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Abstract: The Late Cretaceous Gogher–Baft ophiolite is one of the best preserved remnants of Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithospheric within the inner Zagros ophiolite belt. The ophiolite comprises from bottom to top, harzburgites, pegmatite and isotropic gabbroic lenses within the mantle sequence, pillowed to massive basalts to dacites and pyroclastic rocks associated with blocks of pelagic limestone and radiolarite. Basaltic to dacitic sills crosscut the pyroclastic rocks. The ophiolite sequence is overlain by Turonian–Maastrichtian pelagic limestones (93.5–65.5Ma). Mineral compositions of harzburgites are similar to those of fore-arc peridotites and overlap with abyssal peridotites. Most Gogher–Baft ophiolite magmatic rocks show supra-subduction zone affinities, except for some E-MORB type lavas. The geochemical characteristics suggest that Gogher–Baft ophiolite magmatic rocks were generated during subduction initiation. These show progressive source depletion leading to the formation of MORB to boninitic magmas. Early E-MORB-type pillow lavas may have originated by melting mantle that was not affected by subduction components as the Tethyan oceanic plate began to sink beneath Eurasia as subduction began in the Late Cretaceous. Initial εNd (t) values range from +2.6 to +9 for Gogher–Baft magmatic rocks. Samples with radiogenic Nd overlap with least radiogenic MORBs and with Oman and other Late Cretaceous Tethyan ophiolitic rocks. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios range from 0.7048 to 0.7057, indicating modification due to seafloor alteration. Radiogenic 207Pb/204Pb isotopic compositions (systematically above the NHRL) and less radiogenic Nd isotopic compositions suggest the involvement of sediments in the mantle source in some magmatic rocks. Our results for Gogher–Baft ophiolite and the similarity of these to other Iranian Zagros ophiolites suggest a subduction initiation setting for the generation of these magmatic rocks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The tectonic setting in which Jurassic igneous rocks of the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SaSZ) of Iran formed is controversial. SaSZ igneous rocks are mainly intrusive granodiorite to gabbroic bodies, which intrude Early to Middle Jurassic metamorphic basement; Jurassic volcanic rocks are rare. Here, we report the age and petrology of volcanic rocks from the Panjeh basaltic-andesitic rocks complex in the northern SaSZ, southwest of Ghorveh city. The Panjeh magmatic complex consists of pillowed and massive basalts, andesites and microdioritic dykes and is associated with intrusive gabbros; the overall sequence and relations with surrounding sediments indicate that this is an unusually well preserved submarine volcanic complex. Igneous rocks belong to a metaluminous sub-alkaline, medium-K to high-K calc-alkaline mafic suite characterized by moderate Al 2 O 3 (13.7–17.6 wt%) and variable Fe 2 O 3 (6.0–12.6 wt%) and MgO (0.9–11.1 wt%) contents. Zircon U-Pb ages (145–149 Ma) define a Late Jurassic (Tithonian) age for magma crystallization and emplacement. Whole rock compositions are enriched in Th, U and light rare earth elements (LREEs) and are slightly depleted in Nb, Ta and Ti. The initial ratios of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr (0.7039–0.7076) and εNd(t) values (−1.8 to +4.3) lie along the mantle array in the field of ocean island basalts and subcontinental metasomatized mantle. Immobile trace element (Ti, V, Zr, Y, Nb, Yb, Th and Co) behavior suggests that the mantle source was enriched by fluids released from a subducting slab (i.e. deep-crustal recycling) with some contribution from continental crust for andesitic rocks. Based the chemical composition of Panjeh mafic and intermediate rocks in combination with data for other gabbroic to dioritic bodies in the Ghorveh area we offer two interpretations for these (and other Jurassic igneous rocks of the SaSZ) as reflecting melts from a) subduction-modified OIB-type source above a Neo-Tethys subduction zone or b) plume or rift tectonics involving upwelling metasomatized mantle (mostly reflecting the ~550 Ma Cadomian crust-forming event). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we use detrital zircons to probe the Early Paleozoic history of NE Iran and evaluate the link between sediment sources and Gondwanan pre-Cadomian, Cadomian and younger events. U–Pb zircon ages and Hf isotopic compositions are reported for detrital zircons from Ordovician and Early Devonian sedimentary rocks from NE Iran. These clastic rocks are dominated by zircons with major age populations at ~ 2.5 Ga, ~ 0.8–0.6 Ga, 0.5 Ga and ~ 0.5–0.4 Ga as well as a minor broad peak at ~ 1.0 Ga. The source of 2.5 Ga detrital zircons is enigmatic; they may have been supplied from the Saharan Metacraton (or West African Craton) to the southwest or Afghanistan–Tarim to the east. The detrital zircons with age populations at 0.8–0.6 Ga probably originated from Cryogenian–Ediacaran juvenile igneous rocks of the Arabian–Nubian Shield; this inference is supported by their juvenile Hf isotopes, although some negative εHf (t) values suggest that other sources (such as the West African Craton) were also involved. The age peak at ca 0.5 Ga correlates with Cadomian magmatism reported from Iranian basement and elsewhere in north Gondwana. The variable εHf (t) values of Cadomian detrital zircons, resembling the εHf (t) values of zircons in magmatic Cadomian rocks from Iran and Taurides (Turkey), suggest an Andean-type margin and the involvement of reworked older crust in the generation of the magmatic rocks. The youngest age population at 0.5–0.4 Ga is interpreted to represent Gondwana rifting and the opening of Paleotethys, which probably started in Late Cambrian–Ordovician time. A combination of U–Pb dating and Hf-isotope data from Iran, Turkey and North Gondwana confirms that Iran and Turkey were parts of Gondwana at least until late Paleozoic time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carboniferous igneous rocks constitute volumetrically minor components of Iranian crust but preserve important information about the magmatic and tectonic history of SW Asia. Ghushchi granites and gabbronorites in NW Iran comprise a bimodal magmatic suite that intruded Ediacaran–Cambrian gneiss and are good representatives of carboniferous igneous activity. Precise SIMS U–Pb zircon ages indicate that the gabbronorites and granites were emplaced synchronously at ~ 320 Ma. Ghushchi granites show A-type magmatic affinities, with typical enrichments in alkalis, Ga, Zr, Nb and Y, depletion in Sr and P and fractionated REE patterns showing strong negative Eu anomalies. The gabbronorites are enriched in LREEs, Nb, Ta and other incompatible trace elements, and are similar in geochemistry to OIB-type rocks. Granites and gabbronorites have similar ε Nd (t) (+ 1.3 to + 3.4 and − 0.1 to + 4.4, respectively) and zircon ε Hf (t) (+ 1.7 to + 6.2 and + 0.94 to + 6.5, respectively). The similar variation in bulk rock ε Nd (t) and zircon ε Hf (t) values and radiometric ages for the granites and gabbronorites indicate a genetic relationship between mafic and felsic magmas, either a crystal fractionation or silicate liquid immiscibility process; further work is needed to resolve petrogenetic details. The compositional characteristics of the bimodal Ghushchi complex are most consistent with magmatic activity in an extensional tectonic environment. This extension may have occurred during rifting of Cadomian fragments away from northern Gondwana during early phases of Neotethys opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]