Geologic map of the Weka Dur gold deposit, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, modified from the 1967 original map compilation of M.P. Guguev and others
<p>This geologic map of the Weka Dur gold deposit located in Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, is a redrafted and modified version of the <i>Geological…
Public-domain full text preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library. Original source: pubs.usgs.gov.
EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS Contact—Dashed where inferred Area of high gold concentration Fault, fracture—Dashed where inferred Strike and dip of bedding Inclined Strike and dip of schistosity Inclined Vertical Trench Exploration shaft Adit Site of photograph—Tip of arrow at point of observation; number keyed to figure Trail Contact—In cross section B -B ', shown dotted where inferred Fault—Dashed where inferred Quartz talus Carbonatization Silicification Strike and dip of bedding Inclined Vertical Strike and dip of schistosity HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION Orebody Limonite Limonitized Sericitization, chloritization, carbonatization Carbonatization Recent fluvial deposits Marble Quartz-mica schist Amphibolite Diabase, albitized INTRODUCTION These maps are a redrafted and modified version of the Geological map of the Weka Dur area, scale 1:10,000 and Geological map of the Weka Dur deposit, scale 1:2,000 (Guguev and others, 1967). The original maps and cross sections are contained in an unpublished Soviet report (no. R1584), prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Republic of Afghanistan in 1967. The Weka Dur gold deposit lies in a cluster of other gold deposits in Badakhshan Province (Ragh district), such as the Kadar, Nesheb Dur, and Rishaw gold occurrences (Bothmann, 1953) (fig. 1). These gold occurrences lie within a zone of late Hercynian folding and are most likely related to fluids that originated from orogenic processes (Peters and others, 2007). The Kadar (Kalar) occurrence is hosted in early Triassic granodiorite in a 400-m-long, 20- to 70-m-wide shear zone that contains numerous quartz veinlets with disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite and grades of 0.1 to 1.6 grams per ton (g/t) gold. The Nesheb Dur occurrence is in weathered Proterozoic gneiss and contains three 120- to 360-m-long, 1.5- to 4.0-m-wide quartz veins containing galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite and grades of 0.2 to 1.1 g/t gold. The Rishaw occurrence is hosted in Lower Carboniferous limestone marble and consists of a 400-m-long, 0.6- to 2.3-m-wide quartz vein that grades up to 5 g/t gold (Semenov and others, 1967). The Weka Dur deposit is the largest recorded gold occurrence in Afghanistan and is hosted in Proterozoic mica schist and amphibolite that is intruded by diabase dikes and other intrusive rocks (Peters and others, 2011; King and others, 2011). The tabular orebody is 350 m long and 2 m wide and can be traced downdip for 110 m. Mineralization consists of ochreous, brecciated schists containing high gold concentrations along gently and steeply dipping fissures. The brecciated rocks grade to 46.7 g/t silver and contain arsenopyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, and scheelite. Trenches and adits were constructed, mapped, and sampled during the 1960s (fig. 2). Calculated resources are 958.3 kilograms of gold, averaging 4.1 g/t gold (Nazarov and others, 1965; Guguev and others, 1967). The unit colors on the map and cross sections differ from the colors shown on the original version. The units are colored according to the color and pattern scheme of the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW) (://www..org). This map reproduces the topology (contacts, faults, and so forth) of the original Soviet maps and cross sections. Elevations on the cross sections are derived from the original Soviet topography and may not match the Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) topography used on the current map. We have attempted to translate the original Russian terminology and rock classification into modern English geologic usage as literally as possible without changing any genetic or process-oriented implications in the original descriptions. The map-unit descriptions are from the original Russian map "legend." Photographs were taken by Barney Gimbel and Emily Scott of the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (U.S. Department of Defense) and by James Gilbertson of SRK Consulting during 2011 field visits (figs. 3-8). Modified from original compilation of Guguev and others (1967); see References Cited Bothmann, W.A., 1953, Report on the geological investigation of the gold-bearing area of Badakhshan in the north of Afghanistan: Hannover, Germany, Federal Institute for Soil Research, Archive 2, Signature 0018660, 13 p. Chirico, P.G., and Moran, T.W., 2011, Topographic and hydrographic GIS dataset for the Afghanistan Geological Survey and U.S. Geological Survey 2010 minerals project: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 