Ti-Fe mineralization in Bafq anomaly no. 15, Central Iran: Insights to mineralogy and mineral chemistry

The Ti- Fe mineralization in Bafq 15 anomaly located 35 Km NW of Bafq city, and is a part of Poshte Badam Block in the Central Iran. Mineralization including magnetite, titanomagnetite, ilmenite, and minor pyrite which hosted by gabbro and pyroxenite intrusions syngeneticly. Based on the whole rock chemistry, FeOt, TiO2, CaO, Ni, Cr and V show a positive correlation with MgO, whereas Al2O3, Na2O+K2O, and SiO2 display a negative correlation. These correlations are in agreement with the crystallization of clinopyroxene, amphibole, plagioclase, and oxide minerals in the intrusion. The positive correlation of V, Cr, and Ni with Fe indicates the concentration of these elements in Fe minerals. The chemical composition of ore minerals mostly plots in the solid solution of magnetite- ulvospinel (titanomagnetite) and magnetite- ilmenite fields. In QFM+1> conditions, the high Fe-Ti contents along high H2O content (>2 Wt. %) of parental magma are the most prominent factors controlling Fe- Ti mineralization. According to the proposed model for mineralization, as a new pulse of magma enters the chamber, the high H2O content sufficiently depressed the crystallization temperature of silicates in analogy to oxides, giving rise to early crystallization of Fe-Ti minerals. Increasing of H2O content and magmatic volatiles during magma fractionation consequently may induce immiscibility and separation of oxides from residual melt in late magmatic stage whereas this dense oxides melt flow through pre-crystalized silicates and solidified as intercumulus phase.