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Geochemical, mineralogical and sulfur isotopic evidence on the genesis of the Gadir Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn deposit (NW Azerbaijan) in the Lesser Caucasus

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Abstract

The Gadir Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn deposit, located in the western part of Azerbaijan, was extensively occurred in quartz porphyry, and rarely in the contact of the hornfelsed andesite and quartz porphyry. The hydrothermal alterations associated with mineralization are quartz-adularia±sericite and propylitic alterations. The Gadir deposit is mainly composed of native gold, hessite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, pyrite, minor arsenopyrite, marcasite, digenite, barite, and adularia. The Gadir deposit is mainly composed of Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn which maximum quantities are 10.3 ppm, 1133 ppm, 23780 ppm, 59811 ppm, and 424770 ppm, respectively. The δ34SH2S values (−2.2 to 4.4 ‰) of sulfides (chalcopyrite, pyrite, and sphalerite) from the Gadir Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn deposit indicate a magmatic origin for the ore-forming fluids. The geological, mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic data for Gadir deposit suggest an epithermal deposit associated with the porphyry system.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Scientific Research Project Coordination of Konya Technical University (Selçuk University Project No: 18201084). The authors thank to Azerbaijan International Mining Company (Anglo Asian Mining PLC, United Kingdom ) for their support. The authors would like to thank the two reviewers and editors of the journal for their comments and advice to improve the quality of this paper.

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İsmayıl, C., Arık, F., Özen, Y. et al. Geochemical, mineralogical and sulfur isotopic evidence on the genesis of the Gadir Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn deposit (NW Azerbaijan) in the Lesser Caucasus. Arab J Geosci 14, 1298 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-07520-6

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