Lesser Caucasus; metallogeny; magmatism; Tethys; Georgia; Armenia; Azerbaijan; ore deposits; porphyry; volcanogenic massive sulfide; epithermal; Lesser Caucasus; Ore deposits; Metallogeny; Geodynamics; Tethys belt
Mederer J. Moritz R. Ulianov A. Spikings R. Selby D. & Zohrabyan S. (2012), Base- and precious metal mineralization in the Kapan district of Southern Armenia: multiple ore-forming events during northeastwards subduction of the Tethys below the Eurasian margin., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 26-28.
Kandashvili I. and Tvalchrelidze A.G. (2012), Comparative analysis of the western and post-Soviet mining codes : Strategy of harmonization., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 19-21.
Moritz R. (2012), Complexité de l’évolution métallogénique et géodynamique de la ceinture téthysienne: témoignages du Petit-Caucase (Géorgie, Arménie, Azerbaïdjan)., in
4th De Launay meeting, O. Rabeau, M. Jébrak & R. Marquis (eds), Montreal, Canada May 2012, , 34-34.
Melkonyan R. (2012), Deposits of non-ferrous metals and gold in Armenia – the present-day condition and prospects., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 28-29.
Moritz R. Selby D. Ovtcharova M. Mederer J. Melkonyan R. Hovamkimyan S. Tayan R. Popk (2012), Diversity of geodynamic settings during Cu, Au and Mo ore formation in the Lesser Caucasus: New age constraints., in
1st European Mineralogical Conference, 2-6 September 2012, Frankfurt, Germany, abstract volume., 1-1.
Moritz R. (2012), Diversity of ore-forming systems and geodynamic settings along the Tethyan metallogenic belt: lessons from the Lesser Caucasus – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan., in
34th International Geological Congress, Brisbane, Australia, August 2012. Abstrcat volume., 1-1.
Popkhadze N. (2012), First evidence of hyaloclastite at Madneuli deposit, Bolnisi district, Georgia, in
Bulletin of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, 6, 83-90.
Danelian T. Asatryan G. Galoyan Gh. Sosson M. Sahakyan L. and Avagyan A. (2012), Geodynamic evolution of ophiolites in the Lesser Caucasus (Armenia, Karabagh): insights from radiolarian biochronology., in
2012, abstract, Turkey, Ankara., 1-1.
Danelian T. Asatryan G. Galoyan Gh. etc. (2012), Geological history of Armenian ophiolites and correlation with the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture zone: insights from Radiolarian biochronology., in
Bull. Soc. géol. France, 183, 331-342.
Mederer J. Moritz R. Zohrabyan S. Vardanyan A. Melkonyan R. & Spangenberg J. (2012), Geology and mineralogy of polymetallic and copper-pyrite deposits of the Mesozoic island arc in the Lesser Caucasus., in
SEG 2012 Conference, Lima, Peru, September 2012., 1-1.
Sosson M. Rolland Y. Muller C. Danelian T. Adamia S. Melkonyan R. Galoyan Gh (2012), Main Cenozoic structures in the Lesser Caucasus, what and where are the connections with Pontides and NW Iran?, in
DARIUS programme Milan workshop, February 9-10, 2012, Milan, Italy, Abstracts volume, , 64-64.
Moritz R. Mederer J. Selby D. Ovtcharova M. Melkonyan R. Hovamkimyan S. Tayan R. Popk (2012), Mesozoic and Tertiary Cu-Au-Mo metallogeny of the Lesser Caucasus: New age constraints., in
: International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus , 33-34.
Mansurov M.I. (2012), Ore-magmatic systems of the Mrovdag raising., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 25-26.
Gugushvili V. and Kutelia Z.A. (2012), Porphyry gold-copper system of the Bolnisi mining district and analysis of two types of gold mineralization., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 13-14.
Ramazanov V. Moritz R. Mansurov M. Hemon P. & Mursalov S. (2012), Precious and base métal deposits of Azerbaijan., in
In : International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucas, 39-40.
Popkhadze N. Moritz R. Beridze T. Gugushvili V. & Khutsishvili S. (2012), Principal volcano-sdimentary facie types of the Madneuli copper-gol-polymetallic deposit, Bolnisi district, Georgia., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 37-39.
Tvalchrelidze A.G. (2012), Reserve reporting standards : black holes in information sharing between the Western and the Ex-USSR countries., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 45-47.
Tayan R.N. Hovakimyan S.E. Hovhannisyan A.E. (2012), Structural control and the conditions of distribution of mineralization within the Aygedzor copper-molybdenum-porphyry deposit., in
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Earth Sciences, Yerevan.
