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Strain pattern and vorticity analysis of deformed conglomerates in the Heneshk area within the Sanandaj–Sirjan Metamorphic Belt, Zagros Mountains, Iran

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Abstract

Strain measurements have been carried out, using the Rf/ϕ method on a Jurassic deformed conglomerate, in the Sanandaj–Sirjan Metamorphic Belt, Zagros Mountain of Iran. Estimated finite strain ellipsoids range from general flattening to near plane strain (Flinn parameter K = 0.6–0.9) with strain ratios in the X/Z plane with Rxz = 5.4. Quantitative kinematic analyses were performed on the conglomerates using the rigid clast method. Estimated kinematic vorticity numbers (Wk) varied between 0.43 and 0.63, implying a general shear flow (30% < simple shear < 42% and 58% < pure shear < 70%, i.e., pure shear-dominated non-coaxial flow). Combining strain and vorticity data, we estimated a horizontal shortening of ~ 42–55% measured normal to the walls of the deformation zone. We discuss this pure shear-dominated deformation in terms of convergence between the Afro-Arabian continent and the Central-Iranian microcontinents.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Prof. Wolf-Christian Dullo, the chief editor, and Prof. Soumyajit Mukherjee, the associate editor of the International Journal of Earth Sciences for their editorial authority. We are grateful to A. Farzipour Saein and an anonymous reviewer for helpful and constructive reviews. The Research Council of the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (GN: SCU.EG98.341), Shiraz University and University of Vienna supported this study which are acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

    Babak Samani

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Ali Faghih

  3. Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Bernhard Grasemann

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  1. Babak Samani
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Correspondence to Babak Samani.

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Samani, B., Faghih, A. & Grasemann, B. Strain pattern and vorticity analysis of deformed conglomerates in the Heneshk area within the Sanandaj–Sirjan Metamorphic Belt, Zagros Mountains, Iran. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 109, 145–157 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-019-01794-8

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