Miner Petrol
DOI 10.1007/s00710-016-0479-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
Mineralogy and composition of chromitites and host peridotites
from the Colkahan ultramafic complex (Nazdasht mine),
Kerman, southeastern Iran
Ali Reza Najafzadeh 1
Received: 12 April 2015 / Accepted: 11 October 2016
# Springer-Verlag Wien 2016
Abstract Several chromitite pods of variable sizes are
hosted in dunite-harzburgite of the about 14 km2 mining
district of Nazdasht, in the Colkahan ultramafic com-
plex, located in the Haji Abad-Esfandagheh district in
the Kerman province, southeastern Iran. Olivine,
orthopyroxene, and to a lesser extent clinopyroxene of
a highly refractory nature, are the primary silicates
found in the dunites and harzburgites. The matrix min-
erals between chromian spinel grains are serpentinized
olivine and pyroxene, Cr-rich chlorite (kaemmererite),
uvarovite, and veins of magnesite. Chromian spinel
mainly occurs as massive chromitite pods and as thin
massive chromitite bands together with minor dissemi-
nations in dunites and harzburgites. Chromian spinels in
massive chromitites show relatively high Cr-numbers
(0.600.82), Mg-numbers (0.540.74) and very low
TiO2 contents (averaging 0.16 wt.%) which may reflect
the crystallization of chromite from a boninitic magma.
The Fe3+-number is very low, down to <0.17 wt.%, in
Highlights
This study documents Colkahan ultramafic complex from southeastern
Iran.
Podiform chromitites from the Colkahan ultramafic complex form a
continuum from Cr# = 6082.
The parental melts had low TiO2 (0.090.40 wt.%) but a range of Al2O3
(10.0414.79 wt.%).
Geochemical data indicating an arc related magma with boninitic
affinity in a supra-subduction zone setting.
Editorial handling: L. Danyushevsky
* Ali Reza Najafzadeh
najafar@yahoo.com; a_najafzadeh@pnu.ac.ir
1
Department of Geology, Payame Noor University, Tehran PO BOX
19395-3697, Iran
the chromian spinel of chromitites and associated peri-
dotites of the Colkahan ultramafic complex. The
harzburgite and dunite contain accessory chromian spi-
nel with Cr-numbers of about 0.66 and 0.69, respective-
ly. The Colkahan dunites and harzburgites are high de-
pleted with low CaO (0.010.47 wt.%) and Al 2 O 3
(0.290.64 wt.%) compared to primitive mantle.
The chemical and mineralogical characteristics of these
chromitites have a strong affinity to podiform chromitites in
the mantle section of supra-subduction zone ophiolites.
Calculated parental melts of the chromitites and geochemical
discrimination diagrams based on mineral chemistry of peri-
dotites are consistent with the differentiation of arc related
magmas with boninitic affinity and support the supra-
subduction paleogeodynamic setting of Haji Abad-
Esfandagheh district previously proposed by some authors.
Keywords Podiform chromitites . Supra-subduction zone
setting . Colkahan ultramafic complex . Paleogeodynamic
setting . Iran . Kerman
Introduction
Thirty-one mafic-ultramafic complexes, including the
Colkahan, Soghan, Sikhuran and Abdasht complexes,
are known in an EW trending area of 60 km length
and 510 km width in the Haji Abad-Esfandagheh dis-
trict of the Kerman province in south-east Iran, consti-
tuting Irans second largest chromite producer after the
Faryab (or Asminon) ore deposits (Fig. 1a) (Jannessary
et al. 2012). The Colkahan ultramafic complex is host
to some podiform chromitite orebodies collectively
known as the Nazdasht Mine. Apart from a few field-
based studies (McCall 1985), virtually no detailed
 Najafzadeh A.R.

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LEGEND
Sanandaj-Sirjan/Bajgan-Durkan (SS/BD) sliver
Ophiolites
Zagros Folded-Thrust Belt
Main Zagros Thrust Fault

Neogene-Quaternary sediments
Polymictic conglomerate and sandstone
Bajgan metamorphic complex (Paleozoic)
27 44
Colkahan complex (dunite, harzburgite, chromitite)
1 0 1 2 3 4 5 kilometers Fault
Chromitite orebodies

Fig. 1 a Location of the study area within the Iranian ophiolitic belts and Esfandagheh) Zagros ophiolitic belts (modified after Moghadam and
Sanandaj-Sirjan/Bajgan-Durkan (SS/BD) zone. Note the inner (Nain Stern (2015)). b Simplified geological map of the Colkahan ultramafic
DehshirBaft) and outer (KermanshahNeyrizHaji Abad complex

