GEOSCIENCES
Year:2017 | Volume:26 | Issue:102|Papers Count:35

Thekaolinizedzonesof the Goorgoor area (north of Takab, West-Azarbaidjan province) are alteration products of andesitic rocks of Miocene age in northwest of Iran. Based on the mineralogical studies, kaolinite, quartz, jarosite, montmorillonite, albite, muscovite-illite, anatase, chlorite, orthoclase, calcite, goethite and hematite are mineral phases in these zones. The silicic veins existing within these zones include metallic minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, bornonite, and stibnite. The mass change calculations of rare earth elements (REEs), with assumption of Sc as a monitor immobile element, reveal that development of kaolinization processes were accompanied by enrichment-depletion of La-Nd and depletion of Sm-Lu. Geochemical analyses show that the degree of differentiation of Al from Fe and destruction of zircon by hydrothermal fluids are the most important controlling factors for variation of Eu (0.84-1.06) and Ce (0.83-0.93) anomalies in these zones, respectively. Positive and strong correlations of (La/Lu)N and (LREEs/HREEs)N values with components such as P, S, LOI, and Sr establish the effective role of hypogene solutions in progression of kaolinization processes. The combination of the obtained results from mineralogical and geochemical investigations suggest that changes in chemistry of altering solutions (e.g., pH and Eh) and diversity in type of fixing minerals are two key factors affecting differentiation and distribution of REEs in the kaolinizedzones at Goorgoor.

The Mashhad ultramafic complex with a Permo-Triassic stratigraphic age is exposed at the NE of Binaloud Mountain and at the vicinity of the Mashhad city. This area is mainly composed of mafic and ultramafic rocks, metamorphosed carbonate and pelitic rocks and granitoids with a NW- SE trend. Serpentinized peridotites are the main types of ultramafic rocks in this area. Minerals in these rocks include olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, brown amphibole and opaque minerals as the original minerals and serpentinite group minerals (lizardite and antigorite), tremolite-actinolite, chlorite, talc and carbonate minerals are the secondary minerals. High pressure-low temperature metamorphic rocks, which are indicative of subduction are not present in this area, but according to the major, minor and rare earth elements chemistry of the Mashhad serpentinites, these rocks show subducted serpentinites features, with a peridotite protolith derived from lherzolite or olivine-poor harzburgite. The protolith of these rocks metasomatized and refertilized by melt formed in a subduction zone before serpentinization.

In this study, brittle deformation in Takab complex is discussed. Deformation in the Takab area has been controlled by two sets of major faults. The first set is characterized by NNW-SSE trending steeply-dipping dextral strike-slip faults with reverse component. The second set includes WNW-ESE trending moderately-dipping reverse faults which have been obviously displaced by the first set. The basement metamorphic rocks are exposed in the hangingwall of the faults indicating thick-skinned type of deformation and exhumation in the area. The major strike-slip reverse faults have resulted in dextral inclined transpression in the Takab complex area. Fault-related folds in hangingwall and footwall of the faults especially in the Cenozoic sediments indicate young activity and uplift in the area. Development of normal faults and local folds, as well as the occurrence of earthquakes in the area imply that it is tectonically active. Structural analysis in this area reveal that the major steeply-dipping strike-slip reverse faults have controlled deformation and changed the homogeneous strain to partitioned strain. Deformation of Cenozoic rocks overlying the basement metamorphic rocks indicate a dextral inclined transpression. Deformation in the younger sedimentary cover (Cenozoic sediments) is related to thick-skinned deformation in the basement metamorphic rocks.

The Latala base and precious metals deposit is hosted by quartz veins, associated with a porphyry pluton intruded into a Cenozoic volcanic sequence. Euhedral quartz with sulfide mineralization such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite, with minor sulfosalts occurs in these veins as open space fillings and minor replacement bodies. Progressive growth of quartz crystals is evidenced by their texture revealed by cathodoluminescence imaging. The analysis of fluid inclusions indicate a decreasing homogenization temperature from 350oC in the core to 135oC along the edge of the quartz crystals with overgrowths. The presence of CO2 vapor suggested by the thermometric analysis is confirmed by Raman spectrometry. The solid phases in fluid inclusions identified as phyllosilicates, presumably muscovite and illite, chlorite, quartz and carbonate-mineral such as (Natrocarbonate, Dawsonite) by petrography and Raman spectrometry. Solid phase of halite were identified in two fluid inclusions. The homogenization temperature and salinity varies between 131 to 380oC and 0.17 to 7.7 wt.% NaCl eq respectively. The properties of fluid inclusions corresponds to a magmatic hydrothermal fluid circulating from depth to shallower environments. The sulfur isotopic composition for galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and pyrite varies between -9.8 and -1‰, which correspond to values of magmatic sulfur. The d34S values from +1.8 to -9.2‰ are in the range of hydrothermal fluids. Fluid inclusions features show a magmatic hydrothermal source which transported magmatic fluid and vapor from the depth through fractures to shallow environment. It suggests that magmatic water mixing with meteoric water was responsible for transportation of metals in Latala. Epithermal mineral precipitation during boiling, mixing and water-rock interaction formed hydrothermal quartz and sulfide mineralization. The available evidence suggests that the hydrothermal fluids changed from magmatic to epithermal in the region.

