Search

Abstract: The Kashmar–Kerman Tectonic Zone (KKTZ) is an arcuate zone located between the Tabas and Yazd blocks in Central Iran. Detailed structural analysis and mapping of the metamorphic basement rocks of the KKTZ on the Boneh-Shurow, Tashk, Saghand and Sarkuh Metamorphic Complexes, as well as 40Ar/39Ar cooling ages on the Boneh-Shurow Metamorphic Complex indicate three deformation stages in the tectonometamorphic evolution of the KKTZ during the Cimmerian orogeny. The D1–1 event corresponds to continental accretion through the progressive formation of dextral shear zones, which is equivalent to an Early Cimmerian event during Late Triassic–Early Jurassic times. The D1–2 event is characterized by top-to-NE normal shear zones due to syn-collisional exhumation within the KKTZ and is considered to be a Mid-Cimmerian Middle Jurassic event at ca. 168Ma. The progressive regional compressional deformation is continued by the D2–1 and D2–2 events through formation of reverse shear zones and faults, with their SW movement. The progressive D2 event is considered to be Late Cimmerian and has taken place during Early Cretaceous. It is proposed that the mapped long-lived dextral shear zones within the KKTZ acted as block bounding faults between the Tabas and Yazd blocks in Central Iran. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To advance our understanding of the Mesozoic to Eocene tectonics and kinematics of basement units exposed in the south-western Central Iran plateau, this paper presents new structural and thermochronological data from the Chapedony metamorphic core complex and hangingwall units, particularly from the Posht-e-Badam complex. The overall Paleogene structural characteristics of the area are related to an oblique convergent zone. The Saghand area represents part of a deformation zone between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, and can be interpreted to result from the Central Iran intracontinental deformation acting as a weak zone during Mesozoic to Paleogene times. Field and microstructural evidence reveal that the metamorphic and igneous rocks suffered a ductile shear deformation including mylonitization at the hangingwall boundary of the Eocene Chapedony metamorphic core complex. Comparison of deformation features in the mylonites and other structural features within the footwall unit leads to the conclusion that the mylonites were formed in a subhorizontal shear zone by NE–SW stretching during Middle to Late Eocene extensional tectonics. The Chapedony metamorphic core complex is characterized by amphibolite-facies metamorphism and development of S and S-L tectonic fabrics. The Posht-e-Badam complex was deformed by two stages during Cimmerian tectonic processes forming the Paleo-Tethyan suture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Zagros fold-and-thrust belt of SW-Iran is among the youngest continental collision zones on Earth. Collision is thought to have occurred in the late Oligocene–early Miocene, followed by continental shortening. The High Zagros Belt (HZB) presents a Neogene imbricate structure that has affected the thick sedimentary cover of the former Arabian continental passive margin. The HZB of interior Fars marks the innermost part of SE-Zagros, trending NW–SE, that is characterised by higher elevation, lack of seismicity, and no evident active crustal shortening with respect to the outer (SW) parts. This study examines the brittle structures that developed during the mountain building process to decipher the history of polyphase deformation and variations in compressive tectonic fields since the onset of collision. Analytic inversion techniques enabled us to determine and separate different brittle tectonic regimes in terms of stress tensors. Various strike–slip, compressional, and tensional stress regimes are thus identified with different stress fields. Brittle tectonic analyses were carried out to reconstruct possible geometrical relationships between different structures and to establish relative chronologies of corresponding stress fields, considering the folding process. Results indicate that in the studied area, the main fold and thrust structure developed in a general compressional stress regime with an average N032° direction of σ 1 stress axis during the Miocene. Strike–slip structures were generated under three successive strike–slip stress regimes with different σ 1 directions in the early Miocene (N053°), late Miocene–early Pliocene (N026°), and post-Pliocene (N002°), evolving from pre-fold to post-fold faulting. Tensional structures also developed as a function of the evolving stress regimes. Our reconstruction of stress fields suggests an anticlockwise reorientation of the horizontal σ 1 axis since the onset of collision and a significant change in vertical stress from σ 3 to σ 2 since the late stage of folding and thrusting. A late right-lateral reactivation was also observed on some pre-existing belt-parallel brittle structures, especially along the reverse fault systems, consistent with the recent N–S plate convergence. However, this feature was not reflected by large structures in the HZB of interior Fars. The results should not be extrapolated to the entire Zagros belt, where the deformation front has propagated from inner to outer zones during the younger events. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]