Evolution of the Zagros sector of Neo-Tethys: Tectonic and magmatic events that shaped its rifting, seafloor spreading and subduction history

Jafari, Amin; Ao, Songjian; Jamei, Susan; Ghasemi, Habibollah

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104419

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 202 publications

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“…This is a late Cenozoic orogen (fold-thrust belt), which formed after the collision between the Arabian Plate and the southern periphery of the Eurasian Plate. The Zagros has a complex geological history and experienced several changes in tectonic regimes [47][48][49][50][51]. In particular, the evolution of the Neo-Tethys Ocean and the Sanandaj-Sirjan terrane played an important role in its development before the late Cenozoic orogenic growth.…”

Section: Abmorghan Anticline (Zagros)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Educational Potential of Geoheritage: Textbook Localities from the Zagros and the Greater Caucasus

Habibi,

Ruban,

Ermolaev

2023

Heritage

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Geoheritage requires proper conservation and has significant importance for geoscience education at universities. Furthermore, its related potential needs to be evaluated. This study focuses on two textbook localities (these are parts of larger geosites) from the Cenozoic orogenic belts, namely the Zagros and the Greater Caucasus. The novel, tentatively proposed approach aims at general geological characteristics of the localities, identification of the principal teaching topics and teaching opportunities, and semi-quantitative evaluation of the educational potential on the basis of several objective criteria. The Abmorghan anticline (Zagros, Iran) is suitable for learning about the regional Paleogene stratigraphy, carbonate platform evolution, and karst. The locality of the Skala monocline (Greater Caucasus, Russia) allows the deposition in past tropical conditions and monocline structures to be explained. Both localities can be used for training student skills and challenging their geological thinking. The semi-quantitative evaluation shows that the geoeducational potential of the Abmorghan anticline is advanced and that of the Skala monocline is moderate. The established potential can be exploited by universities, although this requires focusing attention on the other geoheritage sites and special marketing efforts.

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Section: Abmorghan Anticline (Zagros)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Abmorghan Anticline (Zagros)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Educational Potential of Geoheritage: Textbook Localities from the Zagros and the Greater Caucasus

Habibi,

Ruban,

Ermolaev

2023

Heritage

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“…margin of the Iran Block during the Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Hunziker et al, 2015;Lechmann et al, 2018;Azizi and Stern, 2019). This process is envisioned to have been associated with subduction geodynamics involving multiple intraoceanic subduction zones, slab tearing, and alternating slab rollback and advance within Neo-Tethys (Zhang et al, 2018;Jafari et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternating Extensional and Contractional Tectonics in the West Kunlun Mountains during Jurassic: Responses to the Neo-Tethyan Geodynamics along the Eurasian Margin

Wu,

Chen,

Zuza

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Abstract. The Tethyan Orogenic Belt records a long-lived geological cycle involving subduction and collision along the southern margin of the Eurasian continent. The West Kunlun Mountains, located at the junction between the Tibetan and Western Asian Tethyan realm, records multiple orogenic events from the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic that shape the northwestern Tibetan Plateau. However, deciphering the complex Mesozoic contractional and extensional tectonics to interpret the broader Tethyan geodynamics remains challenging. To address the tectonic transition following the early Cimmerian (Late Triassic) collision, this study investigates the newly identified Jurassic sedimentary strata and volcanic rocks in the West Kunlun Mountains. Zircon geochronological results of basalts and sandstones reveal that this ~ 2.5-km-thick package was deposited at ca. 178 Ma, rather than the previously reported Neoproterozoic age. The alkaline basalts at the top of the formation exhibit chemical compositions similar to oceanic island basalts, consistent with the intracontinental extension environment revealed by the upward-fining sedimentary pattern. Provenance analysis, integrating conglomerate clast lithologies with detrital zircons, suggests a substantial contribution from adjacent basement sources, likely influenced by the normal faulting during initial rift stage. These findings indicate that the West Kunlun Mountains rapidly transitioned into an extensional setting after suturing with Cimmerian terranes. The regional structure, stratigraphy and magmatism suggest that this Early - Middle Jurassic basin was subsequently inverted during the Late Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous. We propose that the Mesozoic deformational history in the West Kunlun Mountains was related to the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean, as it transitioned from southward retreat to northward flat-slab advancement. Comparing with the entire strike-length of the Eurasian Tethyan orogen, we find that the subduction mode varied from the west to the east, reflecting the broad geodynamic changes to, or initial conditions of, the Neo-Tethyan system.

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The geologic configuration of the Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt: an overview

Sembroni,

Reitano,

Faccenna

et al. 2024

Med. Geosc. Rev.

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The Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt (ZFTB) is an outstanding orogen running from eastern Turkey to the Makran area. It is formed as a consequence of the convergence between the Arabian and the Eurasian plates that occurred in the Neogene. This still active and long-lasting process generated a topographic configuration dominated by a series of parallel folding structures which, at places, isolate internal basins. The topographic configuration has, in turn, profoundly influenced the river network evolution, which follows a trellis pattern with the main valleys developed in the synclines and rivers that occasionally cut into anticlines. The peculiar climate, characterised by arid and semi-arid conditions, makes most of the rivers ephemeral, alimented only by short rainfall events. For this reason, the sediments are transported over short distances and deposited in huge alluvial fans. Although the Zagros is one of the most studied belts in the world, its tectonic evolution is far from being fully understood. Debated, for example, are the beginning of collision, the primary deformation mechanism, the evolution of the drainage system, the formation process of the alluvial fans, and the interrelations between landscape, tectonics, and climate. This paper, focusing on the geodynamic, geological, stratigraphic, and topographic configuration of the Zagros belt, is intended to be a compendium of the most up-to-date knowledge on the Zagros and aims to provide the cognitive basis for future research that can find answers to outstanding questions.

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Evolution of the Zagros sector of Neo-Tethys: Tectonic and magmatic events that shaped its rifting, seafloor spreading and subduction history

Cited by 11 publications

References 202 publications

Educational Potential of Geoheritage: Textbook Localities from the Zagros and the Greater Caucasus

Educational Potential of Geoheritage: Textbook Localities from the Zagros and the Greater Caucasus

Alternating Extensional and Contractional Tectonics in the West Kunlun Mountains during Jurassic: Responses to the Neo-Tethyan Geodynamics along the Eurasian Margin

The geologic configuration of the Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt: an overview

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