Foraminiferal contents of the Permian strata of the Kuh-e Baghvang in central Iran has been investigated. The section is located some 45Km Northwest of Tabas and south of Shirgeshtvillage. The Permian deposits of the Jamal Fm. with a thickness of 270 meters are underlain by the Sardar Fm. disconformably and in turn overlain by the Lower Triassic deposits of Sorkh shale Formation. A total of 124 rock samples have been systematically taken from various layers for an accurate biostratigraphic study. Forty one genera and 48 species of Foraminifera and 10 generaand 12 species of Algae have also been determined through this study. According to the index fossils, geochronology of Member 1 and Member 2 of the Jamal Fm. is attributed to Early Murgabian. Moreover, according to the biostratigraphic study, some index fossils of Fusulinidae have been recorded and the following assemblage zones (Paradunbarula – Geinitzina Assemblage Zone (Murgabian); Dagmarita – Paraglobivalvulina Assemblage Zone (Dzhulfian); Colaniella – Reichelina Assemblage Zone (Changxingian)) have been differentiated which are equivalent to international biozones of Leven(1975 and Ishii (1975).

The sequence of seismicity including three earthquakes in the Mohammadabad region, eastern Iran, within a period of 30 years has made it one of the most outstanding seismically active regions in the country. The Mohammadabad fault system is described using earthquake and satellite imagery data to support a simple tectonic model.  The interaction between the Mohammadabad strike-slip fault system and basement structures and also the en-echelon array of fault segments have resulted in formation of the Mohammadabad pull-apart basin and Tajkuh contractional zone. The Daqq-e-Mohammadabad basin is a topographic depression formed in a right-step releasing step-over related to the Mohammadabad-Taleb dextral strike-slip fault system. Geomorphologic evaluation of the Mohammadabad deformation zone at surface indicates both normal and reverse faulting. Normal faulting is obvious in the margin of the basin and reverse faulting is seen in the zone of contraction at the Taleb-Tajkuh left-step restraining step-over. The model presented for the formation of adjacent extensional and contractional structures based on traces of the Mohammadabad strike-slip fault system, basin, and uplifts to the south of the area is a double step-over (releasing and restraining) model. Fault segments associated with this step-over may be capable of earthquake ruptures. The linkage of main strike-slip zones (Mohammadabad-Taleb and Taleb-Tajkuh) by transverse faults could increase potential generation of large earthquakes and activity of sympathetic faults.

Sungun Cu-Mo porphyry deposit is located in East Azarbaijan province and at northwest of Iran. From the petrology viewpoint, the Sungun copper mine is consisted of porphyry Sungun (SP), and eight categories of delayed dykes made of quartz-diorite (DK1 (a, b, c)), gabbrodiorite (DK2), diorite (DK3), dacite (DK4), lamprophyre (LAM) and micro-diorite (MDI). The main minerals of lamprophyric dyke are biotite, plagioclase, K-feldspar, and amphibole with porphyritic and microlitic porphyry textures. Lamprophyric dykes in the studied area have alkali-basalt composition and based on whole rock geochemistry is originated from a shoshonitic magma. Mineral chemistry analysis revealed that the composition of plagioclase varies from oligoclase to albite, amphibole is Magnesiohornblende and biotite composition varies from siderophyllite to eastonite. Lamprophyric dykes have been originated from a magma with high oxygen fugacity. Based on biotite thermometry, the temperature of biotite crystallization in lamprophyric dyke was 650 to 750oC. According to the mineralogical and geochemical evidence, studied lamprophyre samples are of kersantite type and belong to calk-alkaline lamprophyres. Multi-element diagrams normalized to chondrite and primitive mantle indicates LREE and LILE enrichment and HREE and HFSE depletion in the Sungun lamprophyric dykes. Based on trace elements ratio diagram of La/Sm vs. La parental magmas can have been generated from low degree partial melting of subcontinental mantle source with garnet-lherzolite composition. The dykes formed in Post-collisional geotectonic environment of the studied samples and trace element geochemical evidence indicate that produced magma formed from a metasomatic mantle due to an ancient subduction.

