Heavy Mineral Studies of Astaneh Area SouthWest of Araq

Heavy minerals have been separated from a series of fluvial sediment
samples collected from the river channels of the Astaneh" area. A moderately
positive correlation was found between heavy mineral assemblages and adjacent
rock types.
The heavy minerals of this area have a granite origin and are found in
river sands, have a specific gravity of 2.9 and greater. Some of these minerals
like amphibole group and pyroxene group, etc. lack significant economic value,
while others like gold , scheelite , cassiterite and cinnabar are of some economic
value.
Important economic .minerals in the studied samples were gold. cinnabar,
cassiterite , scheelite , chalcopyrite , galena , corundum, realgar , chrysoberyl,
and malachite. From the above mentioned minerals gold and scheelite were
known in the area from the early stages.
The granitic body in the area has intruding mineralized veins of
pegmatite and quartz' Minerals like cassiterite , chrysoberyl, and corundum
are associated with pegmatites , and other minerals like chalcopyrite, galena,
cinnabar•, and realgar are from hypothermal I origin.
Cinnabar is found in small quantities in the alluvium deposits of the
area. Coarse grains and soft nature of cinnabar is an indication of a close
detrital source containing it.