Earth Science/ Mineral Resources, geochemistry and petrology

Short description of the research team

Thematic fields of interest/research areas: Earth Science/ Mineral Resources, geochemistry and petrology.

Manager/head of the team: Carmela Vaccaro Associate Professor in GEO/09 "Mining Georesources and Mineralogical Petrographical Applications to Environment and Cultural Heritage"

Team members: Massimo Coltorti Full Professor in Petrography and Petrology; PhD in Petrography Barbara Faccini

Research infrastructures:

Petrography and geochemistry laboratories (ICP-MS; XRF; XRD; MICRORAMAN; SEM-EDS; IC - Chromatography; LWIA- Liquid Water Isotope Analyzer; EA-IRMS - Elemental Analysis - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry)

Prerequisites of the trainee researcher:

Level of education: “Marie Curie Individual Fellowship” Action requirements

Research experience: n/a

Required working language: English

Contacts: prof. Carmela Vaccaro

Further useful information:

Subject: A multidisciplinary approach for discovering of magma origins and geodynamic evolution of paleo- Neo Thetian cycles

Abstract: The application of isotope analyses and geochemical methods in geological studies can help solve many of the basic issues of the geochemistry of magmatic rocks associated with the tectonic evolution in the Neo-Tethys in Iran in order to give a contribution to identify any links between igneous suites and the exploration of mineral deposits. One of the main focus areas is the Zagros Orogenic Belt located in NW Iran and is a part of Alpine – Himalayan orogenic system is Takab. This Orogenic Belt consists of deformed and metamorphic rocks and intrusive rocks with different deformations due to the subduction of the Neo-Tethyan ocean floor beneath Iran sutured Iran to Arabia and to subsequent continental convergence Since 1967 a first petrological study had been done in this area (Pelissier et al, 1967) but until now, there are different opinions about tectonic setting of this area (Central Iran Zone (Nabavi, 1976), the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (Gilg et al, 2006) and at the junction of the Central Iran, Sanandaj-Sirjan and Alborz-Azerbaijan zones). In the other side, ages ranging from 2.9 billion years to 34 million years have been achieved that encourage every geologist to select this area as a case study for Study of magma origins and geodynamic evolution in paleo- Neo Thetian cycle. In the Upper Paleozoic to Upper Mesozoic volcano-sedimentary sequences of Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone are located the main gold deposits of Iran and using modern isotopic and geochemistry techniques along with detailed field studies can help solve many of the basic issues of the ore deposits in this region.

Topics: Earth system science