E. Haji, H. Safari, B. Shafiei Bafti, / Journal of Gems & Precious Metals 1(1) 2021 15-27 15 Gold mineralization occurrences of Saqez–Baneh zone (north Sanandaj-Sirjan, Iran): structural settings in a microscopic scale Erfan Haji *a , Hojjatollah Safari b , Behnam Shafiei Bafti b a Department of Geology, Faculty of Scienses, University of Kurdistan, Iran b Department of Geology, Faculty of Scienses, Golestan University, Iran A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T 1. Introduction The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is a metamorphic–magmatic belt, associated with the Zagros Orogen and part of the Alpine- Himalayan orogenic system in Iran (Mehdipour Ghazi & Moazzen, 2015). The rocks of SSZ, encompassing the 1500-km-long, 150 to 200- km-wide area, were separated mainly from central Iran during of the Mesozoic (Sengor, 1990). They share the NW-SE trend of surrounding structures (Berberian, 1995; Azizi & Jahangiri, 2008). The geodynamic evolution of the SSZ was controlled by the opening and subsequent closure of the Neotethys Ocean at the northeastern margin of Gondwana (Alavi, 1994; Fig. 1). The SSZ is subdivided into two parts in the Golpayegan area (Eftekhar-Nezhad, 1981): 1) the southern part (South SSZ) consists of rocks deformed and metamorphosed in the Middle to Late Triassic; 2) the northern part (North SSZ), known as the Sanandaj-Mahabad zone, deformed in the Late Cretaceous and contains many intrusive felsic rocks. Based on the recognition of the Late Mesozoic continental margin arc which was formed during northwestward subduction of Neotethys Ocean beneath the Iranian Continent, the SSZ is subdivided into five subzones from southwest to northeast (Mohajjel & Sahandi, 1999): 1) the radiolarite sub-zone; 2) the Biston sub-zone; 3) the ophiolite sub-zone; 4) the marginal sub- zone, and 5) the complexly-deformed subzone. The SSZ from the Paleozoic to Eocene eras have produced several styles of gold deposits in the contemporaneous metamorphic belt. Gold deposits in the SSZ are classified into three distinct metallogenic provinces which are respectively named as northern, central and southern provinces. They include orogenic (e. g. Qolqoleh, Kervian, Qabaqhlujeh, Pir Omaran, Kharapeh, Mirgeh Naghshineh, Hamzeh Gharanain, Sheikh Chupan, Zaveh Kouh, Sardeh Kouhestan and Shoy), epithermal (e. g. Aghdarreh, Sari Gunay and Guzal Bolaqh), Carlin-type (e. g. Zarshuran and Akhtarchi), intrusion-related (e. g. Muteh, Astaneh and Zartorosht) and gold-rich volcanic-associated massive sulfide (e. g. Barika) deposits (Aliyari et al., 2012; Tajeddin et al., 2006; Fig. 2). Journal of Gems & Precious Metals Journal homepage: http:// gem.sbu.ac.ir The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is the metamorphic-magmatic core of Zagros Orogen in Iran. The SSZ has produced several styles of gold deposits during the Phanerozoic eon. The Saqez–Sardasht zone includes a NE-trending goldfield belt, located at the northern SSZ. This area, embodying the main orogenic gold deposits (e. g. Qolqoleh, Kervian, Qabaqhlujeh, Hamzeh Gharanain, Mirgeh Naghshineh) was chosen for this research in order to study the relationship between deformation phases and gold-accompanying minerals in a microscopic scale. It is demonstrated that the study area has experienced 2 ductile phases, 1 semi-ductile phase and 1 brittle phase of deformation, each associated with the shear zone progression. Gold mineralization via each deformation phase is relevant with the precipitation of new pyrites and shearing/rotating of old pyrites. Keywords: Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone Saqez-Baneh Zone Gold Mineralization Orogenic Gold Deformation Phases Shear Zone Article history: Received: 23 Sep 2020 Accepted: 29 Nov 2020 *corresponding author. E-mail address: erfan.haji@gmail.com (E. Haji) Journal of Gems & Precious Metals 1(1) 2021 15-27