studies have been carried out on these chromite ore
deposits and the host Colkahan ultramafic complex.
In this study, the Colkahan chromitites and peridotites,
have been investigated through petrology, field relations, pet-
rographic analyses, mineral chemistry, and whole-rock geo-
chemistry (major and trace elements). The objectives are: (1)
to elucidate the origin of these podiform chromitites and as-
sociated peridotites and the nature of the petrological process-
es; and (2) to determine the paleogeodynamic setting of the
Colkahan ultramafic complex and the Haji Abad-
Esfandagheh district.
Geological setting
The exposed part of the Colkahan ultramafic complex
has a north-south trending shape, 6.2 km long and 2 km
wide in the north, increasing to 4 km wide in the south.
It is situated in the south-east of Iran, at the extremity
of the Sanandaj-Sirjan/Bajgan-Durkan (SS/BD) meta-
morphic zone in the ophiolitic mlange belt of the
Haji Abad-Esfandagheh district, southern Kerman prov-
ince (Fig. 1a). The Bajgan-Durkan complex is up to
40 km wide and believed to be the continuation of the
Sanandaj-Sirjan zone of Iran and the Bittlis massif of
Turkey (McCall 1985). In this context the Sanandaj-
Sirjan microcontinental sliver continues eastwards, and
is referred as the Sanandaj-Sirjan/Bajgan-Durkan block
(McCall 1997). The SS/BD microcontinental sliver is
one of a number of micro continents which separated
from the Gondwanaland no later than the early Triassic
(McCall 1985). The SS/BD block consists of metamor-
phic rocks (garnetiferous schists, quartzite and marbles)
of probable Early Paleozoic age or older (McCall 1985),
which are covered by highly deformed and disrupted
Carboniferous to Lower Paleocene platform sequences
dominated by shelf limestones (e.g., the Durkan
complex).
The Iranian ophiolites of Zagros are part of a
3000 km long belt that extends from Troodos, Cyprus
to Semail, Oman. The Haji Abad-Esfandagheh district is
located at the SE margin of the Main Zagros folded
thrust belt (Fig. 1a). The district consists of two parallel
late Cretaceous belts: the Outer Zagros Ophiolitic Belt
(OB) and the Inner Zagros Ophiolitic Belt (IB) (Shafaii
Mineralogy and composition of chromitites and host peridotites
Moghadam and Stern 2011). The OB crops out for
1200 km along the Zagros belt from the NW to SE
(Fig. 1) and includes five main ophiolite bodies, from
NW to SE: KhoyMaku ophiolites, IraqiIranian Zagros
ophiolites (Kurdistan ophiolites), Kermanshah, Neyriz
and Haji Abad- Esfandagheh (Moghadam and Stern
2015). The IB includes Nain, Dehshir, Shahre-Babak
and BalvardBaft ophiolites (Moghadam and Stern
2015) (Fig. 1a).
The Haji Abad-Esfandagheh district is located in a tectonic
zone, composed of highly deformed metamorphic rocks (SS/
BD), ophiolitic mlange and several ultramafic-mafic com-
plexes (e.g. Sikhuran (Ghasemi et al. 2002); Soghan
(Najafzadeh and Ahmadipour 2014a); Dehsheikh
(Peighambari et al. 2011, 2016) and Abdasht (Jannessary
et al. 2012; Najafzadeh and Ahmadipour 2014b, 2016) with
total probable reserves of 8 million tonnes of chromite ores at
a grade between 30 to 53 % Cr2O3. The Colkahan complex is
one of the ultramafic massifs in the Haji Abad-Esfandagheh
district within the OB (Fig. 1a, b).
Petrography of chromian spinel bearing rocks
Peridotites
The Colkahan ultramafic complex consists mainly of
dunite and subordinate harzburgite which are ubiqui-
tously meshed due to alteration to serpentine (30
70 %) along fractures and they are invariably bounded
by faults or by tectonised contacts. In most cases, there
are no sharp contacts between the dunites and
harzburgites. The dunites are weakly tectonised
(Fig. 2a), and display an anhedral granular texture.
They consist mainly of olivine with minor chromian
spinel (~1 modal %), whereas orthopyroxene and
clinopyroxene are absent. Olivine is commonly strained
and may show internal deformation in the form of faint,
broad and kink bands. The olivine crystals may be elon-
gated and when the elongation ratio becomes extreme
(as much as 5:1) a foliation is developed which is
followed by planes of serpentinization. Accessory
chromian spinel (0.10.4 mm in diameter) occurs as
dark brown to weakly translucent rounded, subhedral
to euhedral grains and may also be broken in trains
defining a foliation (Fig. 2b).
Harzburgites contain 1015 % orthopyroxene and
very rare clinopyroxene (< 1 %). No plagioclase has
been identified. The textures are mainly protogranular
to porphyroclastic with large (1.53.5 mm) subhedral
to euhedral crystals of orthopyroxene in a matrix of
smaller (0.30.7 mm) anhedral olivine grains which
are variably serpentinised. Orthopyroxene is variably
altered to chlorite, bastite and amphibole (Fig. 2c).
Chromian spinels (< 0.5 %) are the least altered but
some are partly to completely replaced by magnetite.
In some cases, a chlorite rim is developed around
chromian spinel crystals. Olivine content in the
harzburgites vary from 83 to 89 modal % and displays
deformation lamellae along its slip planes, mini kinking and
irregular extinction band configurations. Orthopyroxenes are
also deformed and may define a weak foliation and lineation.
These often show corrosion embayments filled with
small olivine grains (Fig. 2d). Diopsidic clinopyroxene
occurs as discrete, subhedral to anhedral grains, as ir-
regular interstitial grains, or in some cases, as small
blebs or lamellae exsolved from orthopyroxene.
Chromian spinel is generally anhedral amoeboid and
vermicular in shape and varies from very fine to rela-
tively coarse grains (0.10.8 mm) (Fig. 2e). Some spinel
show atoll-like and embayed textures which were
interpreted to result from corrosion and recrystallization
when in contact with percolating melts (Orberger et al.
1995). Cr-rich chlorite (kaemmererite) and veins of
magnesite and talc are common in the peridotites of
the Colkahan ultramafic complex.
Chromitite orebodies
Seven separate chromitite orebodies of variable dimen-
sions and shapes have been mapped in the Colkahan
ultramafic complex (Fig. 1b). Most of these orebodies
have been mined for over fifty years since the early
1960s (except for four mines e.g. trench No.205
(Fig. 3a) and tunnel No.1 (Fig. 3b)). Consequently, most
of the original field relationships are now obscured.
Massive, semi-massive and disseminated chromitites
are the most common textural types and commonly
grade into each other. Some chromitite pods are
lensoidal in shape (0.21 m across and 0.56 m long)
with both relatively sharp and, in some cases, diffuse
contacts with the enclosing dunite. In massive
chromitite pods, subhedral to anhedral chromian spinel
grains (0.25 mm) are dark brown to black in thin sec-
tion, and are mostly closely packed. In some cases,
chromian spinel grains are cut by pull-apart fractures,
and have a brecciated appearance with very narrow in-
terstices filled with silicate minerals. The interstitial ma-
trix between spinel consists mainly of serpentinized ol-
ivine with a rare pink-purple Cr-rich variety of
clinochlore (kaemmererite) and chromium-bearing green
garnet (uvarovite) (Fig. 3c). Chromian spinel grains in
these chromitite pods contain inclusions of silicate min-
erals. These silicate inclusions comprise chlorite and
garnet minerals, which are usually linked to the matrix
by irregular veinlets of these secondary minerals.
 Najafzadeh A.R.

