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Palaeoenvironment and provenance of the Early Eocene arenaceous sequence of Neyshaboor, Binalud region, Iran

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Abstract

The Early Eocene sequence of Neyshaboor, Binalud region of Iran is predominantly composed of arenaceous deposits. Two stratigraphically important sections from the Damanjan and Taghan areas have been investigated based on field work, petrographic and geochemical analyses. Eight lithofacies were identified and have been grouped in to conglomerate, sandstone, and mudstone facies association. Petrographic and geochemical data show that the Early Eocene sandstones are mainly composed of arkoses and litharenites classes. Provenance analysis indicates that sediments were supplied from a nearby andesitic–granitic source with minor contribution of metamorphic and sedimentary sources. The presence of predominance of monocrystalline over polycrystalline quartz and abundance of K-feldspars; Cu and Pb contents also support this interpretation. However, subordinate representation of polycrystalline quartz grains, chert, volcanic rock fragments, biotite, zircon, as well as higher percentage of MgO and Fe2O3, suggest some contribution from high-grade metamorphic gneissic rocks and, to a lesser degree, from intermediate to basic volcanics. Climate varied from humid in the beginning of the sedimentation to sub-humid and arid during the later phases. Sedimentation was also influenced by prominent tectonic activity in the source when coarser clastic sediments were deposited as multistoried conglomerates. Lithofacies characters of the rock succession suggest sedimentation took place in a piedmont fan environment, adjacent to a rising orogeny in an active foreland basin setting. Clay to sand and gravel-sized sediments were laid down by meandering and braided rivers and by debris flows under changing conditions of climate and tectonics.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are highly indebted to these institutions—the Department of Geology, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood Branch, Shahrood, I.R., Iran, and the Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Banaras Hindu University, India—for providing all the necessary facilities for this study. The authors are also grateful to Paul Heller (University of Wyoming), Gian Gaspare Zuffa (Università di Bologna), and Mohammad Reza Sheikholeslami [Geological Survey of Iran (GSI)] for their constructive reviews and comments on the manuscript. We furthermore acknowledge logistic and field trip support by Farrokh Ghaemi (GSI). We also owe a huge debt of gratefulness to Farzin Ghaemi and Mohammad Hossein Mahmoodi Gharaei (Ferdowsi University) who encouraged us closely for the completion of this paper. We are also grateful to anonymous reviewers for the critical reading of the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Islamic Azad University of Shahrood, Shahrood, Iran

    Arman Jafarian

  2. Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

    Shahid Ghazi

  3. Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Ali Adnan & Uma Kant Shukla

  4. Museum für Mineralogie und Geologie, Sektion Paläozoologie, Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden, KönigsbrückerLandstrasse159, 01109, Dresden, Germany

    Markus Wilmsen

  5. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, South Korea

    Y. K. Sohn

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  1. Arman Jafarian
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Correspondence to Shahid Ghazi.

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Highlights

Early Eocene arenaceous sequences of Binalood region of Iran are studied using Lithofacies Analysis, Petrography and geochemistry.

Objectives were to interpret palaeoenvironment and provenance as well as to know the tectonics of the source area and basin. Also, to know the effect of climate on the mode of sedimentation.

Deposition took place under piedmont fan environment in an active foreland basin setting. Clay to sand and gravel sized sediments were laid down by meandering and braided rivers and also as debris flows.

Climate changed from humid in the beginning to sub-humid and arid during the later phases of sedimentation.

Source rocks were mainly andesitic-granitic type as substantiated by petrography and geochemical analysis.

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Jafarian, A., Ghazi, S., Adnan, A. et al. Palaeoenvironment and provenance of the Early Eocene arenaceous sequence of Neyshaboor, Binalud region, Iran. Arab J Geosci 7, 5455–5471 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-1191-z

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