Genesis of the Tang Zagh iron deposit by using mineralogical and geochemical data, Hormozgan province

The Tang Zagh iron deposit is located about 117 km Northeast of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province in the structural folded-thrusted zone of the Zagros basin. Iron mineralization occurs in the form of iron oxides (hematite) within the salt dome and/or in fractures and between the layers of the younger strata with the Tertiary age. Based on the microscopic studies, dolomitic fragments of the host rocks are surrounded by iron oxides during the replacement processes. The texture of ore is vein, veinlets, replacement, and open space filling. Hematite is the most abundant mineral in this deposit and goethite, dolomite and quartz minerals are the minor phases. According to geochemical data, the concentration of Fe2O3 in this deposit reaches up to more than 89 wt%. Low phosphorus and titanium levels and the absence of skarn-related features do not support the magmatic origin for this deposit. According to the field observation, mineralogical and geochemical properties, Tang Zagh iron deposit is formed in 4 stages: 1. Placement of volcanic material and the entrance of iron-bearing fluids of a volcanic origin in the sedimentary basin, 2. Enrichment of iron by hydrothermal fluid activity due to salt diapirism, 3. Reconcentration and redeposition of iron by tectonic activities and finally 4. Hematite, goethite and malachite minerals are formed due to the supergene processes and weathering on this deposit.