624, available only at ://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/624/. Guguev, M.P., Smirnov, M.S., and Skipin, G.G., 1967, Report on the results of the search-exploration party for gold, worked in the Badakhshan Province in 1965-66; Geological map of the Weka Dur area, scale 1:10,000, graphical appendix 3, and Geological map of the Weka Dur deposit, scale 1:2,000, graphical appendix 5: Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan, report no. R1584 [prepared by V/O Technoexport U.S.S.R. for the Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan under contract no. 1378]. Unpublished data on file at Department of Geological and Mineral Survey, Kabul, Afghanistan. King, T.V.V., Johnson, M.R., Hubbard, B.E., and Drenth, B.J., eds., 2011, Identification of mineral resources in Afghanistan-detecting and mapping resource anomalies in prioritized areas using geophysical and remote sensing (ASTER and HyMap) data: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1229, 327 p., available at ://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1229/. Nazarov, G.D., Rolduguin, P.I., Guguyev, M.P., Skipin, G.G., Mautin, V.A., 1965, Report of work results for placer gold and ore gold of Badakhshan and Taloqan Provinces in northern Afghanistan in 1963-64: v. 1, Unpublished data on file at Department of Geological and Mineral Survey, Kabul, Afghanistan. Peters, S.G., King, T.V.V., Mack, T.J., Chornack, M.P., eds., and the U.S. Geological Survey Afghanistan Mineral Assessment Team, 2011, Summaries of important areas for mineral investment and production opportunities of nonfuel minerals in Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1204, 2 vols., 1,810 p. plus appendixes on DVD, available at ://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1204/. Peters, S.G., Ludington, S.D., Orris, G.J., Sutphin, D.M., Bliss, J.D., and Rytuba, J.J., eds., and the U.S. Geological Survey-Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team, 2007, Preliminary non-fuel mineral resource assessment of Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1214, 810 p., available at ://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1214/. Peters, S.G., Stettner, W.R., Mathieux, D.P., Masonic, L.M., and Moran, T.W., comps., 2014, Geologic map and metallic and nonmetallic mineral deposits, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, modified from the 1967 original map compilation of G.G. Semenov and others: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014-1119-A, 1 sheet, scale 1:100,000, available at ://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141119A. Semenov, G.G., Shwarkov, S.L., Chalyan, M.A., and Rodin, G.V., 1967, Geological structure of central Badakhshan; report on geological surveying work on a scale 1:200,000, carried out in 1965-66: v. 1-2, Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan, report no. R0815 [prepared by V/O Technoexport U.S.S.R. for the Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan under contract no. 1378]. Unpublished data on file at Department of Geological and Mineral Survey, Kabul, Afghanistan. DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS Holocene fluvial deposits Lower Quaternary to Tertiary conglomerate, loam with porous limestone interbeds Marble Mica-feldspar-quartz schist, gneissic Greenstone schist: chlorite-actinolite, albite-tremolite, serpentine-chlorite Quartz-mica schist: quartz-muscovite, quartz-chlorite-sericite, biotite-muscovite Amphibolite and amphibole-epidote schist Serpentinite Quartz-oligoclase gneiss Carbonate-serpentine-actinolite-talc rocks of shear zones Gabbro DIKES AND VEINS Diabase, albite, hornblende Microgabbro-diorite Quartz vein Mica-quartz-albite veins Zone of crushing and hydrothermal alteration of rocks Heavy concentration aureole with anomalous gold content (greater than 15 grains per heavy concentrate): 1. Weka Dur; 2. Rishab; 3. Pas Pul, Jegshud; 4. Kwilar Outline of Weka Dur gold deposit trench map Spring Road or trail Town or village EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS REFERENCES Modified from original compilation of Guguev and others (1967); see References Cited Topography and hydrography derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) 30-meter Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) data, 2009 Projection and grid: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), zone 42 north World Geodetic System (WGS) 1984 Datum Topography derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) 30-meter Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) data, 2009 Projection and grid: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), zone 42 north World Geodetic System (WGS) 1984 Datum DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS Bar Kham Kwilar Weka Dur 1 KILOMETER 1/ 2 1MILE CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 METERS SCALE 1:2 000 500 FEET 100 METERS Unconsolidated material Muscovite-quartz schist Sericite-quartz schist Massive chlorite-quartz carbonized rock Limonitization Quartz 1. Faults; 2. Shear zone Mylonitization zone Channel sample Specimen and its number Strike and dip: 1. Bedding; 2. Schistosity Trace of gold Grams per ton 1.0 meters Higher gold concentration EXPLANATION Figure 2.