The Eocene marine deposits in the Chenarbu section in Torbat-e-Jam region (eastern part of Central Iran Zone) have been biostratigraphically studied based on large benthic foraminifera coincide with Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ) and Calcareous Nannofossils, according to standard worldwide zones (NP). This investigation has been conducted on carbonate sediments with a focus on large benthic foraminifera assemblage such as Eorupertia magna (La Calvaz), Fabiania cassis (Oppenheim), Eoannularia eoconica (Cole ve Bermudez), Gypsina sp., Textularia sp., Nummulites perforatus (De Montfort) Nummulites sp., Discocyclina sp., Rotalia sp., Acervulina sp., and calcareous nannofossils such as Cribrocentrum reticulatum, Sphenolithus obtusus, Sphenolithus spiniger, Sphenolithus editus, Helicosphaera compacta, Coccolithus pelagicus, Coccolithus eopelagicus, Reticulofenestra sp., Discoaster sp., Discoaster siapanensis, Discoaster barbadiensis. Therefore, based on the determined index species, the SBZ15?- 17 biozones of large benthic foraminifera and the NP16 biozone of calcareous nannofossils in the studied section have been detected which both assign the Late Lutetian- Early Bartonian (Middle Eocene) age for the section. Also, the Lutetian- Bartonian boundary according to index calcareous nannofossil species was separated carefully, and the first appearance of the foraminifera species of N. perforatus (de Montfort) in the middle part of the deposited sequence was recorded during geological time of the Bartonian stage. Therefore, this fact points that in Iran alike western parts of the Tethys basin, the first appearance of N. perforatus (de Montfort) occurred in Early Barthonian (SBZ17). Systematic of Nummulites perforatus (de Montfort) was described based on typological and biometrical characterization.

The Jeirud Formation (Upper Devonian) in Deh-Sufian section of northeast of Shahmirzad consists of siliciclastic and carbonate deposits. In the study area lower boundary of the Jeirud Formation with fine grain clastic deposits of the Mila Formation is erosional (Disconform) and has been conformably overlain by dark carbonate deposits of the Mobarak Formation. The clastic deposits of the Jeirud Formation include conglomeratic, sandy and muddy facies.  The conglomeratic deposits comprises three facies A1, A2 and A3 that are equivalent to Gcm, Gt and Gmm/Gmg of Miall facies respectively. Also, five sandy facies of B1, B2, B3 and B4 equivalent to St, Sh, Sm and Sr of Miall respectively and B5 (Shc) with hummocky cross stratification (HCS) sedimentary structure have been identified. Muddy facies including C1 and C2 are equivalents to Miall’s Fsm and Fl facies. Carbonate facies (D) comprising small amounts of the stratigraphic column is almost entirely dolomitized. Field and petrographic studies provide five facies association: fluvial, foreshore-backshore, shoreface, offshore transitional zone and offshore and carbonate facies interpreted as Proximal carbonate tempestites and distal carbonate tempestites based on evidences such as basal erosional surface, normal grading, HCS and coexisting clastic facies . In the study area, the Jeirud Formation deposits initiate with fluvial sequences that have been followed by storm dominated marine deposits as foreshore-backshore deposits and alternations of shoreface to offshore deposits. Study of sequence stratigraphic surfaces especially important subaerial unconformities and also stratal stacking patterns of the formation resulted in determination of three subaerial unconformity bounded depositional sequences plus transgressive part of the 4th sequence.

