Petrophysical properties of the Lakkeh-Siah iron oxide-apatite mineralization and host rocks

• First petrophysical study of the Lakkeh-Siah iron oxide-apatite (IOA) deposit, establishing a robust database linking density, magnetic susceptibility, and mineralization processes in Central Iran’s Bafq district. • Strong correlation between high magnetic susceptibility (up to 12,000 × 10 −6 SI) and density (∼3.46 g/cm 3 ) with calcic metasomatism zones (actinolite-tremolite-magnetite), providing a diagnostic marker for iron mineralization. • Argillic/sericitic alteration reduces susceptibility due to magnetite destruction. Calcic metasomatism enhances density and magnetism, critical for distinguishing ore-bearing rocks. Mineralized zones exhibit distinctive high susceptibility/density clusters in bivariate plots, separable from barren host rocks. • Henkel’s petrophysical diagrams confirm magnetite-dominated trends in mineralized intrusives versus paramagnetic trends in sedimentary/volcanic rocks. Borehole logging confirms a strong correlation between high-grade iron ore, elevated susceptibility, and conductivity (due to magnetite-hematite ± sulfides), validating surface geophysical anomalies. • This study advances the genetic and exploration models for Kiruna-type IOA deposits, emphasizing the control of metasomatism and alteration on petrophysical properties. This study investigates the relationship between physical properties, metasomatism, and iron oxide-apatite (IOA) mineralization in the Lakkeh-Siah deposit, located in the Central Iran structural zone. The research integrates petrophysical, geochemical, and geophysical analyses to characterize rock units, assess mineralization controls, and develop an exploration model. The mineralized and metasomatized rocks exhibit higher density (avg. 3458 kg/m 3 ) and magnetic susceptibility (up to 12,000 × 10 −6 SI) than barren sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Calcic metasomatism (actinolite, tremolite, magnetite) enhances magnetic susceptibility, while argillic/sericitic alteration reduces it. Bivariate plots (density vs. susceptibility, Q-ratio) effectively discriminate lithologies and mineralization zones. Borehole logging confirms that high-grade iron zones correlate with elevated magnetic susceptibility and conductivity, influenced by sulfide presence. The study establishes a petrophysical database for exploration, demonstrating that integrated physical property analysis improves targeting accuracy in IOA deposits.