Iran’s copper ore deposit
Some archaeologists believe that copper has been found
and used in Iran for the first time. Archaeological
studies in Tale-eblis region of Kerman has indicated
the trace of a couple of workshops to make copper
products holding an age of 6000 years. Certain
researchers also believe that copper metal workshops
in Seealk of Kashan is older than this age.
Iran has significant potential of copper. The biggest
copper reserve of Iran is on volcanic-plutonic belt
commencing from Urumieh in northwestern part and
reaches Qaleh Dokhtar in southeastern Iran.
Sarcheshmeh is the biggest ore deposit in Iran and in
the whole world located on this belt. The most
important copper mines of Iran are; Meedook, Chahar
Gonbad, Bahr Aseman, Songoon, Barmalek, Palangi and
Sarcheshmeh copper ore deposit
Sarcheshmeh copper mine is 50km away from southern
Rafsanjan. It is on Urumieh-Qaleh-Dokhtar
volcanic-plutonic belt. Mineralisation is porphyritic
type and in relation to granodiorite intrusive
massives penetrating Eocene tuffs. The dimension of
mineralized region varies between 1000 to 2000m, and
its depth is 150m. The proved reserve of this ore
deposit is 427 million ton of copper stone bearing a
The accessory elements of this copper mine are;
molybdenum, silver and gold being exploited as by
products. Disseminated and fine-crystal chalcopyrites
penetrated in a granodiorite groundmass.
