Cooling history of the Chapedony Metamorphic Core Complex, central Iran: implications for the Eurasia-Arabia collision

Kargaranbafghi, F., Foeken, J.P.T., Stuart, F.M. and Guest, B. (2012) Cooling history of the Chapedony Metamorphic Core Complex, central Iran: implications for the Eurasia-Arabia collision. Tectonophysics, 524-5, pp. 100-107. (doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2011.12.022)

Abstract

New apatite and zircon (U–Th)/He thermochronometry is used to constrain the late-stage coolinghistory of the Chapedonymetamorphiccorecomplex in the Saghand region of Central Iran, providing new constraints on the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of this segment of the Euro–Arabian collision zone. Zircon and apatite He ages from the footwall indicate that it cooled to near-surface temperatures by 30 Ma. Combined with previous high temperature thermochronology, the new data require that the Chapedonymetamorphiccorecomplex cooled from ~ 750 °C to ~ 60 °C in less than 20 million years (at ~ 80 °C/Myr). Cooling of the complex occurred through tectonic exhumation at a rate of 1.2–1.5 km/Myr. Exhumation of the corecomplex occurred during the main phase of subduction of the distal Arabian margin beneath the Central Iranian Plate at 49 to 30 Ma. Zircon He ages from the hangingwall units of the complex suggest an earlier pulse of exhumation in Middle–Late Cretaceous. Apatite He ages from the hangingwall (22–30 Ma) are significantly younger than the corecomplex exhumation but is consistent with the regional timing of initial Eurasia–Arabiacollision.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stuart, Professor Fin
• Authors: Kargaranbafghi, F., Foeken, J.P.T., Stuart, F.M., and Guest, B.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Tectonophysics
• ISSN: 0040-1951
• Published Online: 27 December 2011