Fig. 2 Photograph (a) and

photomicrographs (b-e) of field
and petrographic features of the
studied dunites and harzburgites
of the Colkahan ultramafic
complex. TPL = transmitted
polarized light;
TCN = transmitted crossed nicols.
a Development of weak foliation
(black arrow) in tectonised
dunites of the Colkahan
ultramafic complex. b Euhedral
grrains of chromian spinel and
mesh texture of serpentine
pseudomorphs after olivine,
(TPL). c Amphibole grains
(Amph) replacing orthopyroxene
(Opx); the outer rim of the
orthopyroxene is altered to bastite
and chlorite among serpentinised
olivine in harzburgite, (TCN). d
Olivine (Ol) embayments partly
corroding the orthopyroxene
(Opx) porphyroclast, showing
irregular outlines in harzburgite,
(TCN). e Irregular amoeboid and
vermicular (worm like) chromian
spinel of serpentinised
harzburgite, (TPL)

Moreover, rare grains of primary olivine are preserved
as inclusions within chromian spinel grains. Chromian
spinels are usually fresh, but in some cases show the
typical Fe-rich chromite alteration along grain bound-
aries and cracks.
Disseminated chromitites are composed of 2580 vol.%
of smaller chromian spinel grains compared to the massive
chromitites (0.32 mm). Disseminated chromitites often
grade into massive bodies with a higher percentage of
chromian spinel and larger grain sizes. Subhedral and
subrounded olivine grains (and their serpentine pseudo-
morphs) and rarely chlorite and uvarovite make up the
matrix between chromian spinel. Banded chromitites occur
as alternating chromite- and olivine-rich layers in some
chromitite pods. The banding is usually parallel to the
long axes of the chromitite lenses that are usually parallel
to the foliation in the host dunite. Some of chromitites
show small-scale folding, faulting and cataclasis. In
brecciated chromitites, spaces between the chromian spinel
grains fills with serpentinized dunite (Fig. 3d).
Analytical methods
Nine samples of peridotites (5 dunite and 4 harzburgite)
were crushed in a tungsten carbide ring mill before they
were analysed for major oxides, loss on ignition (LOI),
and trace elements laboratories. Major elements were
analysed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), using fused
glass disks at Actlabs. Glass beads from finely ground
samples were prepared with a sample-to-flux (Li2B4O7)
ratio of 1:10. Analytical errors were <1 %. Trace ele-
ments including REE were analysed using a Perkin-
Elmer ELAN 9000 ICP-MS at Actlabs Ltd., Canada.
Most samples had trace element contents below detec-
tion limits and these are not reported in this paper.
Mineralogy and composition of chromitites and host peridotites

Fig. 3 Field photographs of the

studied chromitites and associated
ultramafic rocks. a Elongated
mined-out massive chromitite
pod (solid lines) hosted by
serpentinised dunite (trench
No.205) and a small massive
chromitite ore pile (white arrows).
b An excavated pod of a massive
chromitite lens (tunnel No.1) and
mined-out chromitite pods (white
ellipses) within serpentinized
dunite host. c Massive black
chromitite (Chr) interstitially
filled with green uvarovite (Uv)
and pink- purple kaemmererite
(Ka) silicate minerals. d
Brecciated and cataclastic texture
in massive chromitites from
trench No.205, with serpentine in
the matrix

Chromian spinel, olivine, orthopyroxene and
clinopyroxene compositions were obtained with a
J E O L - J X A 8 6 0 0 s u p e r- e l e c t r o n m i c r o p r o b e a t
Saskatchewan University, Canada. In order to determine
the primary compositions of chromian spinels, care was
taken to analyse the unaltered cores of grains. We
adopted 20 kV for accelerating voltage, 20 nA for beam
current with the counting time varying from 10 to 20 s
and 3 m for beam diameter. Results were corrected
with a ZAF matrix correction program. Fe2+ and Fe3+
contents were calculated based on stoichiometry.
Representative analyses, together with Cr# = [Cr/
(Cr + Al)] and Mg# = [Mg/(Mg + Fe)], are presented
in Tables 2-4.
Results
Whole-rock chemistry of peridotites
The Colkahan dunites and harzburgites have relatively
high loss-on ignition (LOI) values that range between
6.8 and 12.9 wt.%, consistent with their altered nature
in hand specimen (Table 1). They are depleted in
magmaphile elements as shown by the very low Al2O3
(0.290.61 wt.%, with an average of 0.5 wt.%), and
CaO (0.010.47 wt.%, with an average of 0.22 wt.%)
contents (Table 1). In general, the harzbugites have
higher Al2O3 and lower MgO contents than the dunites,
but similar FeOT contents. The increase in MgO can be
attributed to the increasing degree of depletion from
harzburgites to dunites (e.g. Parkinson and Pearce
1998; Zhou et al. 2001). Both dunites and harzburgites
have narrow ranges of Mg-number values (i.e., Mg
# = 91.1392.75 and 91.0892.73, respectively)
(Table 1).
Mineral chemistry
Chromian spinel (Cr-spinel) compositions
Twenty eight chromian spinel grains were were analysed
from chromitites and peridotites (Table 2). There is no
significant compositional difference in chromian spinels
among the different textural types of chromitites: Cr#
values from 0.600.82 with an average of 0.71 and
Mg# values from 0.540.74 with an average of 0.64
(Fig. 4).
The chromian spinel composition in dunites is also
characterised by relatively high Cr# (0.630.75 with an
average of 0.69) and Mg# (0.380.74 with an average
of 0.62) similar to its counterpart in the chromitite
orebodies (Fig. 4). Chromian spinel in harzburgites dis-
plays a narrower range of compositions. The Cr# ranges
from 0.63 to 0.68, correlates negatively with its Mg#
(0.44 to 0.73) and generally falls within the field of
Alpine type peridotites (Fig. 4). The Fe 3+ # [=Fe 3+ /
 Najafzadeh A.R.