The Chahmora copper deposit is located at South west of Shahrud, within the Torud-Chahshirin magmatic arc. Mineralization in the Chahmora area occurred within volcanic units of Eocene. Based on field and laboratory investigations, the outcropped rocks in the Chahmora deposit are andesite, andesite – basalt, trachy andesite, trachy andesite basalt and several small exposures of pyroclastic rocks such as agglomerate.­ Basic to intermediate sub-volcanic bodies intruded Eocene volcanic-pyroclastic sequences. The rocks are high-K, calc-alkaline to shoshonitic in nature, and are formed at a magmatic arc setting in a subduction zone. The host rocks have been affected by silicification, carbonatization, sericitization and chloritization. The textures and structures of mineralization are vein-veinlet, replacement and open space filling. According to the mineralography studies, main minerals of copper are chalcocite, chalcopyrite, covellite, digenite, cuprite, malachite and rare native copper together with hematite. Chalcocite and malachite are the most abundant minerals. Geochemical studies indicate that copper has only relative correlation with silver (R=0.894) and arsenic (R=0.520). Since silver has not founded as an independent crystalline phase, therefore copper was replaced by silver in chalcocite. Fluid inclusion studies on trapped fluids in quartz and calcite show average homogenization temperature of 200-220oC and fluids salinity degree of 0.97-1.37 and 3.67-4.07 %wt NaCl. Copper mineralization in the Chahmora deposit has similarities in mineralogy, host rock, texture, structure and geometry with manto-type and volcanic red bed copper deposits.

Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods have progressed extensively in the past decades and have been applied in various disciplines. Application of them in different fields of geology, especially in assessment of geological hazards which are usually multi-criteria in character, can be very helpful. Studies such as the present study will widen their uses in various fields of geology. Volcanic eruptions in the past centuries attest that stratovolcanoes are more hazardous than other volcanoes and their activity may be disastrous. Hence, in this study, multi-criteria decision making methods of EN-SAW and ANP have been applied to assess and rank the reactivation hazard of Iranian stratovolcanoes (Damavand, Taftan, Bazman, Sahand, Sabalan, Bidkhan and Mesahim) as a case study. So, firstly, the criteria useful in their hazard assessment were selected which include the age of the latest eruption, the presence or absence of tectonic regime creating the volcano, the status of post volcanic activities (e.g. hot springs) and the extent of erosion. Afterwards, they were scored by several experts and lastly, by applying EN-SAW and ANP methods and using Super Decision software, the reactivation hazard scores of these volcanoes were determined and they were ranked. In both these methods, the Damavand volcano ranked first. So, its reactivation potential is higher than other ones and must given the first priority, its threats must be evaluated, its hazard zoning maps should be prepared and (as a kind of monitoring) a seismic station can be established. According to the applied methods, Bazman, Taftan and Sablan volcanoes acquired nearly the same scores. So, ranking after Damavand and it is recommended that they be considered as semi-active (dormant) volcanoes. The condition for Sahand volcano is not clear. However, Bidkhan (in Bardsir town of Kerman) and Masahim (North of Shahrebabak town) both acquired very low scores. So, they are considered as inactive and are not hazardous.

The Makran zone in southeastern Iran and southern Pakistan is the result of subduction of oceanic crust of the Arabian Plate under the Eurasian Plate. From seismic behavior point of view, there is a distinct segmentation between the western and eastern parts of the subduction zone. The western part of the Makran has an abnormally very low level of deep seismicity with lack of recorded great earthquakes, while the eastern part has experienced many great earthquakes. Another difference between the western and eastern parts of the Makran region is that the distance between the Quaternary volcanic arc and fore-arc setting is larger in the east than in the west. Understanding the nature of unusual behaviors of the Makran subduction zone has long been one of the biggest challenges in seismotectonic investigations of this region. The present study aims at producing high-resolution love-wave velocity structure maps of the crust and the upper mantle in the Makran subduction zone using ambient seismic noise. To achieve this purpose, a large dataset has been provided to produce tomographic maps. Empirical Green’s functions were obtained from cross-correlations of broad-band seismic noise records at different stations inside and outside the region. Love-wave velocity dispersion curves were then extracted from the ambient noise, and finally converted into a 2D group velocity image (or tomography map) for crustal and upper mantle structures of the region.

Some dark green fragments of amphibolites are found within skarns at the south of Nain Ophiolite at the northeast of Nain city. They are similar to ortho-amphibolites (metamorphosed basic rocks) of this ophiolite in hand specimen, but mineralogically they are composed of amphibole (magnesio-hornblende, Mg#>0.95), clinopyroxene (diopside, Mg#~0.61), garnet (grossular – andradite, with Grs~63-87 And~12-35), quartz, and minor amount of calcite and wollastonite. Accessory minerals are including chlorite and prehnite, mostly filling the fractures. Field studies, petrography and mineral chemistry indicate that amphibolitic fragments mineralogically differ from the skarns and ortho-amphibolites of this ophiolite; so they can be considered as olistoliths with sedimentary origin (calcic marls of sea floor), turned into amphibolitic rocks (para-amphibolite) during the regional metamorphism at amphibolite - granulite facies and low oxygen fugacity.