Hemon P. Moritz R. & Ramazanov V. (2012), The Gedabek epithermal Cu-Au deposit, Lesser Caucasus, Western Azerbaijan : geology, alteration, petrography and evolution of the fluid sulfidation states., in
10th SGM 2012, Bern, Switzerland, November 2012,, 120-121.
Hemon P. Moritz R. & Ramazanov V. (2012), The Gedabek ore deposit : a Lower Cretaceous epithermal system within the Lesser Caucasus of Western Azerbaijan., in
SEG 2012 Conference, Lima, Peru, September 2012., 1-1.
Hemon P. Moritz R. & Ramazanov V. (2012), The Gedabek ore deposit : Mineralization, alteration and fluid evolution of a Lower Cretaceous epithermal system within the Lesser Caucasus of Western Azerbaijan., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 15-15.
Mederer J. Moritz R. Ulianov A. Spikings R. & Selby D. (2012), The Kapan mining district in the Lesser Caucasus: multiple ore-forming events during northeastwards subduction of the Tethys below the Eurasian margin., in
1st European Mineralogical Conference, 2-6 September 2012, Frankfurt, Germany, abstract volume., 1-1.
Gialli S. Moritz R. Popkhadze N. Gugushvili V. Migineishvili R. & Spangenberg J. (2012), The Madneuli polymetallic deposit, Bolnisi district, Georgia : Evidence for a magmatic input in a submarine, transitional hydrothermal system., in
10th SGM 2012, Bern, Switzerland, November 2012, 119-120.
Gialli S. Moritz R. Popkhadze N. Gugushvili V. Migineishvili R. & Spangenberg J. (2012), The Madneuli polymetallic deposit, Georgia : evidence for magmatic input in a submarine hydrothermal system and a new chlorite proximity indicator for gold ore., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 11-13.
Gialli S. Moritz R. Popkhadze N. Gugushvili V. Migineishvili R. & Spangenberg J. (2012), The Madneuli polymetallic deposit, Lesser Caucasus, Georgia : Evidence for transitional to epithermal conditions, in
SEG 2012 Conference, Lima, Peru, September 2012. , 1-1.
Migineishvili R. and Chokhonelidze M. (2012), Volcanogenic copper-gold deposits of the Bolnisi ore district., in
International Workshop - Gold and base metal deposits of the Mediterranean and the South Caucasus – , 29-31.
Danelian T. .... Melkonyan R. (2011), A brief geological outline of the Lesser Caucasus: new insights on its Tethyan-Alpine evolution based on recent results of French-Armenian collaboration., in
Ann. Soc. Geol. du Nord , 18, 65-75.
Melkonyan R.L. Tayan R.N. Moritz R. Selby D. Ghoukassyan R. Kh. & Hovakimyan S.E (2011), Copper-molybdenum mineralization in the Lesser Caucasus-geodynamic - the geodynamic and genetic features of formation., in
Tectonics, ore deposits and deep structure of the Earth crust, Ekaterinsburg, Russia, May 15-20, 201, 167-170.
Vardanyan A. (2011), Geological Setting of the Drmbon Copper-Gold Deposit, Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Lesser Caucasus, in
9th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 11-13 Novembre 2011, Zurich, abstract volume, 135-136.
Gabrielyants G. Jrbashyan R. Melkonyan R. Mandalyan R. Vardanyan A. Galoyan Gh (2011),
Geology and mineral resources of Nagorno-Karabakh republic, Yerevan, Yerevan.
Tayan R. Harutyunyan M. and Hovakimyan S. (2011), Main Features of the Tectonic Pattern of the Zangezour Ore District of Southern Armenia, Lesser Caucasus., in
9th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 11-13 Novembre 2011, Zurich, abstract volume, , 131-131.
Popkhadze N. Beridze T. Moritz R. Gugushvili V. & Khutsishvili S. (2011), Main volcano-sedimentary lithofacies at the Cretaceous Madneuli copper-gold polymetallic deposit, Lesser Caucasus, Georgia., in
9th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 11-13 Novembre 2011, Zurich, abstract volume., 1-1.
Moritz R. Mederer J. Ovtcharova M. Selby D. Chiaradia M. Popkhadze N. Gugushvili V. Mi (2011), Major Cu, Au and Mo deposits of the Lesser Caucasus: Products of a great diversity of geodynamic settings., in
9ème Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 11-13 Novembre 2011, Zurich, abstract volume, , 100-101.
Hovakimyan S. (2011), Origin and paleotectonic conditions of formation of ore-containing fractures of the Lichk-Aygedzor ore field of Southern Armenia, Lesser Caucasus., in
9th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 11-13 Novembre 2011, Zurich, abstract volume,, 114-114.
