Paleo-Tethys subduction induced slab-drag opening the Neo-Tethys: Evidence from an Iranian segment of Gondwana

Wan, Bo; Chu, Yang; Chen, Ling; Liang, Xiaofeng; Zhi-yong, Zhang; Ao, Songjian; Talebian, Morteza

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103788

Cited by 38 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…If a horizontal convergence force (larger than 3.0 × 10 12 N/m) is exerted on the passive margin, the transition duration from passive to subduction is between ~2 Myr to ~20 Myr, but for most cases are less than 10 Myr (Zhong and Li, 2020). As previously estimated, the subduction plate at 700 km depth would exert 4.9 × 10 13 N/m force on the trench plate (Wan et al, 2021). Previous modeling shows that the net slab force to pull the trailing plate is 10% of the slab pull force (Schellart, 2004), ~ 4.9 × 10 12 N/m for the Iranian Tethys case.…”

Section: Neo-tethyan Subduction Initiation Timementioning

confidence: 77%

When and why the Neo-Tethyan subduction initiated along the Eurasian margin: a case study from a Jurassic eclogite in southern Iran

Wan

Chu

Chen

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Tethyan evolution is characterized by cyclical continent-transfer from Gondwana to the continents in the Northern Hemisphere, similar to a "one-way" train. Subduction has been viewed as the primary driver of transference. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the tectonic evolution of all past subduction zones that occurred along Eurasia's southern margin. We studied the earliest known eclogite located at the Neo-Tethyan suture in the Iranian segment. A prograde-E-MORB-like eclogite reached a peak metamorphic condition of 2.2 GPa and 560°C, at 190 ± 11 Ma (1? rutile U-Pb ages), which constrains the youngest age for subduction initiation of the Neo-Tethyan slab. Combined with regional magmatic and structural data, the oldest age for Neo-Tethys subduction initiation is 210-192 Ma, which is younger than the Paleo-Tethyan closure time of 228-209 Ma. These data, used with previous numerical modeling, supports collision-induced subduction initiation. The collision-induced force, together with the Paleo-Tethyan subduction driven-mantle flow, is likely to have exploited weak inherited structures from earlier Neo-Tethyan rifting, resulting in a northward directed subduction zone along the southern margin of Central Iran Block.

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Section: Neo-tethyan Subduction Initiation Timementioning

confidence: 77%

When and why the Neo-Tethyan subduction initiated along the Eurasian margin: a case study from a Jurassic eclogite in southern Iran

Wan

Chu

Chen

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…To be a preferential deformation zone, the northern plateau may require a mechanically weak nature. The region could have been greatly weakened by multiple tectonic events before the Arabia‐Eurasia collision, such as the collision of Central Iran and Eurasian plates in the Late Triassic (Chu, Wan, et al., 2021; Wan et al., 2021; Zanchetta et al., 2013) and the Middle Jurassic rifting caused by the Neo‐Tethys subduction (Brunet et al., 2003; Robert et al., 2014). During the Arabia‐Eurasia collision, it has been reactived as a major mountain belt, and its deformation is probably controlled by the pre‐existing structures (Chu, Allen, et al., 2021; Robert et al., 2014).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rheological Heterogeneities Control the Non‐Progressive Uplift of the Young Iranian Plateau

Gao

Chen

Yang

et al. 2023

Geophysical Research Letters

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Longstanding convergence between the Gondwana-derived terranes and Eurasia has created the world's widest intracontinental deformation zone and largest continental collisional system (Wan et al., 2019), including several orogenic plateaus like the Iranian and Tibetan plateaus. Compared with the Tibetan plateau, there is less post-collision convergence in the Iranian plateau because the Arabia-Eurasia collision is more recent and Arabia is penetrating into Eurasia more slowly. Therefore, the Iranian plateau with lower elevations and thinner crust could be a young plateau and ideal for studying the early stage of continental collision (Hatzfeld & Molnar, 2010;Şengör & Kidd, 1979).Two end-member mechanisms have been proposed to explain plateau growth and intracontinental deformation. One emphasizes that strain is mainly accommodated by large-scale faults separating essentially rigid blocks (Tapponnier et al., 2001). In the second, faults are considered passive markers in the deformation field of the brittle upper part of lithosphere (Flesch et al., 2005;Holt, 2000), and the lithospheric deformation in response to continental collision is continuous and occurs either mainly in the lower crust (

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“…The present‐day tectonic configuration in Iran, with the exception of its southeastern region, stems from complex geodynamic evolution starting at the Triassic, with the closure of the Paleo‐Tethys and the opening of the Neo‐Tethys (Chu, Wan, et al., 2021; Sengör, 1979; Stampfli et al., 1991; Wan et al., 2021). Subduction of the Neo‐Tethys Ocean beneath the southern margin of Eurasia during the Jurassic and Cretaceous produced a calc‐alkaline magmatic arc and associated high‐pressure/low‐temperature metamorphic belt (Agard et al., 2005).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shallow Crustal Response to Arabia‐Eurasia Convergence in Northwestern Iran: Constraints From Multifrequency P‐Wave Receiver Functions

et al. 2022

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The Neo‐Tethys subduction and subsequent Arabia‐Eurasia continental collision invoked widespread Cenozoic tectono‐magmatism throughout the Iranian Plateau. We herein develop a new method to image the shallow crustal S‐wave velocity (Vs) structure by joint inversion of multifrequency waveforms and horizontal‐to‐vertical ratios around the direct P phase in P‐wave receiver functions. Synthetic tests demonstrate the validity of our method in constraining the absolute Vs values beneath single stations down to ∼12‐km depth. By applying this method to a seismic array of 63 stations with an average spacing of ∼10 km along the main profile, we construct a detailed shallow crustal Vs model across the northwestern Iranian Plateau. The model is characterized by distinct high‐ and low‐velocity anomalies beneath the Iranian hinterland and the Zagros foreland fold‐and‐thrust belt, respectively. In combination with geological observations and laboratory data, the imaged high‐velocity anomalies (with Vs of 3.2–3.9 km/s) may denote arc to intraplate magmatism beneath Central Iran and Alborz to the north, whereas the low‐velocity anomalies (with Vs of ∼1.65 km/s) probably represent the marl/shale layers in Late Cretaceous and Paleocene beneath Zagros. The magmatic rocks at the Iranian hinterland exhibit strong variations in absolute Vs, reflecting different bulk compositions with more mafic inland. The shale/marl layers could have acted as décollements to accommodate crustal deformation. Our observations underline both the key role of lithology‐controlled layering in sedimentary deformation at the Zagros fold‐and‐thrust belt and the change in compositions and forming‐environments of magmatic rocks at the Iranian hinterland.

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Paleo-Tethys subduction induced slab-drag opening the Neo-Tethys: Evidence from an Iranian segment of Gondwana

Cited by 38 publications

References 94 publications

When and why the Neo-Tethyan subduction initiated along the Eurasian margin: a case study from a Jurassic eclogite in southern Iran

When and why the Neo-Tethyan subduction initiated along the Eurasian margin: a case study from a Jurassic eclogite in southern Iran

Rheological Heterogeneities Control the Non‐Progressive Uplift of the Young Iranian Plateau

Shallow Crustal Response to Arabia‐Eurasia Convergence in Northwestern Iran: Constraints From Multifrequency P‐Wave Receiver Functions

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