
Few metal resources

(Cu), iodine, coquina,
gas and oil fields
18
Lut Block
Geologic Feature
Old stable platform covered by

thick Mesozoic sediments and
Eocene volcanic rocks
Geologic time
Mesozoic-Eocene
(+ Proterozoic)
Resources
Fe (+Mn, +P, +REE),

Cu,
Pb-Zn (+ Cu-Sb),
W-(+ Sn)-Cu
19
Eastern
Iran
Geologic Feature
Flysh-molasse sediments
+ Some volcanic rocks +
Ophiolites
Geologic time
Post-Cretaceous
Resources
W-Au,
Cu-Au,
Cu (+ Pb-Zn),
Cr,
Mn
20
Makran
Geologic Feature
Thick flysh-molasse sediments

+ colored melange
Geologic time
Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene
for ophiolite melanges,
post-Cretaceous for flysh
sediments
Resources
Cr,
Mn,
Cu-Zn,
Cu-Au,
Ti (also placer)
21
Ophiolites
Of
Iran
Geologic Feature
Disturbed ohpiolitic sequences

(ophiolite -colored- Melange)
Geologic time
a) Proterozoic (rare)
b) Paleozoic (rare)
c) Mesozoic - (Cenozoic)
mostly Post-Cretaceous
Resources
Cr (podiform),
Cu-Pb-Zn (VMS),
Mn,
Au (listwanite)
magnesite, asbestos, jade www.gsi.ir
22
Precambrian
Rocks
Geologic Feature
Crystalline rocks
Geologic time
Mainly Proterozoic
Resources
Fe (+Mn+P),
Cu (+Ni+Co),
Au (As+Sb+Hg),
Pb-Zn,
U,
barite, phosphate, salt dome
23 Although the outcrops of the Precambrian (Proterozoic) rocks of Iran are not widespread, they
host a considerable amount of mineral deposits
Salt Domes
Geologic Feature
Salt and Crystalline rocks of

Hormoz Series
Geologic time
Mainly Proterozoic
Resources
Fe , Cu, U, Sr, K, B
24
Some of the Major (partly World-Class)

Sungun Ore Deposits of Iran
Mazra,eh
Tabriz
Caspian Sea
Zarshuran
AghDarreh Zanjan
Angouran Shahrak
Duna & Elika Mashad
Semnan
Sanandaj Tehran
Sarey Guney
Arak Sangan
Ahangaran
Emarat
ShamsAbad Muteh Nakhlak
Lakan Posht-e Badam
Esfahan
HoseinAbad
ChadorMalou
IranKouh Ghaleh Zari
Yazd SehChahoun
AliAbad
Kushk
Choghart
MehdiAbad
Ahvaz
Meiduk
Kerman
Sarcheshmeh
DarrehZar Zahedan
Shiraz ChaharGonbad
Gol-e Gohar
Fe
Kouh Sormeh
Cu Zartorosht
Pb & Zn
Bandar Abbas
Au
Major city
© Nima Nezafati
25 Oman Sea

Iron
Caspian Sea
Modified after Ghorbani 2007

C
B
After Torab 2008
C
B
A
26
Copper
Over 400 deposits and
occurrences
Caspian Sea
• Porphyry Copper Deposits
(Cu+Mo+Au) Tertiary
(Kerman, Ahar)
• Skarn type
• Sedimentary (Redbed) Anarak

copper deposits
• Manto (Michigan) type

copper deposits Mid-Upper
Eocene (AbbasAbad-Taknar,
Anarak)
• VMS type (ophiolite-

related) (Kerman, Makran)
• Other types (Low-

© Nima Nezafati
temperature hydrothermal in
Tarom, Lut)
27
Zinc & Lead (+ Silver)

General distribution of carbonate rocks
• Exist wherever there are
carbonate rocks in Iran!
• SEDEX type deposits