Beridze T. Khutsishvili S. Popkhadze N. Moritz R. & Gugushvili V. (2011), Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Cretaceous host-rocks of the Madneuli gold-polymetallic deposit, Lesser Caucasus, southern Georgia: A new approach., in
9th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 11-13 Novembre 2011, Zurich, abstract volume, 107-107.
Mederer J. & Moritz R. (2011), The Kapan zone of the Somkheto-Karabakh island arc in the Lesser Caucasus: magmatism and ore deposits associated with Neotethys subduction., in
9ème Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 11-13 Novembre 2011, Zurich, abstract volume, , 96-97.
Migineishvili R. and Gavtadze T. (2010), Age of the Madneuli Cu-Au deposit, Georgia: evidence from new nannoplankton data., in
Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci, 4, 85-91.
Migineishvili R. and Gavtadze T. (2010), Chronology and possible model of formation of the Madneuli copper-gold deposit, SE Georgia., in
Extended abstracts of the international scientific conference “Problems of geology of the Caucasus”,, 71-73.
Galoyan G. Melkonyan R. Rolland Y. Sosson M. and Danelian T. (2010), Geochemical characteristics, ages and original tectonic setting of the Armenian ophiolites., in
Abstracts of the International Scientific Conference “Problems of geology of the Caucasus” dedicated, 1-1.
Hovakimyan S.E. (2010), Geological and structural conditions of formation Lichkvaz-Tey gold deposit (Southern Armenia)., in
Izvestia of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Nauki o Zemle, 1, 22-29.
Moritz R. (2010), Gold deposits along the Tethys belt : products of diverse tectonic and magmatic settings., in
Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica, University of Szeged, abstract series,, 6, 247-247.
Gugushvili V. Kutelia Z. and Javakhidze D. (2010), Gold-copper porphyry and epithermal gold mineralization of postcollisional setting exemplified by Miverud deposit of northwestern Iran., in
International Mining Congress and Expo 2010, Teheran, Iran, October 18-21 2010, Proceedings, , 26-26.
Gugushvili V. and Kutelia Z.A. (2010), Gold-copper porphyry and low-sulfidation gold-bearing system of the Bolnisi mining district., in
International Mining Congress and Expo 2010, Teheran, Iran, October 18-21 2010, Proceedings,, 27-27.
Adamia S Gugushvili V. Javakhidze D. Kutelia Z. Sadradze N. & Shavishvili L. (2010), Main metallogenic zones of precious and rare metals of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea region, in
International Mining Congress and Expo 2010, Teheran, Iran, October 18-21 2010, Proceedings, 19-19.
Popkhadze N. Beridze T. Moritz R. Gugushvili V. and Khutsishvili S. (2010), Main Volcano-Sedimentary litho-facial overview of the Cretaceous Madneuli copper-gold polymetallic deposit, Bolnisi district, Georgia., in
Extended abstracts of the international scientific conference “Problems of geology of the Caucasus”,, 71-73.
Gugushvili V. Beridze T. Khutsishvili S. and Popkhadze N. (2010), Metallogenic sources of nonferrous, precious and metals of the Caucasus and Pontides, in
Proceedings of the XIX Congress of the Carpathian Balkan Geological Association, Septembre 23-26 20, Thessaloniki.
Gugushvili V. Beridze T. Khutsishvili S. and Popkhadze N. (2010), Metallogenic sources of nonferrous, precious and metals of the Caucasus and Pontides., in
Abstracts of the international scientific conference “Problems of geology of the Caucasus”, November, 71-73.
Gugushvili V. (2010), Nonferrous, precious and rare metals metallogeny of the Caucasus and Pontides, in
International Mining Congress and Expo 2010, Teheran, Iran, October 18-21 2010, Proceedings, 25-25.
Galoyan G. and Melkonyan R. (2010), Ophiolites of the Lesser Caucasus (Armenia) and their significance for Tethyan geodynamic interpretations., in
Abstracts of the Russian-Japanese workshop symposium “Ophiolites and related complexes: significance, 9-9.
Hovakimyan S.E. (2010), Structural conditions of localization of mineralization Terterasar gold deposit (Southern Armenia)., in
Proceedings of the 14th International Scientific Symposium of Students, Postgraduates and Young Scie, 1, 182-184.
Sosson M. Rolland Y. Muller C. Danelian T. Melkonyan R.and Galoyan G (2010), Structures of the external domain of the Lesser Caucasus in Armenia., in
Abstracts of the International Scientific Conference on “Problems of geology of the Caucasus” dedica, 1-1.
Popkhadze N. Beridze T. Moritz R. Gugushvili V. and Khutsishvili S. (2010), Summary of the principal volcano-sedimentary facies types of the Madneuli copper-gold polymetallic deposit Bolnisi district, Georgia: implications for the host rock depositional environment. Extended, in
The challenge of finding new mineral resources, SEG Conference, Keystone, Colorado, U.S.A., October , 128-129.
