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Late Cretaceous evolution of the northern Sistan suture zone, eastern Iran: Implications of magnetic fabrics and microstructures in the Bibi Maryam granitoid

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Abstract

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) survey supported by field and microstructural studies have been applied on the Late Cretaceous Bibi Maryam granitoid (BMG) in the northern Sistan suture zone (SSZ), east of Iran. The BMG is composed of quartzdiorite-tonalite with late granodiorite dykes and stocks that are surrounded by steeply SW-dipping Neh shear zone (NSZ). The magmatic fabrics are characterized by transpressional environment dominated by steep dipping foliations (mean strike: N13°W) and sub-horizontal stretching lineations (mean trend: 167°). Based on microstructural studies, it is inferred that these fabrics are related to emplacement and cooling of the pluton and the internal fabrics revealed are evidence of a deformation continuum in the granitoid from magmatic to solid state. Deformation in the region continued even after the BMG had fully crystallized, which led to development of the NW–SE foliations and lineation trend that these fabrics are subparallel with the NSZ. The BMG has emplaced in a transpressional setting that was controlled by a NW–SE stretching direction and supported the model that has proposed the relationship between granitoid emplacement and oblique intra-oceanic subduction of the Neotethys during the Late Cretaceous already recognized in this part of the SSZ.

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Acknowledgement

The magnetic laboratory of Shahrood University, where AMS measurements have been performed is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran.

    ZEINAB ETEMADKHAH, MOHAMMAD MAHDI KHATIB & MOHAMMAD HOSSEIN ZARRINKOUB

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  1. ZEINAB ETEMADKHAH
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  2. MOHAMMAD MAHDI KHATIB
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ETEMADKHAH, Z., KHATIB, M.M. & ZARRINKOUB, M.H. Late Cretaceous evolution of the northern Sistan suture zone, eastern Iran: Implications of magnetic fabrics and microstructures in the Bibi Maryam granitoid. J Earth Syst Sci 124, 631–642 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-015-0564-y

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