Table 1 Major oxide (wt.%) abundances of the harzburgites (Hz) and dunites (Du) in Colkahan ultramafic complex

Sample no. NK6 NK10b NK18 NK16 NKI NK5 NK7 NK10a NK11
Rock type Hz Hz Hz Hz Du Du Du Du Du
Oxides (wt.%)

SiO2 42.44 38.8 40.24 38.6 40.4 40.4 39.1 39.45 37.7
Al2O3 0.61 0.61 0.64 0.59 0.6 0.52 0.34 0.3 0.29
CaO 0.47 0.01 0.23 0.13 0.32 0.22 0.15 0.33 0.11
MgO 40.57 38.8 40.55 38.7 43.43 42.2 43.2 45.01 40.9
Na2O 0.12 0.12 0.03 0.02 0.11 0.05 0.03 0.08 0.01
K2O 0.06 0.005 0.04 0.005 0.04 0.005 0.005 0.06 0.005
Fe2O3 7.13 7.6 6.36 7.34 7.14 7.79 8.41 7.04 7.97
MnO 0.11 0.09 0.06 0.09 0.1 0.1 0.11 0.11 0.09
TiO2 0.01 0.01 0 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0 0.005
P2O5 < 0.01 0.01 < 0.01 0.02 < 0.01 0.01 0.005 < 0.01 0.01
Cr2O3 0.42 0.86 0.35 0.57 0.39 0.81 0.35 0.29 0.34
NiO 0.18 0.27 0.14 0.27 0.23 0.29 0.30 0.17 0.29
LOI 8.09 11.9 11.77 12.85 7.7 6.81 7.73 7.49 11.3
Total 100.21 99.09 100.41 99.20 100.47 99.22 99.74 100.33 99.02
Mg# 91.92 91.08 92.73 91.34 92.4 91.55 91.13 92.75 91.12

(Fe3+ + Al + Cr) atomic ratio] is very low, <0.08, in all
samples (Table 2).
It has been demonstrated that chromian spinel from
stratiform and podiform deposits can be distinguished
based on their TiO 2 concentration (Zhou and Bai
1 99 2) . Sp i n el f r om p od i f o r m d ep os i t s c on t a i n
<0.3 wt.% TiO2, whereas spinel from stratiform deposits
typically have >0.3 wt.% TiO2. In the Colkahan ultra-
mafic complex the TiO2 content of chromian spinel is
well below 0.3 %, suggesting similarity to those from
podiform deposits (Table 2). Chromian spinel in
harzburgites has the lowest TiO2 contents (TiO2 = 0.0
0.07 wt.%) compared to other sample types (Table 2).
Olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene compositions
Olivines in dunites have compositions Fo 89.691.34
(average of 90.6), and in harzburgites Fo 90.691 (av-
erage of 90.8) (Table 3). NiO contents of olivines in the
dunites are 0.350.55 wt.% (average of 0.4 wt.%),
whereas in harzburgites NiO ranges from 0.41
0.45 wt.% (average of 0.42 wt.%).
Clinopyroxenes have high Mg# values [100*Mg/
(Mg + Fetotal)] (97.898), and Cr2O3 contents between
0.15 to 0.34 wt.%. All clinopyroxene grains are diopsidic
in composition and have very low Al2O3 contents (0.22
0.25 wt.%), similar to clinopyroxene found in forearc pe-
ridotites (Table 4; Fig. 5).
Orthopyroxene composition is enstatite with Mg# of 91.6
91.9, 0.410.56 wt.% Cr 2 O 3 and low TiO 2 content
(<0.01 wt.%).
Discussion
Compositions of chromian spinel and olivine in mantle
peridotites and chromitites are considered to be petroge-
netic indicators of the degree and conditions of partial
melting and the effects of magma/rock interaction (e.g.
Barnes 2000; Dick and Bullen 1984). Moreover, the
composition of chromian spinel provides valuable infor-
mation on the geochemical signature of the parental
magmas and the tectonic setting in which they were
formed (e.g. Ahmed 2013; Allahyari et al. 2014;
Gonzlez-Jimnez et al. 2011).
Several observations suggest a magmatic origin for
the Colkahan chromitites. In the field, structures such
as massive chromitite pods and thin massive chromitite
bands indicate that chromite has crystallised from the
magma. Under the microscope, cumulate textures also
indicate a magmatic origin of these chromitites.
Mineral chemistry suggests that they crystallized from
boninitic melts. (Figs. 4 and 6, and Table 5).
Equilibrium temperatures have been calculated on the
basis of spinelolivine chemistry, using FeMg ex-
change thermometry (Ballhaus et al. 1991). Mean oliv-
inespinel temperatures are 768 and 714 C for
Table 2 Representative electron-microprobe analyses of chromian spinel from the Colkahan peridotites and chromitites. Dun accessory chromian spinel in dunite, Hz accessory chromian spinel in
harzburgite, Chr accessory chromian spinel in chromitites

