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Back-Arc Magmatism in the Cadomian Basin of NW Iran: Ortho-Amphibolites from the Alam Kandi Area

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Abstract

Alam Kandi amphibolites are exposed in NW Iran within the Takab metamorphic complex along with gneiss, schist, meta-peridotites and serpentinites. They compose of epidote amphibolite, epidote-biotite amphibolite, garnet amphibolite, and ortho-amphibolite based on petrography and geochemical features. Amphibole is pargasitic calcic amphibole and plagioclase is anorthite-rich in these rocks. The protolith magma of the amphibolites was originated from an enriched mantle source (E-MORB), characterized by lacking negative Nb anomaly and positive Ba anomaly, indicative of formation of the magma from a metasomatized mantle by subduction components in a back arc basin. This magma was evolved by plagioclase and clinopyroxene fractionation as the main crystal-liquid separation mechanism. Back arc ophiolitic rocks are associated with the amphibolites which were formed in a supra-subduction setting of the Cadomian basin in NW Iran. Titanium contents in amphibole indicate temperature of 630–680°C, at pressures of ~9‒12 kbar for metamorphism.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank A. Mosiol (Potsdam University, Germany) for her help with whole rock analysis. We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and the editor for thorough editing.

Funding

University of Tabriz (Iran) provided the field work facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tabriz, Department of Earth Sciences, 51664, Tabriz, Iran

    R. Hajialioghli, M. Moazzen & S. Ahmadzadeh

  2. University of Central Asia, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 736000, Khorog, Tajikistan

    M. Moazzen

  3. University of Potsdam, Institute for Geosciences, 14476, Potsdam, Germany

    R. Oberhänsli

  4. Urmia University, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, 5756151818, Urmia, Iran

    M. Ahangari

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  1. R. Hajialioghli
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Correspondence to R. Hajialioghli.

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Hajialioghli, R., Moazzen, M., Oberhänsli, R. et al. Back-Arc Magmatism in the Cadomian Basin of NW Iran: Ortho-Amphibolites from the Alam Kandi Area. Geotecton. 57, 200–212 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016852123020048

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