Geochemical analysis reveals how early Miocene granitoids formed in central Iran, indicating subduction influences.
This study investigates the early Miocene granitoids (rhyolites, dacites, granodiorites, and diorites) from the Kashan area in the central Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc of Iran, to constrain their sources and geodynamic processes. Zircon U–Pb ages, zircon Hf isotopic data, and whole-rock geochemistry are presented. The diorites yielded a zircon U−Pb age of 22 Ma. They are geochemically classified as non-adakitic rocks, characterized by low Sr (258.0–289.5 ppm) and high Y (28.21–29.33 ppm) with low Sr/Y (9.04–9.92). These rocks exhibit high-K calc-alkaline affinities, enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREEs), pronounced negative Nb−Ta anomalies, high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.706181–0.706269), coupled with negative εNd(t) (− 3.6 to − 3.0) and εHf(t) (− 3.5 to − 0.9) values. These features indicate that the diorites were derived from partial melting of an enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle (the amphibole-bearing spinel stability field) metasomatized by subducted sediment-derived fluids. In contrast, the rhyolites, dacites, and granodiorites exhibit adakitic affinities, showing high Sr (377.2–595.4 ppm), low Y (4.36–13.48 ppm) with high Sr/Y (29.93–94.28). They display high SiO2 (63.01–77.33 wt%) and low MgO (0.74 − 2.45 wt%), Mg# (29–47), and Ni (4.56 − 22.13) values. Such signatures are consistent with partial melting of the thickened lower crust. Based on the regional geology and previous work, we propose a two-stage geodynamic model. The diorites formed during the initial Arabia-Eurasia collision related to the final breakoff of the Neo-Tethys slab, whereas the adakitic rocks were generated during the main collisional stage.
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Kou et al. (2026) studied this question.
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