Origin of the Tala Hamza Igneous Rocks-Hosted Zinc-Lead Deposit, NE Algeria

Abdelamalek, L., Rabah, L., Sihem, S.-L., Salah, B. and Boyce, A. J. (2022) Origin of the Tala Hamza Igneous Rocks-Hosted Zinc-Lead Deposit, NE Algeria. In: 2nd Springer Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences (CAJG-2), Sousse, Tunisia, 25-28 Nov 2019, pp. 367-369. (doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-72547-1_78)

Abstract

The Miocene igneous rocks that host the Tala Hamza Zn–Pb deposit are investigated in order to shed light on their petrogenesis and to provide a brief metallogenic description of associated sulphides mineralization. 800 m depth drill hole reveals from top to bottom the following succession: pyroclasitic rocks, andesite, volcanic tuff, microgranite, silicified tuff, kaolinized andesite cross-cut by aplite, metasomatized granodiorite and granodiorite. These rocks are composed of plagioclase, hornblende, biotite, alkali feldspar, sphene, apatite and zircon. Major elements geochemistry shows that these igneous rocks exhibit calc-alkaline, high K to shoshonitic, metaluminous to slightly peraluminous, I-type characters. Multi-elemental spectra, as well as chondrite-normalized rare earth spectra, show LILE and LREE enrichment relative to HFSE and HREE, respectively. The REE shows a slight negative anomaly in Eu. All these features indicate that the rocks originate from an igneous protolith, probably from a metasomatized mantle material that was contaminated by crustal material and emplaced in a post-collision context during the Miocene. Metallogenic study for both massive sulphides and stockworks reveals the presence of replacement textures, open-space-filling texture and pseudomorphism. These textural patterns, in addition to the presence of the anhydrite layer, are common in deposits of VHMS (volcanic-hosted massive sulphides) group formed in the submarine environment. They also indicate hydrothermal processes throughout two main stages: (1) an early stage in which disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite hosted by metasomatized granodiorite were formed, and (2) a late-stage or mineralizing stage with the deposition of economic ore (mainly sphalerite and rare galena) along faults and fractures.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Boyce, Professor Adrian
• Authors: Abdelamalek, L., Rabah, L., Sihem, S.-L., Salah, B., and Boyce, A. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre

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