Application of Stream and Reservoir Sediment Geochemistry in Determining provenance: A Case Study from the watershed of Dar-e-Allo copper mine waste dam- Kerman, Iran

The sedimentation lake formed behind the waste dam of the Dar-e-Allo copper mine in south of Kerman, annually is the host of detrital material derived from the natural weathering and erosion of various upstream lithologies. To determine the provenance of these sediments, 18 samples were collected from clastic deposits along the main drainage channels as well as from sediments accumulated behind the dam. These samples were analyzed geochemically using XRF and XRD techniques to quantify the concentrations of major, minor, and rare earth elements. The calculated Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values, together with the A–CN–K ternary diagram, indicate a low to moderate degree of chemical weathering under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions in the provenance. The distribution patterns in binary and ternary geochemical diagrams reveal that the sediments are primarily derived from intermediate to mafic volcanic rocks (andesite and andesite–basalt), with minor contributions from felsic lithologies (dacite and rhyodacite). Low concentrations of chromium and nickel exclude any significant contribution from ultramafic sources. The position of the samples in binary and ternary discrimination diagrams, along with key geochemical ratios such as Th/U and La/Th, suggests a magmatic provenance associated with a tectonic setting typical of an Oceanic Island Arc. These findings provide valuable baseline data for sediment resource management in mining areas and contribute to the development of sustainable resource management strategies.