A Newly Identified Skarn Mineralization in the Yolindi Area, Biga Peninsula, NW Turkey: New Evidence From Micochemical and Stable Isotope Data

by Halide Nur Dursun | Jan 05, 2024
Between 2020 and 2023, Mustafa Kaya's doctoral dissertation, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kumral and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amr Abdelnasser Ali Khalil, provides a significant exploration of the Yolindi Fe-Cu Skarn Deposit in the Biga Peninsula, Çanakkale. This work is noteworthy for its innovative exploration of the skarn mineralization related to the Şaroluk granitoid intrusion, a previously unexplored aspect. By using a comprehensive approach involving mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic methods, this research elucidates the genesis and progressive evolution of Cu-Fe skarn mineralization within the region. Therefore, this study provides an important contribution to the current knowledge in this field of research.

The main objective of this study is a comprehensive investigations of the skarn ore forming  processes, including both prograde and retrograde alterations. The investigation reveals the critical influence of magmatic fluids originating from the Şaroluk granitoid on assisting the evolution of polymetallic skarn mineralogy, with a particular emphasis on the formation of iron and copper-rich calc-silicate minerals. Further, the study conducts a thorough geochemical analyses in order to identify the geochemical exchange and relationship between the Şaroluk granitoid and the adjacent Torasan Formation. This analysis sheds light on the occurred metasomatic processes and illustrates the important role of magmatic fluids in the alteration and interaction of skarn minerals with copper and iron, thereby providing a comprehensive geological and mineralogical framework for understanding the Yolindi Fe-Cu Skarn mineralization.

Moreover, the dissertation delves into the isotopic ratios of sulfur, carbon, and oxygen within the deposit. These isotopic studies reveal a complex interplay of various sources and processes in the formation of the mineralization. The sulfur isotopic data suggest a combination of magmatic, sedimentary, and potentially organic sulfur sources. Conversely, the carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions indicate interactions with high-temperature magmatic fluids and meteoric waters, reflecting the complex and dynamic environment of ore formation. This extensive investigation of the Yolindi Fe-Cu Skarn mineralization not only enhances the geological understanding of this specific mineralization but also provides valuable insights that have broader implications for the study of Cu-Fe skarn deposits globally. This research, therefore, signifies notable progress in the discipline of geology, establishing an entirely new framework for future explorations in similar geological contexts.