The SW Sorkh-Kuh area makes part of the Tertiary volcanic-plutonic rocks in the west of the Lut Block, SW of Birjand city. Geology of this area consists of andesitic and basaltic volcanic rocks intruded by hornblende diorite, hornblende microdiorite, hornblende diorite porphyry, hornblende quartz diorite porphyry and biotite quartz monzonite, which caused extensive alteration and mineralization. The vein mineralization with a NW-SE trend have been observed in the NW portion of the area which is composed of quartz, chalcopyrite, pyrite and Fe-Cu secondary minerals. This vein is the youngest occurrence of mineralization, related to intrusive rocks, in the Lut Block (after Miocene). Primary fluid inclusions of quartz in paragnesis with mineralization, revealed three types of two phases inclusions with difference in density, which liquid rich phases have an average 270 and 330°C of homogenization temperature. Based on freezing studies, calculated temperature of last melting point of these fluids equals to 12-15 and 16-19% wt eq. NaCl, respectively. Some fluids, which homogenized to gas, have more homogenization temperature and salinity. In evaluation of depth, using homogenization temperature, salinity, density and pressure of fluid inclusion, 700 m depth was calculated for mineralization, corresponding to the present erosion surface. d18O values of quartz in mineralized vein and fluid in equilibrium with quartz have a range between +8.66- +13.09‰ and +3.06 - +7.59, respectively. It could be inferred that the source of ore-forming fluids was magmatic in the mineralized vein. In general, stable isotope and fluid inclusion studies show similarity of mineralization of the SW Sorkh-Kuh with epithermal deposits in which mineralization is related to the dioritic intrusive rocks. The changes in fluid composition and boiling resulted in mineraliztion along a fault as vein.

In this research, biostratigraphy of a stratigraphic section in the east Afzalabad section in Lut Block (part of flyschoid basin in East Iran) were investigated based on calcareous nannofossils. Nineteen genera and 52 species of calcareous nannofossils were identified based on which the studied sequence confirm with NN8- NN10 biozones of Martini (1971) indicating a middle Miocene to late Miocene age.

The Ghir fault zone is a thrust zone in the Zagros foreland folded belt that is located in the south of Sabz-Pushan shear zone and southeast of the Kar-e-Bas strike-slip fault zone. It is a moderately-dipping fault zone oriented parallel to the general trend of folds and thrusts in the Zagros foreland folded belt. In this study, two methods using fault slip data and focal mechanism of earthquakes were analyzed using the stress inversion method in order to reconstruct the paleostress and recent stress orientations, respectively. The results show a transpressional deformation with current compression direction along N05oE and the mean paleo-compression direction along N33oE. Both are consistent with the general direction of compression in Zagros due to convergence of the Arabian and Iranian plates, and indicate an anticlockwise change in the compression direction over time and the Mohr circle patterns show an active transpressional zone. The stress ratio of 0.88 obtained from inversion of earthquake focal mechanism data indicates that the shape of stress ellipsoid is oblate. However, a ratio of 0.2 for obtained from inversion of fault slip data indicates a prolate shape of stress ellipsoid.

The NW-SE trendingSahneh-Bisetun Plain is located in the northeast of the Kermanshah province, and is extendedmore or less sub-parallel with the Zagros structural zone. The proximity of this plain with the Main Recent Fault (MRF) makes its study more important. In this study, in addition to the identification of the faults affecting the Sahneh-Bisetun Plain, formation of the plain and how it evolved in association with the active surrounding faults have been investigated. The general results of this study show that the geometry and morphology of this plain is affected by the Badrban and Barnaj active and hidden faults. The Sahneh-Bistun basin has been formed as the result of normal movement of the Barnaj fault in east of the Bistun-Tagh Bostan Mountain and thrust mechanism of the Badrban fault. The structural pattern of the aquifer was determined by the study of the interaction of active surrounding faults controlling the Quaternary basin and by using geo-electric data and qualitative analysis. Thickness ofaquifer in different parts of the plain was also measured. It indicates that the thickest part of the alluvium is located at the center of the plain and thins towards the surrounding rock units in the northwest or southeast.

