Petrology, geochemistry and zircon U–Pb dating of Band-e-Hezarchah metabasites (NE Iran): An evidence for back-arc magmatism along the northern active margin of Gondwana

The Band-e-Hezarchah granitoids (BHG) is located in the northern margin of the central Iran, where the very old continental crust of Iran is found. The BHG mainly include granodiorite, granite and leucogranite. Small meta-gabbroic stocks and dykes are associated with BHG. U–Pb zircon dating of the BHG granites and metabasites yield 238U/206Pb crystallization ages of ca. 553.6 and 533.5 Ma respectively (Ediacaran–early Cambrian). The metabasites have calc-alkaline signature and their magmas seem to have originated from a mantle wedge above a subduction zone. These rocks are thought to be formed in a continental back-arc setting, related to the oblique subduction of Proto-Tethys oceanic lithosphere beneath the northern margin of Gondwanan supercontinent during Ediacaran–Cambrian time. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios and ɛNd (t) values for metabasites are change from 0.705 to 0.706 and −3.5 to −3.6 respectively. Sr–Nd isotope composition of metabasites indicates that these rocks were derived from a subcontinental lithospheric mantle source. The BHG and associated metabasites are coeval with other similar aged metagranites and gneisses from Iranian basements exposed in central Iran, Sanandaj-Sirjan and Alborz zones. These rocks were formed due to continental arc magmatism of Neoproterozoic–early Cambrian, bordering the northern active margin of Gondwana.