Zircon U–Pb age constraints from Iran on the magmatic evolution related to Neotethyan subduction and Zagros orogeny

This study reports zircon LA-ICPMS U–Pb ages of 50 igneous rock samples from the Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA) and Sanandaj–Sirjan structural zone (SSZ) in Iran. These results, together with literatures and our unpublished age data, better delineate the magmatic evolution related to the Neotethyan subduction and subsequent Zagros orogeny that resulted from the Arabia–Eurasia collision. Subduction-related magmatism was active during Jurassic time, as evidenced by the presence of widespread I-type granitoids from the Middle to Late Jurassic (176–144 Ma) in the SSZ. After a protracted magmatic quiescence in the Early Cretaceous, igneous activity renewed inland in the UDMA from which we identify Late Cretaceous granitoids (81–72 Ma) in Jiroft and Bazman areas, the southeastern segment of the UDMA. The UDMA volcanism was most active and widespread during the Eocene and Oligocene (55–25 Ma), much longer lasting than previously thought as just an Eocene pulse. Such a prolonged igneous “flare-up” event in the UDMA can be correlated to Armenia where coeval calc-alkaline rocks are common. The UDMA magmatism ceased progressively from northwest to southeast, with magmatic activities ending the Early Miocene (ca. 22 Ma) in Meghri, the Middle Miocene (ca. 16 Ma) in Kashan and the Late Miocene (ca. 10–6 Ma) in Anar, respectively. The southeastward magmatic cessation is consistent with the notion of oblique and diachronous collision between Arabia and Eurasia. Post-collisional volcanism started ca. 11 Ma in Saray, east off the Urumieh Lake, which, along with later eruptions in Sahand (6.5–4.2 Ma) and Sabalan (≤ 0.4 Ma) volcanoes, forms a compositionally unique component of the vast volcanic field covering much of the Lesser Caucasus, NW Iran and eastern Anatolia regions.

► Reporting new zircon U–Pb and Ar–Ar ages of two major magmatic belts across Iran
► Arc magmatism migrated inland and renewed in the UDMA during the Late Cretaceous
► Magmatic flare-ups in the UDMA lasted from the Eocene and Oligocene (55–25 Ma).
► The UDMA magmatism terminated progressively from northwest to southeast.