Khunrang intrusive complex, as a one of the largest complexes in the southern part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, is located at northwest of Jiroft, in Kerman province. The complex mainly consists of acidic-intermediate rocks such as diorite, quartzdiorite, tonalite, granodiorite, and granite with subordinate amounts of mafic members such as hornblende gabbro and microgabbro. Field studies together with mineralogical and geochemical evidence show that the Khunrang intrusive complex belongs to calc-alkaline series and its felsic members are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous which display features typical of I-type granites. On the primitive mantle-normalized spider diagrams, all mafic and felsic samples are enriched in LILE (such as Rb, Cs and K) and depleted in Ti, Ta and Nb which is a main characteristic of subduction-related magmas. Based on geochemical data, the mafic rocks seems to be formed by melting of metasomatised mantle wedge; whereas felsic rocks are formed by melting of lower crust metabasic rocks as a result of the injection of mantle derived mafic magmas. It can be concluded that the Khunrang intrusive complex was formed in a volcanic arc setting due to subduction of the Neotethys oceanic crust beneath the Central Iranian Micro-continent in the Middle-Jurassic time.

Ab-Bid ultramafic complex in the north of Hormozgan province is a part of Hadji-Abad-Esphandagheh ophiolitic belt. Harzburgite forms more than 90 volume percent of the complex and lherzolite, dunite, pyroxenite and chromitite are the other lithologies. The harzburgites occur as massive non-layered outcrops with oriented minerals. Textures such as orientation and elongation of crystals, recrystallization, clinopyroxene exsolution lamellae in orthopyroxenes and different generations of minerals in these rocks show that they have been formed in the upper mantle and then emplaced in the crust. Mineral chemistry data indicate that the Ab-Bid harzburgites formed in an environment similar to those considered for MORB peridotites and they have experienced about 15% partial melting. Then, they affected by mantle metasomatism and were enriched in incompatible elements. Olivine-spinel thermometry in these harzburgites shows equilibrium temperatures of 1000-1200oC and suggests that they have been equilibrated in spinel peridotite field. Chemical evidence and tectonic setting of the studied harzburgites show that these rocks are similar to the abyssal peridotites and probably formed in a back arc basin environment. Ab-Bid harzburgites probably were part of mantle wedge over the Neotethys subducted slab in a back arc basin environment.

The early Cretaceous sedimentary sequence in south of Yazd hosts numerous Zn-Pb-Ba mineralization horizons. The sequence based on the stratigraphic position, age and composition of the rocks, can be divided into tree lower, middle and upper parts. The lower part or Sangestan formation mainly formed from clastic sedimentary rocks such as conglomerate, sandstone, shale, siltstone and oolitic limestone. The thick Sangestan sedimentary sequence is well exposed  resting unconformably on the Jurassic Shir-Kuh granite and metamorphic Shemshak Group. The middle part or the Taft formation include organic matter-rich shale, siltstone, limestone and dolomite. The upper part or the Abkuh (Darreh-Zanjir) formation comprised of shale, chert-bearing bedded limestone and marls, overlying concordantly on the Taft formation. The Zn-Pb-Ba mineralization horizons within the sedimentary sequence, based on stratigraphic position, relative age and type of host rocks involved the two horizons: the first horizon consisting of Mehdiabad, Farahabad and Mansourabad deposits, occurred in the lower part of the Taft formation and hosted by organic matter-rich shale, shaly limestone, siltstone, silty limestone and dolomite. The second horizon comprising Mehdiabad  and Mansourabad deposits are hosted by black shale and chert-bearing bedded limestone locates within the middle part of the Abkuh formation.

Mahneshan-Mianeh Cenozoic basin, in southern part of SE-termination of North Tabriz Fault, is located between two distinct NW and N Iran tectonic domains affected by different Quaternary tectonic and stress regimes, with a transitional boundary. Determining the Quaternary state of stress in the area of interest is a key to locate the locus of this transition between the two tectonic domains. In this study, Quaternary stress state of the area was studied using the inversion of fault kinematics data (with well-known sense and chronology) measured in 25 sites in the Mahneshan-Mianeh Cenozoic basin. Our results indicate a homogenous modern compressional stress field characterized by a NE-trending horizontal maximum stress axis (~N055) prevailing through Quaternary, and coherent with the direction of the Arabia-Eurasia convergence in Iran.