Lithology Hz Hz Hz Hz Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun
Sample No. K-6-1 K-6-2 K-7-1 K-7-2 K-8 K-8 core K-131 K-132 K-133 K-134 K-135 K-13-6 K-5 K-10-1 K-10-3 K-10-4
Oxides (wt.%)
SiO2 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.06 0.00 0.02
TiO2 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.12 0.03 0.16 0.13 0.19 0.19 0.02 0.00 0.04 0.10
Al2O3 15.59 16.05 18.21 19.59 19.26 19.05 18.48 18.86 12.20 12.79 12.48 12.79 18.14 15.58 13.03 12.29
Cr2O3 49.19 51.20 49.79 50.51 49.83 48.82 48.38 48.27 54.49 53.83 54.09 54.71 50.71 50.24 53.04 54.39
Fe2O3 5.47 1.88 4.46 3.95 4.62 5.40 4.71 4.73 5.91 6.56 5.99 5.98 3.96 3.12 3.67 6.51
FeO 18.60 19.95 10.25 10.69 10.64 10.12 13.76 12.55 12.40 12.56 16.86 13.01 11.98 20.76 21.82 12.81
MnO 0.42 0.42 0.27 0.26 0.24 0.28 0.38 0.30 0.37 0.30 0.36 0.36 0.33 0.40 0.56 0.30
MgO 9.93 8.98 15.69 16.03 15.94 16.02 13.53 14.27 13.76 13.94 11.32 13.77 14.78 8.47 7.63 13.69
NiO 0.07 0.06 0.13 0.14 0.12 0.12 0.07 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.02 0.01 0.05
Total 99.28 98.55 98.88 101.21 100.71 99.83 99.45 99.07 99.37 100.21 101.33 100.85 100.04 98.65 99.80 100.14
Cations (Structural formula on the basis of 4 oxygen)
Si 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.001
Ti 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.003 0.001 0.004 0.003 0.005 0.005 0.001 0.000 0.001 0.002
Al 0.598 0.622 0.668 0.699 0.691 0.689 0.683 0.695 0.463 0.480 0.472 0.478 0.662 0.607 0.511 0.463
Cr 1.267 1.331 1.225 1.209 1.200 1.185 1.199 1.193 1.386 1.355 1.374 1.371 1.242 1.312 1.395 1.375
Fe3+ 0.134 0.047 0.105 0.090 0.106 0.125 0.111 0.111 0.143 0.157 0.145 0.143 0.092 0.078 0.092 0.157
2+
Fe 0.507 0.549 0.267 0.271 0.271 0.260 0.361 0.328 0.334 0.334 0.453 0.345 0.310 0.573 0.607 0.342
Mineralogy and composition of chromitites and host peridotites

Mn 0.012 0.012 0.007 0.007 0.006 0.007 0.010 0.008 0.010 0.008 0.010 0.010 0.009 0.011 0.016 0.008
Mg 0.482 0.440 0.728 0.724 0.724 0.733 0.632 0.665 0.660 0.662 0.542 0.650 0.683 0.417 0.378 0.652
Ni 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.000 0.000 0.001
Total Cations 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000
a
Cr# 0.68 0.68 0.65 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.75 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.65 0.68 0.73 0.75
b
Mg# 0.49 0.45 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.74 0.64 0.67 0.66 0.66 0.55 0.65 0.69 0.42 0.38 0.66
c
Fe# 0.51 0.56 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.36 0.33 0.34 0.34 0.46 0.35 0.31 0.58 0.62 0.34
d
TiO2 (melt) 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.06 0.11 0.05 0.20 0.07 0.26 0.23 0.30 0.30 0.06 0.00 0.09 0.17
d
Al2O3 (melt) 12.43 12.58 13.26 13.66 13.57 13.51 13.34 13.45 11.23 11.46 11.34 11.46 13.23 12.43 11.54 11.27
Cr/Al 2.12 2.14 1.83 1.73 1.74 1.72 1.76 1.72 3.00 2.82 2.91 2.87 1.88 2.16 2.73 2.97
Lithology Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr Chr
Sample No. K-3-1 K-3-2 K-3-3-core K-3-4-core K-3-5-rim K-9 K-11 K-111 K-14-core K-14-rim K-H-core K-H-rim
Oxides (wt.%)
SiO2 0.01 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.06 0.03 0.00 0.00
TiO2 0.26 0.19 0.20 0.19 0.21 0.09 0.07 0.04 0.11 0.11 0.16 0.27
Al2O3 15.20 10.57 16.12 15.08 11.10 20.82 18.77 17.45 16.30 11.02 16.08 8.38
Cr2O3 50.28 54.19 50.79 50.84 53.92 47.25 48.48 48.73 53.41 57.02 52.04 57.92
Fe2O3 6.22 6.05 4.64 5.99 6.76 3.66 4.93 4.44 4.46 3.79 4.34 5.98
FeO 13.35 15.66 13.54 13.74 14.70 10.05 12.45 14.53 10.53 16.81 12.76 14.47
MnO 0.40 0.41 0.41 0.38 0.37 0.26 0.46 0.39 0.27 0.36 0.37 0.51
MgO 13.48 11.25 13.44 13.22 12.15 16.01 14.37 12.63 15.86 10.94 14.04 12.05
NiO 0.06 0.08 0.09 0.05 0.04 0.10 0.05 0.06 0.15 0.02 0.06 0.07
Total 99.25 98.42 99.27 99.49 99.25 98.25 99.59 98.29 101.16 100.10 99.85 99.65
Cations (Structural formula on the basis of 4 oxygen)
Si 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.002 0.001 0.000 0.000
Ti 0.006 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.007
Al 0.571 0.414 0.603 0.566 0.428 0.757 0.688 0.658 0.590 0.425 0.596 0.326
Cr 1.267 1.425 1.274 1.281 1.395 1.153 1.192 1.232 1.298 1.475 1.294 1.512
Fe3+ 0.149 0.151 0.111 0.144 0.166 0.085 0.115 0.107 0.103 0.093 0.103 0.148
Fe2+ 0.356 0.436 0.359 0.366 0.402 0.259 0.324 0.389 0.271 0.460 0.336 0.400
Mn 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.010 0.010 0.007 0.012 0.011 0.007 0.010 0.010 0.014
 Najafzadeh A.R.