(Neoprotrozoic + Cretaceous)
(Angouran, Kushk)
• MVT deposits (Cretaceous-

Malayer-Esfahan, CD, Mehdi
Abad, Nakhlak, Irankuk)
• VMS
• Hydrothermal-Vein
(Polymetallic) type
(Cenozoic- Tarom-UD, CD,
EI)
• Permo-Triassic (Duna,
Shakin, Kuh Sormeh)
28
Gold
Major deposit types:
• Epithermal mineralization
(including Carlin type)
• Orogenic and intrusion-related

systems
• IOCG type
• Placer Gold Volcanic Terrains
• Listwanite
• By product of porphyry copper,

skarn & polymetallic deposits
Major gold-bearing districts of Iran
29
Summary
• The Urumieh-Dokhtar zone, Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, Central Iran, and Lut Blocks along
with Proterozoic terranes are the richest metallogenic provinces of Iran.
• These host different types of deposits including porphyry (Cu+Mo+Au), manto (Cu), VMS
(Pb-Zn+Cu), SEDEX (Pb-Zn+Ag+Cu), MVT (Pb-Zn+Ag+Cu), IOCG (Fe+P+REE+Au), epithermal
(Au), Carlin (Au), orogenic and intrusion-related systems (Au), listwanite (Au), and
podiform (Cr) together with some orthomagmatic (Fe), volcanogenic (Fe+Mn),
hydrothermal (polymetallic), and sedimentary (Cu) deposits.
• The major metallogenic epochs of Iran: (1) Proterozoic-(Cambrian), (2) Early-Middle

Paleozoic, (3) Permo-Triassic, (4) Middle-Mesozoic, (5) Late Mesozoic, and (6)
Cenozoic.
• Proterozoic-(Cambrian) and Cenozoic have been the most fertile in terms of diversity
and quantity of mineralization.
• The Early-Middle Paleozoic epoch seems to be the weakest in mineralization.
• The Permo-Triassic epoch is one of the richest for the mineralization of industrial
minerals and rocks including refractories, phosphate, barite, fluorite, and silica.
31
Selected References
• AghaNabati, S. A. 2004. Geology of Iran, Geological Survey of Iran Press, Tehran (in Persian).
• Kay, P., Hoatson, D., Huleatt, M., and Lewis B. 2012. Assessment of Mineral Potential, Geoscience Survey Capacity, Risk, and Geological Aid in
Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, Geoscience Australia Record 2012/64, Applying geoscience to Australia's most important challenges,
www.ga.gov.au
• Ghorbani, M. 2007. Economic geology of the natural resources of Iran, Arian Zamin Publications, Tehran (in Persian).
• Mineral commodity summaries 2015. USGS. http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/2015/mcs2015.pdf
• Maleki, a. 2009. Iran’s Islamic revolution and its future, Viewpoints, The Iranian Revolution at 30 Special Edition, International Security Program,
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: International Security; Managing the Atom; Science, Technology, and Public Policy pages 175-177.
http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/18954/irans_islamic_revolution_and_its_future.html
• Mining in Iran, CountryMine. Infomine, Retrieved 18 October 2011
• Mobbs, P. M., Taib, M., Wallace, G. J., Wilburn, D. R., and Yager, T. R. 2012. The Mineral Industries of the Middle East, 2010 Minerals Yearbook,
Middle East, USGS
• Momenzadeh, M. and Walter, W. H. 1984. Mineral deposits and meatallogenic epochs in the area of the Geotraverse across Iran-a review, Neues
Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie-Abhandlungen, Vol. 168, pp 468-478.
• Nabavi M.H. 1976. An introduction to geology of Iran. (in Persian), Geological Survey of
• Iran, Tehran.
• Nezafati, N. 2006. Au-Sn-W-Cu-Mineralization in the Astaneh-Sarband Area, West Central Iran; including a comparison of the ores with ancient
bronze artifacts from Western Asia. PhD thesis, University of Tübingen, https://publikationen.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/handle/10900/48972
• Nezafati, N., Momenzadeh, M. and Pernicka, E. 2008. New Insights into the Ancient Mining and Metallurgical Researches in Iran. In: Ü. Yalcin, H.
Özbal, A. G. Paşamehmetoğlu (Eds). Ancient Mining in Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean, pp 307-328, Atilim University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Nezafati, N., Momenzadeh, M., Pernicka, E. 2008. The Iranian ore deposits and their role in the development of the ancient cultures. Der Anschnitt.
Anatolian Metal IV. German Mining Museum (Deutsches Bergbau-Museum), Bochum, Germany. Beiheft 21. pp 77-91.
• Samani, A. B. 1988. Metallogeny of the Precambrian in Iran, Precambrian Research, Elsevier Science Publisher‘s, Vol. 39, pp 85-106.
• Stöcklin J. 1968. Structural history and tectonics of Iran; a review. American Association
• of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 52(7):1229–1258.
• Stöcklin J. 1977. Structural correlation of the Alpine ranges between Iran and central Asia.
• Mem. Hors-serie Soc. Geol. Fr., 8:333-353.
• Torab, F. M. 2008. Geochemistry and metallogeny of magnetiteapatite deposits of the Bafq Mining District, Central Iran, doctoral Thesis, Technical
University of Clausthal, Germany.
• http://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/Files/abstract/1393/ch_ntaamdhbbk_93.pdf
• http://www.amar.org.ir/
32
Vielen Dank
Und
Glückauf!
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Mineral Resources of Iran; an overview