Calcareous nannofossils have been investigated at the lower part of the Gurpi Formation at the southwest of Gurpi anticline. According to the index calcareous nannofossils CC22/UC15eTP to CC24/UC18 bio-zones have been identified and the age of Late Campanian - Early Maastrichtian is considered for the studied interval. Statistical analysis of the assemblages indicate the presence of high and low nutrient taxa. The relative abundance of oligotrophic taxa (Watznaueria barnesae, Watznaueria fossacincta, Prediscosphaera spp., Eiffellithus spp., Lithraphidites carniolensis, Staurolithites spp., Micula staurophora, Cribrosphaerella ehrenbergii) is higher than eutrophic forms (Biscutum constans, Discorhabdus ignotus, Placozygus spiralis, Reinhardtites spp., Zeugrhabdotus spp., Tranolithus orionatus), and an increasing trend in the relative abundance of oligotrophic taxa along with a decreasing trend in the relative abundance of eutrophic forms can be observed towards the upper parts of the section (Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary and Early Maastrichtian).

In this research, two probabilistic methods (i.e., weight of evidence and index of entropy models) are used to perform landslide hazard zonation mapping in Doab Samsami region in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. For this purpose, ten landslide-conditioning factors (i.e., slope gradient, slope direction, precipitation, gravity acceleration, distance to roads, distance to streams, distance to faults, distance to residential areas, lithology and land use) are used. A landslide inventory map was prepared using the known landslides, Google Earth images, and field observations. The landslide hazard map was prepared taking into account the weights calculated by both models and computerized in ArcGIS Software. The SCAI and the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were used to evaluate them. The results of both models imply a good prediction of landslide hazard in the studied area. They indicate that precipitation, lithology and land use have the greatest impacts on the landslides occurred in the Doab Samsami region, respectively, and that both models are appropriate for the landslide hazard mapping. The validation results using 30% of the landslide points showed that in weight of evidence model AUC is 79% and was able to predict the landslides slightly better than the index of entropy method in which AUC was 73%. The maps produced by these models can be useful for regional spatial planning and for land use planning.

The Lerdgarm peridotite complex is one of the ultramafic complexes in south-east Iran. This complex is composed mainly of harzburgite dunite, lherzolite, and secondary listvenite and magnesite. The detailed electron microprobe study revealed very high Cr # (39.9-64.0), Mg # (51.2-65.63) and very low Ti02 content (averaging 0.05 wt %) for chromian spinels in peridotites. The Fe3+# is very low (<0.05 wt'l/o) in the chromian spinel of peridotites which reflects crystallization under the low oxygen fugacity. The composition of olivineshows forsterite type (Fo90.97-92.63), orthopyroxene is enstatite, clinopyroxene is diopside and spinels areAl rich Cr-spinel. Thermo-barometric study of Cpx-Opx suggested that the re-equilibrium temperature of peridotites was 1100oC± 60 at a pressure of 26 Kbar. Tectonic environment discrimination diagrams for dunites show a suprasubduction environment of the arc setting and for the harzburgite and lherzolites show abyssal environment.

In this study, separation of paleostress phases in the Khalkhal region has been doneusing paleostress analysis based on heterogeneous fault slip data and related slip lineations. The data have been measured and collected from the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Eocene units.To determine the sense of shear or slip, indices such as stratigraphic separation across the faults, kinematic indicators on fault surfaces, conjugate fractures, and tensile cracks were used. The data were analyzed with the help of inversion method. The results indicate that strike-slip regime is dominant in the region. Constraining the stress phases and comparison with the field and seismic data revealed that the third stress regime is characterized by avertical  s2 and a NE-SW extension related to the modern stress regime, which is also compatible with the seismic data. The first and second phases of stress prevailed along NW-SE and N-S directions related to the paleostress regimes. Various investigations, including rose diagram analysis of faults and arrangement of structures show that the faults in the region are dominantly strike-slip and strike-slip with normal component, and the shape of the stress field in the region is prolate. Keywords: Palaeostress phase separation, Rotation, Conjugate faults, Slip fault analysis, Khalkhal

Intrusive rocks from SW Salmas include mafic-intermediate and acidic rocks, which occur in the border of Sanandaj-Sirjan and Urmia-Dokhtar zones in Northwest of Iran. The mafic-intermediate rocks comprise metadiorite and metagabbros that are the oldest rocks in the region. The acidic rocks include metagranite and metagranodiorite. These rocks have intruded into the Precambrian metamorphosed volcanic-sedimentary rocks. U-Pb zircon dating of the Salmas metagranite and metagranodiric rocks yielded age ranges of 565±2.7 Ma to 567±2.4 Ma (Ediacaran-Early Cambrian). Zircons have inherited cores. Zircon Hf isotope data (and Hf model ages) indicate that these rocks are not juvenile mantle melt derived but instead are products of juvenile melts interaction with old Mesoproterozoic continental crust. Furthermore, zircon d18O values suggest contribution of continental crustal rocks during generation of the Salmas rocks. The Salmas Cadomian rocks are coeval with other similar-aged metagranites and gneisses from Central Iran, Sanandaj-Sirjan zone and Alborz Mountains. All these dispersed basement rocks are suggested to be fragments of the Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian magmatism of northern margin of Gondwana.