High - Fe

High - Cr
0.8

High - Al
0.6

Cr#

pe
ne ty
ites
0.4
Chromitites

idot

Alpi
Dunites

per
Harzburgites

ssal
0.593

0.002

3.000

0.2
4.64
0.82

0.40
9.62
0.60
0.40

Aby
SSZ ophiolites
Boninites
0
0.658

0.001

3.000

12.59

2.17
0.69
0.66

0.26
0.34

1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0

Mg#
Fig. 4 Variation of Cr# vs. Mg# for chromian spinel in chromitite,
0.534

0.001

3.000

10.77

dunite, and harzburgite from the Colkahan ultramafic complex. The

3.47
0.78

0.19
0.54
0.46

field of SSZ after Ishii et al. (1992), Parkinson and Pearce (1998),
Pearce et al. (2000) and boninite after Arai (1992), van der Laan et al.
(1992) and Ishikawa et al. (2002). The Alpine-type field is from Dick and
Bullen (1984), abyssal peridotites from Irvine (1967), and other fields are
0.727

0.004

3.000

12.66

2.20
0.69
0.73

0.19
0.27

from Zhou and Bai (1992)

0.602

13.02
0.002

3.000

1.87
0.65

0.09
0.61
0.39

harzburgites and dunites, respectively. The calculated

temperatures are clearly lower than the crystallisation
0.666

13.42
0.001

3.000

1.73
0.63
0.67
0.33
0.13

temperatures of mafic melts and thus must reflect

subsolidus re-equilibration temperatures. Furthermore,
the calculated temperatures in harzburgites are higher
0.736

14.01
0.002

3.000

than those of dunites.

1.52
0.60

0.17
0.74
0.26

Chemical composition of the parental melts

calculated according to Kamenetsky et al. (2001) and Rollinson (2008)
0.593

10.80
0.001

3.000

of the chromitites
0.32

3.26
0.77
0.60
0.40

Maurel and Maurel (1982) have demonstrated that the

Al 2O 3 content of magmatic chromian spinel is con-
0.628

12.26
0.001

3.000

0.29

2.26
0.69
0.63
0.37

trolled by the Al2O3 content of the equilibrium melt.

Their original formulation has not included other likely
factors such as crystallisation temperature or oxygen fu-
gacity. Based on the chromian spinel compositions re-
0.636

12.60
0.002

3.000

0.31
0.68
0.64
0.36

2.11

Fe#:Fe3+ /(Fe3+ +Al + Cr) atomic ratio

ported by Kamenetsky et al. (2001) from different tec-

tonic settings, Rollinson (2008) proposed a logarithmic
Mg#:Mg/(Mg + Fe) atomic ratio
0.55-

10.5-
0.00-

3.00-

0.30

3.44
0.78
0.56
0.44

expression that relates the Al2O3 contents of chromian

Cr#:Cr/(Cr + Al) atomic ratio
8

9
2

spinel and equilibrium melt in subduction-related set-

tings. The Al2O3 content of the parental melt in equi-
0.64-

0.00-

12.3-
3.00-

0.64

2.22
0.69

0.36
0.38

librium with podiform chromitites of the Colkahan ul-

Table 2 (continued)

0
1

tramafic complex calculated with the Maurel and Maurel

TiO2 (melt)

(1982) and Rollinson (2008) formulae are shown in

Total Cations

Table 2. The Al2O3 contents calculated according to

Al2O3

Cr/Al
Mg#
Cr#

Fe#
Mg

(melt)

Rollinson (2008) are slightly higher than those calculat-

Ni

ed according to Maurel and Maurel (1982): 10.0

b

d
a

c
Mineralogy and composition of chromitites and host peridotites

Table 3 Representative electron-microprobe analyses of olivine from the Colkahan harzburgites and dunites.

Lithology Harzburgite Harzburgite Dunite Dunite Dunite Dunite Dunite

Sample No. K-6-1 K-6-2 K-1-1 K-1-2 K-10-1 K-10-3 K-10-4

SiO2 40.72 40.78 40.03 40.68 40.80 40.73 40.51

Cr2O3 0.02 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.00
Fe2O3 0.19 2.60 2.76 1.99 1.08 1.46 0.39
FeO 8.79 6.62 6.01 7.26 8.20 8.57 9.61
MnO 0.12 0.11 0.17 0.13 0.13 0.17 0.16
MgO 48.70 50.71 50.22 50.06 49.36 49.31 48.21
CaO 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00
NiO 0.45 0.41 0.30 0.39 0.44 0.37 0.35
Na2O 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00
Total 99.01 101.23 99.53 100.53 100.05 100.63 99.23
Cations (Structural formula on the basis of 4 oxygen)
Si 1.007 0.984 0.981 0.990 0.999 0.994 1.003
Cr 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Fe3+ 0.003 0.047 0.051 0.036 0.020 0.027 0.007
Fe2+ 0.182 0.134 0.123 0.148 0.168 0.175 0.199
Mn 0.003 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.003
Mg 1.795 1.825 1.834 1.815 1.801 1.793 1.780
Ca 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Ni 0.009 0.008 0.006 0.008 0.009 0.007 0.007
Na 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Tot. Cat. 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000
Fo 90.64 90.99 91.34 90.79 90.56 89.89 89.61

Fo = forsterite

Table 4 Selected microprobe analyses of orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in harzburgite rocks from the Colkahan ultramafic complex.

Mineral Orthopyroxene Orthopyroxene Orthopyroxene Clinopyroxene Clinopyroxene

Lithology Harzburgite Harzburgite Harzburgite Harzburgite Harzburgite
Sample No. N-K-6-1 N-K-6-2 N-K-33 K-7-1 K-7-4

SiO2 54.62 57.65 56.89 54.69 54.87

TiO2 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00
Al2O3 3.09 1.82 1.78 0.25 0.22
Cr2O3 0.56 0.41 0.55 0.15 0.34
a
FeO* 5.34 5.30 5.40 0.72 0.73
MgO 33.31 33.78 34.67 18.33 18.02
MnO 0.15 0.12 0.12 0.06 0.03
NiO 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.04 0.02
CaO 0.69 0.57 0.37 24.87 24.11
Na2O 0.18 0.00 0.10 0.16 0.18
Total 98.01 99.74 99.96 99.27 98.52
Cations (Structural formula on the basis of 6 oxygen)
Si 1.916 1.993 1.955 1.987 2.012
Ti 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Al-IV 0.084 0.007 0.044 0.011 0.000
Al-VI 0.044 0.068 0.028 0.000 0.010
Cr 0.016 0.011 0.015 0.004 0.010
Fe2+ 0.159 0.153 0.157 0.020 0.022
Mg 1.742 1.741 1.777 0.993 0.985
Mn 0.004 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001
Ni 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.001
Ca 0.026 0.021 0.014 0.968 0.947
Na 0.012 0.000 0.006 0.012 0.013
Tot.cat 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
Wo 1.38 1.10 0.70 49.37 48.46
En 92.29 90.90 91.70 50.63 50.39
Fs 6.32 8.00 7.60 0.00 1.15
b
Mg# 91.62 91.91 91.87 98.03 97.78

a
FeO* = total iron as FeO
b
Mg# = [100*Mg/(Mg + Fetotal )]
 Najafzadeh A.R.

