Petrography, U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry of Varcheh intrusions: Insight into younging trend of mid-Cretaceous subduction in the northern Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone, western Iran

The Neotethyan Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone of western Iran has recorded major magmatic activities due to its continental arc tectonic setting during the Mesozoic. The Varcheh mafic intrusions were less-studied plutons in the northern Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone (SSZ). Field evidence, petrography, geochemistry and U–Pb geochronological data were used to determine petrographic composition, geochemical nature, crystallization age and also to suggest a conceptual tectonomagmatic model for their emplacement. Small plutonic bodies are dominantly composed of monzogabbro that have intruded into the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. Based on U–Pb zircon datings, these rocks have crystallized at 125–118 Ma in late Early Cretaceous (Barremian–Aptian), and are older than the supposed ages reported on geological maps. Varcheh rocks are not just typical calc-alkaline rocks and some show alkaline affinity. Negative anomalies in Nb–Ta–Ti and enrichments in some large-ion lithophile elements on spider diagrams are consistent with a subduction-zone setting. Potential deep source for magma generation is partial melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle wedge above a subducting slab of oceanic lithosphere. The spaces for the Varcheh mafic intrusions are accommodated by dominant dextral strike-slip movement in a continental arc experiencing extension during late Early Cretaceous subduction. According to the zircon U–Pb geochronology results in this paper and previous U–Pb ages in the northern part of the SSZ, the mid-Cretaceous magmatism reveals a significant NW-ward younging trend and migration of the magmatic arc from the Barremian–Aptian in south-east to the Albian–Cenomanian in the north-west.