The South Ghorveh Batholith (SGB) in Western Iran intruded the volcanosedimentary sequence of Songhor Series (Triassic-Jurassic) during the Oligo-Miocene orogenic phase. The granitoids can be generally characterized as quartz monzonite, varying towards quartz monzodiorite, and diorite. Granitoids, comprising the batholith, are low in free quartz, and possess characteristics of the magnetite series’ of I-type, metaluminous and calc-alkaline type. Adjacent to the SGB, the magnetite skarn deposit is located at Gelali. The estimated ore reserve at the Gelali deposit is 61mt with 63% Fe. In the light of petrography, geochemistry, mineralogy and field investigations, it could be classified as Fe-skarn, and mainly bears the characteristics of mixed calcic and magnesian skarn deposits. Mixed nature of the Gelali deposit and presence of a cluster of calcic skarn deposits like Baba Ali and Chenar in adjacent area characterize an oceanic island arc environment for SGB setting. It is also supported by volcanosedimentary characteristics of the Songhor Series. The low association of sulfide minerals of Cu, Zn, Co, Au and Ni with the Gelali magnetite deposit is an additional supportive characteristic of the island arc environments.

The South Ghorveh Batholith (SGB), covering an outcrop area of almost 550 km2, is located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (S-S Zone), Western Iran (Figure 1). The batholith and associated iron deposits are approachable by the road joining Hamadan and Sanandaj. The Gelali deposit is located on the Southeastern slopes of the SGB (Figure 2). The estimated ore reserve at the Gelali deposit is 61mt with 63% Fe (Iran Kanesh Co., 2000). This paper characterizes the type of iron mineralization in the light of new petrographic, geochemical observations on the granitoids of the batholith as well as on the mineralized host rocks.

Geology of the Gelali Iron Mineralization Related to the South Ghorveh Batholith, Western Iran,deposit, located, Ghorveh, island, calcic, Songhor, volcanosedimentary, characterizes, comprising, cluster, classified, adjacent, environment, associated, geochemical, batholith, Granitoids, Hamadan, Batholith, metaluminous, mineralized, monzodiorite, OligoMiocene, oceanic, nature, petrographic, calcalkaline, additional, sequence, SanandajSirjan