Cimmerian evolution of the Central Iranian basement: Evidence from metamorphic units of the Kashmar–Kerman Tectonic Zone

Panafrican basement and Mesozoic gabbro in the Zagros orogenic belt in the Dorud–Azna region (NW Iran): Laser-ablation ICP–MS zircon ages and geochemistry

“…From the eastern adjacent Yazd block, similar Cimmerian 40 Ar/ 39 Ar mineral ages were reported (Kargaranbafghi et al, 2012(Kargaranbafghi et al, , 2015Masoodi et al, 2013;Rahmati-Ilkhchi et al, 2011). This suggests that the SSMZ could have been part of the Cimmerian orogen before being included into the Arabian-Eurasian collision belt.…”

“…The evidence for Triassic metamorphism in various basement exposures of Central Iran extends from Late Triassic to Jurassic(Kargaranbafghi et al, 2012(Kargaranbafghi et al, , 2015Masoodi et al, 2013;Rahmati-Ilkhchi et al, 2011) and has affected parts which, were considered to represent part of the Cimmerian micro-continent. Two potential alternatives may explain the relationships between the Panafrican Sanandaj-Sirjan zone and the Cimmerian micro-continent by: (1) onset of Neotethys subduction by subducting a Panafrican piece of distant continental margin the Sanandj-Sirjan zone (as shown inFigure 13), or (2) the Early Jurassic remnants of metamorphism in the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone are a reactivated part of a southernmost Cimmerian orogen as in Central Iran.…”

The tectonic evolution of western Central Iran seen through detrital white mica

“…accretionary" complex is exposed in Anarak and Jandaq areas (Fig. 2) comprises the Morghab schist unit with various schists, the Jandaq high-temperature metamorphic belt with, e.g., staurolite-and sillimanite-bearing schists, amphibolites, and the Arusan ophiolite (Bagheri and Stampfli, 2008); (3) the Biabanak unit with Jurassic and Cretaceous unmetamorphic rocks; (4) the Eocene Chapedony metamorphic core complex with migmatites intruded by Eocene diorite and granite; (5) the overlying Eocene volcanosedimentary succession with conglomerate, andesite, and marls; (6) the Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complex with gneisses and schists, which is overlain by metamorphosed Permian marbles and unmetamorphic Cretaceous red sandstones and limestones; (7) the Boneh Shurow metamorphic complex with gneisses, amphibolites and schists, which are intruded by Triassic granites (Kargaranbafghi et al, 2011(Kargaranbafghi et al, , 2012aMasoodi et al, 2013); (8) the Cambrian Tashk Formation with low-grade metamorphic volcanic and metasedimentary rocks (Masoodi et al, 2013). Locally, in the Polo valley within Polo Mts.…”

“…The hangingwall units, the Posht-e-Badam and Boneh Shurow complexes, include Late Precambrian-Cambrian magmatic gneisses and Triassic granites as well as abundant metamorphic rocks (Kargaranbafghi et al, 2012a,b;Masoodi et al, 2013) mainly found Cimmerian ages of metamorphism (see below).…”

“…Hornblende and biotite ages are at 335 and 120 Ma (Kargaranbafghi et al, 2012b). 40 Ar/ 39 Ar biotite and K-feldspar ages range from 231 Ma to 182 Ma equivalent to the Early (or Eo-)Cimmerian event (Masoodi et al, 2013). This event was related to slow post-metamorphic cooling started from late Early Jurassic and continued until Middle Jurassic times.…”