Geology, mineralogy and genesis of Lefka-East (Lefka, TRNC) Cyprus type massive sulfide deposit

Lefka-East deposit is located within the boundaries of Lefka town in the west of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Early researches submitted limited information on geology and mineralogy of the ore deposit. Also, early suggested model for formation of the deposit was not comprehensive and did not correspond to the ore characteristics. Thanks to the data obtained in this thesis study, the ore deposit is studied in detail. Accordingly, the deposit consists of east and west ore bodies within the Late Cretaceous upper pillow lavas of the Solea Graben (fossil seafloor spreading centre) in the west of Troodos Ophiolite. Ore zones of the deposit are characterised by polymictic breccias, which consist of sulfide pebbles/blocks and volcanogenic pebbles/blocks with various lithologies. The sulfide assemblage of the ore is dominated by pyrite, together with chalcopyrite and rare sphalerite. Chalcopyrite commonly transformed into covellite. Similar to most of the volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in Cyprus, the deposit is copper-rich and zinc-poor. Polymictic breccia ore is interpreted to have been formed with seafloor massive sulfide deposits mechanically transported downslope as a series of debris flows and deposited. During this deposition, the east wing of the deposit is covered by lava pile and chemical sediments (umbers) settled on the west wing of the deposit. According to the findings, Lefka-East "transported" Cyprus-type VMS deposit is interpreted as an unusual ore deposit discovered in Cyprus in terms of formation.