TiO2 (wt.%) in clinopyroxene
0.5
Colkahan harzburgites
In the Al 2 O 3 versus TiO 2 diagrams (Fig. 6) the
chromitite samples from the Colkahan ultramafic com-
0.4
Abyssal peridotites
plex plot with spinels from the depleted mantle and
0.3 boninites, being clearly different from spinel from other
tectonic settings.
Forearc peridotites
0.2

0.1
0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Al 2O3 (wt.%) in clinopyroxene
Fig. 5 TiO2 (wt.%) vs. Al2O3 (wt.%) contents in clinopyroxene of the
studied harzburgite rocks. Fields for abyssal and fore-arc peridotites are
taken from Hbert et al. (1990), Johnson et al. (1990) and Ishii et al.
(1992), respectively
14.8 wt.% (average 12.8 wt.%) according to Rollinson
(2008) and 9.614.0 wt.% (average 12.1 wt.%) accord-
ing to Maurel and Maurel (1982). The calculated Al2O3
content is consistent with either boninitic or island arc
tholeiite compositions of the parental melts, which com-
monly range from 10 to 14 wt.% and from 12 to
16 wt.%, respectively (e.g. Dilek and Thy 2009).
Rollinson (2008) also proposed a power law expres-
sion that relates TiO2 content in chromian spinels and
parental melt from subduction-related settings. The TiO2
contents of the parental melt in equilibrium with
podiform chromitites calculated with the Rollinson
(2008) formulae vary between 0.09 and 0.40 wt.% (av-
erage 0.25 wt.%), (Table 2) which also suggests a
boninitic-type parental melt.
Experimental melts of
19 Depleted Mantle
17
Al 2O3(wt.%) melt
Tectonic setting and genetic implications of chromitites
and peridotites
6 7 8
The compositions of mineral phases in chromitites and
host peridotites can be used to reveal their paleo-
geodynamic settings (e.g. Bdard et al. 2009; Elitok
2012). In a plot of the Al2O3 vs. TiO2 in clinopyroxene,
the compositions of the Colkahan samples are consistent
with those of forearc peridotites (Fig. 5).
The TiO2 content, considered a key factor for the
identification of the geodynamic setting (e.g. Arai and
Matsukage 1998; Bonavia et al. 1993), is extremely low
in chromian spinels from dunite and harzburgite, aver-
aging 0.09, and 0.02 wt.%, respectively. Kamenetsky
et al. (2001) have compiled a database of Al2O3 and
TiO2 compositions of chromian spinel and have identi-
fied fields with varying degrees of overlap that can be
used to distinguish six different tectonic settings. On the
basis of these parameters, chromian spinel compositions
for chromitites and peridotites from the Colkahan com-
plex plot in the supra-subduction zone field (Fig. 7a).
Variations in the TiO 2 content versus the Cr# in
chromian spinels from the chromitites, dunites and
harzburgites suggest that the chromian spinel of both
chromitite and peridotites crystallized from low-Ti is-
land arc tholeiite (IAT) with boninitic affinity
(Fig. 7b). The boninitic chemistry is in agreement with
calculated melt Al2O3 contents. Generally, the ideal tec-
tonic setting for the generation of a boninitic melt is the
mantle wedge beneath a forearc region in a subduction
zone during the initiation of subduction (e.g. Crawford
et al. 1989; Dilek and Thy 2009; Dilek and Furnes

Ma 2009).
in
15 MO
RB The terranes currently constituting the central part of
arr Iran were rifted off Gondwana in the Late Permian dur-
ay
13 Oman ing opening of the Neo-Tethyan Ocean (Moghadam
Boninites et al. 2009). Ophiolites of the Outer Zagros belt repre-
11 sent remnants of the southern branch of the Neo-
Chromitites Tethyan ocean. Chemical compositions of Colkahan
9 Dunites chromian spinels in harzburgites and most dunites con-
0 1 2 3 4
firm a forearc setting for the complex (Fig. 7b), simi-
TiO2 (wt.%) melt larly to the other ophiolites and ultramafic complexes in
the outer Zagros ophiolitic belt such as Soghan mafic-
Fig. 6 TiO2 vs. Al2O3 plot showing the field of the main MORB array.
The diagram and parental melt calculations are based on Rollinson
ultramafic complex (Najafzadeh and Ahmadipour 2014a)
(2008). Field of the Oman boninites from Ishikawa et al. 2002 and melts and Abdasht ultramafic complex (Najafzadeh and
of depleted mantle (DM) from Schwab and Johnston (2001) Ahmadipour 2014b, 2016) (Fig. 7c).
Mineralogy and composition of chromitites and host peridotites

Table 5 Average (wt.%) Al2O3 and TiO2 contents of chromian spinel in chromitites of the Colkahan ultramafic complex and calculated composition of
parental melts in equilibrium with chromitites. Computations of Al2O3 and TiO2 were made using Kamenetsky et al. (2001) and Rollinson (2008).