Conference Paper · June 2015

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Mineral Resources of Iran

Area: 1,648,195 km2 (17th)

Iran and Energy Resources

World oil reserves World natural gas reserves

Proved reseves of crude oil

After Russia possesses the second rank in

Dr. Nima Nezafati, IAU, Science & Research Branch, Tehran

Ancient Mining and Metallurgy

3 © Nima Nezafati © Nima Nezafati © Nima Nezafati

Dr. Nima Nezafati, IAU, Science & Research Branch, Tehran

Iran’s Contribution to Global Mining

Commodity Unit Production World Rank

Molybdenum Tonnes 6300 8

Copper Thousand tonnes 265 ..

Gold Tonnes 0.341 ..

Lead Thousand tonnes 35 ..

Zinc Thousand tonnes 65 ..

Bauxite Thousand tonnes 600 ..

Cement Thousand tonnes 75000 4

Barite Thousand tonnes 270 6

Feldspar Thousand tonnes 600 7

Fluorspar Thousand tonnes 70 7

Kaolin Thousand tonnes 900 8

Mica Thousand tonnes 7 9

Lime Thousand tonnes 3000 12

Part of the Alpine-Himalayan (Alpide) orogenic belt or Tethys belt

Schematic cross-section of the Zagros Orogenic Belt

Orogeny and Magmatism

Late Cimmerian • Mesozoic (volcanism and plutonism)

Caledonian • Early Mid-Paleozoic (volcanism)

8 Pan-African (Assyntic) • Neoprotrozoic Magmatism (Plutonism

Matallogenic Epochs of Iran

Permo- V+P-Late Duna, Elika, Komshejeh

Dr. Nima Nezafati, IAU, Science & Research Branch, Tehran

Geologic and Matallogenic Subdivisions of Iran

modified after Stöcklin 1968, 1977;

Dr. Nima Nezafati, IAU, Science & Research Branch, Tehran

The background map modified from: http://mapsof.net/uploads/static-maps/iran_topo_blank.jpg

Few metal resources

Old stable platform covered by

Fe (+Mn, +P, +REE),

Thick flysh-molasse sediments

Disturbed ohpiolitic sequences

Salt and Crystalline rocks of

Some of the Major (partly World-Class)

Dr. Nima Nezafati, IAU, Science & Research Branch, Tehran

Modified after Ghorbani 2007

After Torab 2008

• Sedimentary (Redbed) Anarak

• Manto (Michigan) type

• VMS type (ophiolite-

• Other types (Low-

Zinc & Lead (+ Silver)

• SEDEX type deposits

• MVT deposits (Cretaceous-

• Orogenic and intrusion-related

• Placer Gold Volcanic Terrains

• By product of porphyry copper,

• The major metallogenic epochs of Iran: (1) Proterozoic-(Cambrian), (2) Early-Middle