[ Contribution à l'étude géologique du gisement à Cu, Zn, Pb et Ag-Au d'Amensif (District minier d'Amizmiz, Haut Atlas occidental, Maroc) ]
Volume 6, Issue 4, July 2014, Pages 768–783
Said ILMEN1, Abdelkhalek ALANSARI2, Amine BAJDDI3, Aomar ENNACIRI4, and Lhou MAACHA5
1 Department de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences-Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Boulevard Prince My Abdellah, B.P. 2390, 40000 Marrakech, Maroc
2 Department de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences-Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Boulevard Prince My Abdellah, B.P. 2390, 40000 Marrakech, Maroc
3 Holding Minier de Managem, Twin Center, Casablanca, Maroc
4 Holding Minier de Managem, Twin Center, Casablanca, Maroc
5 Holding Minier de Managem, Twin Center, Casablanca, Maroc
Original language: French
Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The geological, magnetic and mineralogical studies have uncovered a polymetallic mineralization deposit at Amensif in the Amezmiz mining district (western High Atlas, Morocco). The Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au mineralizations are hosted in the Lower Cambrian volcano-carbonate formations. These formations are structurally controlled by Hercynian faults (NE-SW, ENE-WSW, E-W and NW-SE). These hercynian faults were facilitated the circulation of hydrothermal fluid that responsible for the implementation of the economically mineralization. The hydrothermal alterations having affected the Lower Cambrian volcano-carbonate formations of Amensif are in mutual relations with the genesis of the Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au polymetallic mineralizations. Mineralogical study of this deposit reveals the presence of a particular and characteristic mineral assemblages composed of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, arsenopyrite, pyrite, grey copper, minor amount of silver, gold and bismuth. Microtextural relationship between the sulphides indicates sulphureted these mineralizations result from two distinct stages paragenetic: (I) an arseno-ferriferous stage and (II) a polymetallic stage. The estimated reserves based on the analyses of samples collected from 25 drill cores established in the sector go back to 568 110 Tons of ore with 3.79% Zn, 0.69% Pb, 1.02% Cu, 98.30ppm Ag and 0.48 ppm Au. The geological setting, lithofacies, mineral assemblages, geochemical analyses and a mode of hydrothermal alteration remind those described in certain "High-temperature polymetallic Carbonate Replacement Deposits" type worldwide.
Author Keywords: Polymetallic mineralization, veins, Carbonate Replacement deposit, textures, Cambrian, Amensif, western High Atlas, Morocco.
Volume 6, Issue 4, July 2014, Pages 768–783
Said ILMEN1, Abdelkhalek ALANSARI2, Amine BAJDDI3, Aomar ENNACIRI4, and Lhou MAACHA5
1 Department de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences-Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Boulevard Prince My Abdellah, B.P. 2390, 40000 Marrakech, Maroc
2 Department de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences-Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Boulevard Prince My Abdellah, B.P. 2390, 40000 Marrakech, Maroc
3 Holding Minier de Managem, Twin Center, Casablanca, Maroc
4 Holding Minier de Managem, Twin Center, Casablanca, Maroc
5 Holding Minier de Managem, Twin Center, Casablanca, Maroc
Original language: French
Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The geological, magnetic and mineralogical studies have uncovered a polymetallic mineralization deposit at Amensif in the Amezmiz mining district (western High Atlas, Morocco). The Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au mineralizations are hosted in the Lower Cambrian volcano-carbonate formations. These formations are structurally controlled by Hercynian faults (NE-SW, ENE-WSW, E-W and NW-SE). These hercynian faults were facilitated the circulation of hydrothermal fluid that responsible for the implementation of the economically mineralization. The hydrothermal alterations having affected the Lower Cambrian volcano-carbonate formations of Amensif are in mutual relations with the genesis of the Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au polymetallic mineralizations. Mineralogical study of this deposit reveals the presence of a particular and characteristic mineral assemblages composed of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, arsenopyrite, pyrite, grey copper, minor amount of silver, gold and bismuth. Microtextural relationship between the sulphides indicates sulphureted these mineralizations result from two distinct stages paragenetic: (I) an arseno-ferriferous stage and (II) a polymetallic stage. The estimated reserves based on the analyses of samples collected from 25 drill cores established in the sector go back to 568 110 Tons of ore with 3.79% Zn, 0.69% Pb, 1.02% Cu, 98.30ppm Ag and 0.48 ppm Au. The geological setting, lithofacies, mineral assemblages, geochemical analyses and a mode of hydrothermal alteration remind those described in certain "High-temperature polymetallic Carbonate Replacement Deposits" type worldwide.
Author Keywords: Polymetallic mineralization, veins, Carbonate Replacement deposit, textures, Cambrian, Amensif, western High Atlas, Morocco.
Abstract: (french)
Les études géologiques, magnétiques et minéralogiques ont permis de découvrir un gisement à minéralisation polymétallique dans le district minier d'Amizmiz (Haut Atlas occidental). Il s'agit du gisement d'Amensif à Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag et Au encaissé dans les formations volcano-carbonatées d'âge Cambrien inférieur. Ces formations sont structuralement contrôlées par des failles hercyniennes (NE-SW, ENE-WSW, E-W et NW-SE) qui ont facilité la circulation des fluides hydrothermaux responsables de la mise en place de cette minéralisation à intérêt économique. Les altérations hydrothermales ayant affectées les formations volcano-carbonatées du Cambrien inférieur d'Amensif (Haut Atlas occidental) sont en relations mutuelles avec la genèse des minéralisations polymétalliques à Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag et Au. L'étude minéralogique de ce gisement révèle la présence d'une paragenèse particulière et caractéristique composée de chalcopyrite, sphalérite, galène, arsénopyrite, pyrite, cuivre gris, minéraux d'argent et or. Les relations microtexturales entre les phases sulfurées mettent indiquent que ces minéralisations résultent de deux stades paragénétiques distincts ; (i) un stade arséno-ferrifère ; et (ii) un stade polymétallique. Les réserves estimées à ce stade en se basant sur les données de 25 sondages carottés implantés dans le secteur remontent à 568 110 Tonnes de minerai à 3.79 % Zn ; 0.69 % Pb ; 1.02 % Cu avec 98.30 ppm Ag et 0.48 ppm Au. Le contexte géologique, les lithofaciès, la paragenèse minérale, les analyses géochimiques et le mode d'altération rappellent ceux décrits dans certains gisements de type « High-temperature polymetallic Carbonate Replacement Deposits » à travers le monde.
Author Keywords: Minéralisations polymétalliques, veines, Carbonate Replacement deposit, textures, Cambrien, Amensif, Haut Atlas Occidental, Maroc.
How to Cite this Article
Said ILMEN, Abdelkhalek ALANSARI, Amine BAJDDI, Aomar ENNACIRI, and Lhou MAACHA, “Contribution to geological study of Amensif Cu, Zn, Pb & Ag-Au deposit (Amizmiz mining district, Western High Atlas, Morocco,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 768–783, July 2014.