—Example of mapping and sampling at adit 5 of the main Weka Dur gold deposit from Guguev and others (1967). Figure 1.—Map of the Ragh district showing the Kadar, Nesheb Dur, Rishaw, and Weka Dur deposits, as well as several unnamed deposits. The location of the Weka Dur prospect area, mapped at a scale of 1:10,000, is shown enclosed within the white outline (A). Within the yellow outline is a smaller part of the Weka Dur area at a scale of 1:2,000, shown on B. The cluster of gold deposits in this portion of Badakhshan Province, except for one unnamed deposit, lies within the prospective gold deposit area shown. Also shown are local streams and Neogene gravels that contain potential placer gold. Figure 3.—View looking northwest along ridge trail. Site of photograph shown on map B. Figure 5.—Aerial view looking northwest at trenches and adits shown on map B. Figure 7.—View looking northwest at trench along ridge trail. Site of photograph shown on map B. A.—Geologic map of the Weka Dur prospect area. B.—Weka Dur gold deposit trench map. The area is outlined on A. Figure 6.—Altered and brecciated mineralized marble from the nearby Weka Dur main vein. Figure 8.—Wall of adit 5 in the main Weka Dur gold deposit showing alteration, brecciation, oxidation, and veining. Figure 4.—Crushed, limonitic fault gouge with mineralized gold-bearing quartz vein fragments from the main Weka Dur vein. Field of view is 25 cm. B METERS 100 meters 328 feet Surficial deposits not shown METERS NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION BEND IN SECTION METERS NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION 100 meters 328 feet Surficial deposits not shown METERS NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION Trench Trench Trench Adit 3 Adit 5 20 meters 65.6 feet Weka Dur gold deposit U D METERS METERS Vertical scale and surface elevations on cross sections not modified from the original compilations. Vertical scale and surface elevations on cross sections not modified from the original compilations. Vertical scale and surface elevations on cross sections not modified from the original compilations.
Darrah Wed Khendab
D arr ah
Kw ar
Darrah -i - Rishab
Da rrah -i- We ka Dur
D a rr a h - i- Pas Pul
Da r rah Je g sh ud SCALE 1:10 000 B B ' B ' A ' A ' A A CONTOUR INTERVAL 25 METERS A ' A ' A A Outline of Weka Dur gold deposit trench map (B) Weka Dur gold deposit 70°36'00"E 70°36'00"E 37°31'0"N 37°31'15"N 37°31'0"N 37°31'15"N 70°38'45"E 70°38'15"E 70°37'45"E 70°37'15"E 70°36'45"E 70°36'15"E 70°35'45"E 70°35'15"E 70°38'45"E 70°38'15"E 70°37'45"E 70°37'15"E 70°36'45"E 70°36'15"E 70°35'45"E 70°35'15"E 37°32'30"N 37°32'15"N 37°32'0"N 37°31'45"N 37°31'30"N 37°31'15"N 37°31'0"N 37°30'45"N 37°30'30"N 37°30'15"N 37°30'0"N 37°32'30"N 37°32'15"N 37°32'0"N 37°31'45"N 37°31'30"N 37°31'15"N 37°31'0"N 37°30'45"N 37°30'30"N 37°30'15"N 37°30'0"N 70°30'0"E 70°30'0"E 37°30'0"N 37°30'0"N Gold vein Prospective area for gold deposits Favorable area for gold deposits Permissive area for gold deposits Potential placer gold area Drainage downstream from lode gold tract EXPLANATION Unnamed Unnamed Unnamed Unnamed Weka Dur Kadar Nesheb Dur Rishaw 5 Kilometers 1:250,000 Area of A Area of B Location map of USGS-Afghanistan mineral project area (green box). BADAKHSHAN PROVINCE LOCATION DIAGRAM Location of this report: Weka Dur geologic map (A) and gold deposit trench map (B). TAJIKISTAN PAKISTAN CHINA Trench Trench Trench Trench Adit MAGNETIC NORTH 3 / 1 ° APPROXIMATE MEAN DECLINATION, 2014 TRUE NORTH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 2014-1119-B USGS Afghanistan Project Product No. 262 Geologic Map of the Weka Dur Gold Deposit, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, Modified from the 1967 Original Map Compilation of M.P. Guguev and Others Compiled by Stephen G. Peters, Will R. Stettner, and Linda M. Masonic Prepared in cooperation with the Afghan Geological Survey Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense Printed on recycled paper Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25286, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225; ://store.usgs.gov; 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) Suggested citation: Peters, S.G., Stettner, W.R., and Masonic, L.M., comps., 2014, Geologic map of the Weka Dur gold deposit, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, modified from the 1967 original map compilation of M.P. Guguev and others: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014-1119-B, 1 sheet, scale 1:10,000 and 1:2,000, ://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141119B. ISSN 2331-1258 (online) ://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141119B Area of open-file report 2014-1119-A (Peters and others, 2014), shown in red 64°E 62°E 60°E 66°E 68°E 70°E 72°E 35°N 34°N 74°E 76°E 32°N 33°N 30°N 29°N 31°N 36°N 37°N 38°N 39°N