Jeirud phosphate deposit is located about 45 km north of Tehran, in the central part of the Alborz geological-structural zone. This deposit is occurred in Jeirud Formation, which is one of the major hosts of phosphate deposits in Iran. Jeirud phosphate deposit is composed of several phosphatic sandstone (phosphorite) layers occurring in the laminated black shale unit of Jeirud Formation. Based on the petrographic studies, phosphatic layers of Jeirud formation have simple mineralogy. Phosphate mineralization mainly consists of apatite and quartz with subordinate calcite, dolomite, pyrite, iron oxides and clay minerals. Jeirud phosphate samples show similar REE patterns, total REE contents and element ratios, suggesting contribution of common processes in their formation. Average total REE contents of the Jeirud phosphate samples are much more than those in the average oceanic water. Normalized REE patterns of Jeirud phosphate samples show differentiation and enrichment in LREEs in comparison to HREEs. Ce anomaly was not distinguished in the deposit. Investigating chondrite normalized REE patterns of the Jeirud phosphates indicate their deposition under reducing conditions. Post Archean Average Shale (PAAS) normalized patterns of the Jeirud phosphates show a nearly convex pattern with moderate positive Eu anomaly, revealing an anoxic or (sulfate reducing) diagenetic environment for phosphate formation.

The Deh-Salm metamorphic complex, including the various types of metamorphic rocks and a north-south trending sequence of the index-mineral zones, crops out associated with the felsic plutonic rocks in the eastern margin of the Central Iranian micro-continent, between the Sistan suture zone and the Lut block. Amongst the metamorphic rocks, metapelite from different parts of the complex is the most widespread. Several evidence suggest the occurrence of a progressive regional metamorphism associated with the sequence of metamorphic index minerals from the west to the east. Metamorphism of the metapelitic rocks  at the greenschist facies was initiated by the garnet zone, continued to the staurolite, andalusite and sillimanite zones, and terminated at the higher orthoclase-sillimanite zone in the condition of the amphibolite-granulite facies transition. The results from the thermometry calculations, based on the Fe-Mg ratio for  biotite and garnet pair in equilibrium provide new temperatures; the western part of the complex underwent the greenschist facies with a temperature between 450 to 550oC and the eastern part experienced amphibolite-granulite transitional facies under a temperature up to 750oC. Metamorphic conditions inferred by the study of the pelitic rocks and correlated to the other adjacent rocks show an Abukoma-type progressive metamorphism. It may be considered that the late-Jurassic regional metamorphism event, synchronous with the Shah Kuh granitization at the eastern margin of the Lut Block was occurred due to the subduction of the Neotethys ocean.

The Fahliyan Formation of Khami Group is hosting important hydrocarbon reserves in Iran and also is a main reservoir rock in the Abadan Plain oil fields which is Neocomian in age. In the studied wells its thickness is about 440 meters. In the Abadan Plain, the Fahliyan Formation transitionally overlies the argillaceous limestone of the Garau Formation and its upper boundary changes into marl and argillaceous limestone of the Gadvan Formation. According to thin sections examinations prepared from cuttings and cores plus electrofacies analysis 11 microfacies and 2 lithofacies are recognized. This formation consists of two carbonate and mixed carbonate-siliciclastic (mixed zone) members. The Lower Fahliyan was deposited in carbonate ramp environment while, the Upper Fahliyan was deposited in a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic environment. To determine electrofacies, the rock types were modeled with using MRGC method. Best correlation between petrographical and electrofacies is 12 cluster model (in MRGC method). These results suggest that the electrofacies model is in agreement with heterogenetic rock type such as mixed carbonate–siliciclastic environment observed in petrography. Also, in homogenous rock type such as carbonate ramp environment electherofacies can’t completely determine geological facies. Based on petrographical and electrofacies this formation is composed of three third order sequences with type sb2 sequence boundaries. But, the third sequence in mixed carbonate–siliciclastic zone is terminated with sb1 sequence boundary just below the Gadvan Formation.