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Configuration and Timing of Collision Between Arabia and Eurasia in the Zagros Collision Zone, Fars, Southern Iran
Author(s) -
Cai Fulong,
Ding Lin,
Wang Houqi,
Laskowski Andrew K.,
Zhang Liyun,
Zhang Bo,
Mohammadi Ali,
Li Jinxiang,
Song Peiping,
Li Zhenyu,
Zhang Qinghai
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
tectonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.465
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1944-9194
pISSN - 0278-7407
DOI - 10.1029/2021tc006762
Subject(s) - geology , foreland basin , ophiolite , obduction , zircon , forearc , collision zone , sedimentary depositional environment , continental collision , paleontology , geochemistry , detritus , conglomerate , sedimentary rock , paleogene , subduction , tectonics , structural basin , oceanic crust
The configuration and timing of the Arabia‐Eurasia continental collision, part of the broader Alpine‐Himalayan collisional system, remains controversial. We conducted sandstone petrology, detrital zircon U‐Pb‐Hf isotopic and trace element analysis, and Cr‐spinel electron microprobe geochemical analysis of samples from Paleocene to Miocene peripheral foreland strata in interior Fars, southern Iran. These data were used to test competing models for ophiolite obduction and Arabia‐Eurasia collision. In addition, we applied these data to compare the history of outward and upward growth of the Zagros and Himalayan‐Tibetan segments of the Alpine‐Himalayan collisional orogenic belt. The first appearance of radiolarian‐rich chert conglomerate, 100–90 Ma detrital zircons with positive ɛHf( t ) values from +1 to +20 and midocean ridge geochemical affinity, and suprasubduction zone (SSZ) affinity Cr‐spinel is in the lower and middle Sachun Formation. These data indicate that obduction occurred before deposition of the upper Maastrichtian‐lower Paleocene Sachun Formation and developed in an intra‐oceanic setting rather than an Arabia‐Eurasia collision setting. Abundant continental‐arc affinity detrital zircon with 180–160 Ma and 50–27 Ma age‐probability peaks and varied ɛHf( t ) values are present in the upper Oligocene‐lower Miocene Razak and Agha Jari formations, indicating sedimentary overlap with Eurasia. SSZ‐affinity Cr‐spinel in all samples indicates that ophiolitic rocks were a continual source of detritus in the foreland basin since Paleocene. The depositional age of the basal Razak Formation is between 25.7 and 21.5 Ma. Therefore, we interpret that collision between Arabia and Eurasia must have been initiated before deposition of the Razak Formation.