Geological, mineralogical-petrographical and fluid inclusion characteristics of the Catalcam (Soma-Manisa) Au-Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization

Abstract

The study area is located in the southeastern Biga Peninsula. As result of field, drilling and laboratory studies, diorite porphyry intruded to Lower Miocene and older units and contained Au, Pb, Zn and Cu anomalies, has been determined. Intersected potassic, propylitic, phyllic and argillic alteration zones were developed in the pluton and host rock. Veins-veinlets developed in the pluton and host rock, contain native gold, silver, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena. They are composed of undulated quartz in the deeper levels, and massive quartz, calcite/dolomite and barite in the middle and upper levels. According to the fluid inclusion data from sphalerite, quartz and barite, temperature of ore-bearing fluids are in three groups (argillic:150-220 degrees C, phyllic:250-350 degrees C, potassic:>400 degrees C). Fluid inclusions, including solid phases such as hematite, chalcopyrite and salt as well as liquid and gas phases, indicate that Catalcam Au-Cu mineralization is intrusion-related system. Fluid inclusion data display temperature and salinity of the ore-bearing fluids in the early stage (porphyry) are high, whereas relatively lower in the late stage (epithermal). In conclusion, Catalcam mineralization was developed in two different phases as porphyry Au-Cu and epithermal Zn-Pb-Cu-Au, which is the first porphyry gold deposit related to Miocene magmatic-hydrothermal system in the Biga porphyry belt.