Mineralogy and geochemistry of barite mineralizations in maden complex (Elazığ)

Barit mineralizations in the study area were located in Elazig region and on the South Eastern Thrust zone and Middle Eocene Maden Complex. All the deposits were placed in Middle Eocene Maden Complex. Paleozoic Pütürge Metamorphites, Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Guleman Ophiolites and Eocene Maden Complex were the main geological units in the region. The barite mineralizations occured as vein bodies which are from a few cm to 2 m thick, in red mudstones and basic volcanic rocks of Maden Complex. The barite ore was generally massive and had white color. The main ore minerals were barite, quartz, calcite and pyrite. The major oxide abundance order of the ores was BaO, Si02, Fe2O3, Al2O3 and CaO. Average BaO and Si02 contents in ore were between % 54.38 and % 15.10, respectively. BaO contents of the ores showed negative correlations with other oxides and trace elements. Trace element contents in barite were too low and enriched only Sr in compared to MORB values. The total REE contents of the barite ores in the study area varied between 4.2 and 12.7 ppm. The chondrite normalized REE patterns showed LREE enrichments, strong negative Ce anomalies and negative Eu anomalies. Low REE contents indicated hydrothermal origin, negative Ce anomalies pointed low Eh conditions under low redox potential and negative Eu anomalies low temperature mineralizing fluids.