Mederer J. and Moritz R. (2010), The gold-silver-tellurium mineralogy of the polymetallic Shahumyan deposit, Armenia: Gold scavenged by tellurium-rich melts?, in
Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica, University of Szeged, abstract series,, 6, 246-246.
Melkonyan R.L. Ghukasyan R. Kh. Tayan R N. Khorenyan R.A. and Hovakimyan S. E. (2010), The stages of copper-molybdenum ore formation in Southern Armenia (by the results of Rb-Sr isotope age estimations)., in
Izvestia NAN RA, Nauki o Zemle, 2, 33-40.
The Lesser Caucasus is one of the major ore deposit regions of the Tethyan metallogenic belt, where Cu, Au and other metals are produced. The potential for remaining resources is important and explains the interest of international mineral exploration and mining companies for this part of the world. Major ore deposit types include porphyry-Cu±Mo±Cu, volcanogenic massive sulfide and epithermal deposits. While the global geodynamic setting starts to be better understood and constrained, there is still a poor understanding about the details of magma petrogenesis and ore deposit formation in the Lesser Caucasus.The controversies reflect a lack of adequate descriptions of host environments, little absolute dating with modern techniques, and a poor understanding of stratigraphic and structural relationships. Volcanogenic massive sulfide and pophyry-Cu associations are reported, but are paradoxical since they are considered as incompatible ore types from a geodynamic point of view. Moreover, the exact nature of epithermal deposits is open to many questions, as their characteristics are not known accurately to understand their affinity with respect to the large classes of epithermal deposits. Our aim is to study several ore deposit districts, and intergrate ore formation processes into regional magmatic, tectonic and geodynamic events.This SCOPES project will include four teams from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Switzerland. The research will be carried out at three different levels; (1) basic research of selected ore deposits and their immediate geological environment, (2) district related research to understand the spatial and temporal relationships among different ore deposits and prospects, as well as magmatism, and their link with the geological evolution of the different mining district, and (3) at the scale of the orogenic belt, including along belt and transverse belt research to integrate ore formation processes into regional events. The project will focus on three distinct cross-sections placed roughly transversally across the Southern Caucasus. This will allow us to characterise the spatial and temporal association of given ore deposits, and therefore metal enrichments in the crust, with specific magmatic and tectonic events. Each cross-section will include some of the major ore districts or ore deposit clusters of the Lesser Caucasus.The methods of investigations to collect the data of the project will include field work, lithogeochemistry, stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry, microscopy, fluid inclusion microthermometry, and absolute dating (mainly U-Pb, Ar/Ar and fission-track). This project will improve our knowledge about the metallogeny, magmatic and geodynamic evolution along the Tethys belt spanning Jurassic to Cenozoic times. It will allow us to constrain age relationships among ore forming events and regional tectono-magmatic events in the Lesser Caucasus. This project will improve our general understanding of the formation of different types of ore deposits, including porphyry-Cu deposits, volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits and epithermal deposits along the Tethys. It will offer us the possibility to construct more robust geodynamic and metallogenic models at the scale of the entire Tethys belt.The Georgian team will mostly work on the Bolnisi district, the Azerbaijani team mostly on the Karadag district, the Armenian team mostly on the gold districts, the Alaverdi-Teghut ore deposit cluster and the Kapan-Megrhi region. The field aspects will be clearly under the responsibility of the different Caucasian groups. Regional and magmatic aspects will be shared by the different groups, and laboratory studies, including radiometric dating and litho- and isotope geochemistry will be under the responsibility of the Swiss group. Some of the field work activities will be conducted jointly by the Swiss team and the Caucasian teams. Visits of selected scientists of the Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani groups to Geneva will be organized to allow them to carry out or help with selected laboratory studies (e.g. microscopy, geochemistry, microprobe), and to discuss and interpret results with the aim to prepare manuscripts for publication in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals.The planned research is significant for our partner countries for different reasons. It is relevant for education, and for training partners in the Caucasian states, and it will have impacts on the economy and the employment of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on a long term basis.This SCOPES proposal requests financial support that is fundamental for our partners from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan for carrying out field and laboratory investigations that meet international standards of quality, and which cannot be supported by Georgian, Armenian or Azerbaijan sources of funding.The ultimate goal of our collaboration is that the SCOPES partners from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan will undertake independent, effective and problem-oriented research. This joint proposal will also permit us to improve the collaboration between the university environment (typically primarily devoted to education) and the environment of research (Academy of Sciences). It will also improve the international recognition of research by Georgian, Armenian or Azerbaijani scientists and give them a broader audience to disseminate their results. The ultimate goal is to submit different manuscripts to international scientific journals with peer reviews for publication.