Cr# Al2O3 (spinel) Al2O3 (melt) TiO2 (spinel) TiO2 (melt) Reference

Colkahan (Nazdasht Mine) chromitites 0.600.82 14.7 12.82 0.16 0.25 this study
Abdasht chromitites (Iran) 0.760.77 12.0012.80 11.9212.25 0.140.20 0.230.31 Najafzadeh and Ahmadipour (2016)
Dehsheikh chromitites (Iran) 0.680.79 10.2916.90 11.1014.50 0.120.27 0.210.49 Peighambari et al. (2016)
Soghan chromitites (Iran) 0.800.84 8.2310.23 9.9511.08 0.100.29 0.180.41 Najafzadeh and Ahmadipour (2014a)
Sorkhband chromitites (Iran) 0.750.89 9.32 10.05 0.08 Najafzadeh et al. (2008)
Mugla chromitites (SW Turkey) 0.640.75 8.8010.50 Uysal et al. (2009) Mugla chromitites (SW Turkey)
Deep chromitites (Oman) 0.710.77 11.7014.40 11.812.9 0.230.34 Rollinson (2008)
Massive chromitite (Kempirsai) 910.6 Melcher et al. (1997a)
High-Cr chromitites (Eastern Cuba) 0.630.72 16.28 13.42 0.19 0.30 Gonzlez-Jimnez et al. (2011)
High-Cr chromitites (Luobusa, China) 11.20 13.80 0.21 0.31 Zhou et al. (2014) High-Cr chromitites (Luobusa, China)
Nan Uttardite chromitites (Thailand) 11.612.00 Orberger et al. (1995) Nan Uttardite chromitites (Thailand)
Boninite 11.2914.87 0.220.24 Falloon et al. (2008) Boninite
MORB ~ 14.70 Gale et al. (2013)

In the whole rock Al2O3 versus CaO diagram, the field as harzburgites recovered from modern forearcs
Colkahan peridotite compositions plot within the same (Ishii et al. 1992) (Fig. 8).

10 0.6
LIP
OIB
Chromitites
Dunites
a b
Harzburgites 0.5
Chromitites
1 MORB 0.4 Dunites
ARC
TiO2 (wt.%)

Harzburgites
TiO2 (wt.%)

high-Ti
0.3 Boninites
Abyssal
.1 0.2 peridotites

MORB-type
low-Ti
ARC

SSZ peridotites 0.1 Fore-arc

peridotites
.01 0.0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
0 10 20 30 40 50
Al2O3(wt.%) Cr/(Cr+Al)

c
Al2O3 (wt.%) in orthopyroxene

Colkahan harzburgites
6
Abyssal
5 peridotites
Outer belt
4 ophiolites
Forearc
3 peridotites
Inner belt ophiolites
2

1
0
80
Fig. 7 a Plot of TiO2 versus Al2O3 for chromian spinels from the
Colkahan complex with respect to modern-day tectonic settings. The
fields are from Kamenetsky et al. (2001). SSZ supra-subduction zone;
LIP large igneous province; MORB mid-ocean ridge basalt; OIB ocean
island basalt. The thick dashed line at TiO2 = 0.3 wt.% separates high-Ti
IAB (high-K calc-alkaline suite) from low-Ti IAB (boninite and low-Ti
tholeiite suites. b The relation between TiO2 and Cr# of chromian spinel
in dunites, harzburgites and podiform chromitites of the Colkahan
85 90 95 100
Mg# in orthopyroxene
complex. Note that spinels plot in the fields for both forearc peridotites
and boninites. Discrimination fields are after Tamura and Arai (2006). c
Mg# versus Al2O3 diagram of orthopyroxene in harzburgite from the
Colkahan complex. The fields of abyssal peridotites (Johnson et al.
1990), forearc peridotites (Ishii et al. 1992), inner Zagros (Moghadam
et al. 2009) and outer Zagros ophiolitic belts (Moghadam et al. 2013;
Shafaii Moghadam et al. 2013) are shown for comparison

4
Al2O3 (wt.%) anhydrous bulk rock
3 zone environment.
Mariana Forearc
Peridotite
2 eri
lP
s sa
Aby plet
de
1 tle
an
M Dunites
0 References
0 1 2 3
CaO (wt.%) anhydrous bulk rock
Fig. 8 Whole rock (volatile free, normalized to 100 % total) Al2O3
versus CaO diagram of Ishii et al. (1992) for the Colkahan peridotites.
Fields for abyssal and forearc peridotites are from Pearce et al. (1992).
The composition of primitive upper mantle (PUM) and fertile MORB
mantle (FMM) are from Pearce and Parkinson (1993)
Hence, the above results are in agreement with the previous
studies (e.g. Moghadam et al. 2013) which suggested that the
Tethyan ophiolites in Oman and Zagros show similar geo-
chemical signatures, suggesting widespread supra-
subduction zone magmatism. The geochemical patterns of
the Haji Abad-Esfandagheh ophiolites reflect a forearc tecton-
ic setting for the generation of the magmatic rocks in the
southern branch of Neotethys during the Late Cretaceous.
Conclusions
Field relations, lithological and petrographic investigations,
and geochemical characteristics of the Colkahan ultramafic
complex, reported here for the first time, allow for the follow-
ing genetic and geodynamic conclusions:
1) The Colkahan ultramafic complex is dominated by du-
nites with minor harzburgites. They are depleted in
magmaphile major elements, as shown by their low con-
tents of Al2O3 and CaO.
2) Podiform chromite ore bodies in the Colkahan ultramafic
complex occur as small massive chromitite pods and
bands. The chromian spinels in podiform chromitites
have a relatively wide range of Cr# (0.600.82) whereas
disseminated chromian spinel in harzburgites and dunites
have high Mg# (0.380.74), and a narrower range of Cr#
(0.630.75). The TiO2 content is extremely low in the
chromian spinels from all rocks.
3) The calculated average Al2O3melt values for the massive
chromitites are 12.8 wt.%, consistent with a boninitic par-
entage. The TiO2 vs. Cr# relationships are also consistent
with a boninitic affinity of the parental melt.
Najafzadeh A.R.
PUM 4) High-Mg olivine (Fo9095), high-Mg orthopyroxene
FMM
(En ~ 92), very low TiO2 content of chromian spinel
and high-Cr chromitites also suggest a supra-subduction
te Acknowledgments This research has been financially supported by a
doti
nd grant from the Payame Noor University (Grant no. D/72096/7). The au-
tre thor is grateful to Prof. Y. Pan for his support with ICP and microprobe
ion
analytic at Saskatchewan University and A. Alirezaei for his help during
the field work.
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