New Discovery of Fe - Mn Mineralization along Abu Asal Fault Dead Sea Area, Central Jordan

Abstract

This work is describing a new discovery of iron - manganese deposit in central Jordan. The geology and mineralogy of Lower Cretaceous Kurnub sandstone hosted Fe- Mn mineralization in the area of Wadi Abu Asal was investigated. The mineralization is interesting as it's restricted to the Neogene NNE-SSW trending fault zone, which is related and parallel to the major Dead Sea fault system. In addition, it is outcropping in an area that compresses many hot springs and geothermal indications. The vein type mineralization is the dominating feature, which indicated an epigenetic mineralization. The major oxides geochemistry reveals the hydrothermal origin of the ore, were Fe and Mn have negative correlation with Si and Ca, which are the main elements forming the minerals of the hosting rocks. The mineral phases of iron deposit are the goethite and magnetite.

Keywords: Fe-mineralization; Jordan, hydrothermal, veins, goethite; magnetite