Geochronology and petrogenesis of magmatic and high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Eocene Chapedony core complex: New insights into the basement geology of Iran

Abstract

The Arabia-Eurasia convergence zone provides an evolving record from oblique subduction to continental collision resulting in multiple transient tectonothermal events. Although the subduction of the Neotethys below the Iranian terranes and its relation to the arc and back-arc magmatism throughout the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic in Iran has been documented, the detailed geochemical and isotopic transition from subduction to back-arc extension was not constrained. This study reports the first evidence into the petrogenesis of magmatic diversity of Chapedony core complex (CCC) and the coexistence of Nb-enriched rocks and adakite-like rocks as a result of old crustal recycling. Integrated study of petrography, whole-rock major- and trace-element geochemical data supported with Sr and Nd isotope compositions, zircon UPb and traces, and zircon Hf isotope analyses reveal a protracted and pulsed evolution of the CCC. The complex consists of leucosome-bearing gabbro-diorite-granodiorite, quartz diorite, and biotite granite that formed between 50 and 40 Ma, but contains amphibolite (metabasite) bodies with zircon cores yielding UPb ages of 518 Ma and 189 Ma with MORB- and OIB-like characteristics, respectively. Biotite granites are divisible into two types; Type 1 have zircons with a wide range ages, while Type 2 are biotite granites with Eocene ages and lack inherited zircons. Biotite granites Type 1 yield a range of zircon ages (45–3200 Ma) with the youngest magmatic ages late Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian, Triassic (240 Ma), and Eocene (48 Ma). εHf (t) values for zircon grains range from −23.95 to 13.13 for biotite granites (Type 1), −4.76 to 6.78 for amphibolites, and − 6.25 to 6.96 for Eocene mafic-felsic rock units. Biotite granites (Type 1) have I_Sr and εNd values ranging from 0.7177 to 0.7308 and − 14.8 to −7.4, respectively, whereas these values for the amphibolites are 0.7056 to 0.7090 and − 4.4 to 11.3, respectively. The mid-Eocene rock units of the CCC have I_Sr of 0.7050 to 0.7136 and εNd values of −3.9 to 8.9 gabbro-diorite-granodiorite, 3.3 to 16.3 for quartz diorite, and − 5.3 to −0.9 biotite granite (Type 2). The recorded zircon Hf isotopes along with I_Sr and εNd values indicate that a hybrid and old mantle (MORB+OIB) previously metasomatised by subduction of old enriched components (biotite granite Type 1) into the mantle, predating Eocene appinite-like mafic magma generation. Subsequent partial melts of such a source generate Eocene appinite magmas, as transitional rocks, which evolved to Eocene intermediate-felsic rocks through magma-crust interaction and accumulation/fractionation after the initial melts formed in the lower crust. The timing of the CCC formation (50–40 Ma) corresponds to an amphibolite metamorphism involving temperatures of 600–800 °C, associated with partial melting during the regional back-arc extension. The formation of new crust, through the reactivation and recycling of ancient Gondwana crust, alongside the generation of transitional magmas, was likely triggered by asthenospheric upwelling and back-arc extension. This occurred following the retreat of the subducting slab during Neo-Tethys oceanic subduction that likely predated the transition to collision.