Petrography, geochemistry and tectonic setting of mafic- ultramafic intrusion in the Bafq 15th anomaly (Iron) (Central Iran)

Abstract

The mafic- ultramafic intrusion in the Bafq anomaly Iron located 35 Km northwest of Bafq city, Central Iran. The 15th anomaly intrusion intruded the Rizu sequence series, stratigraphically attributed to early Cambrian magmatism in the west of Posht-e- Badam block. The Rizu sequence series is composed of carbonate rocks of upper Neo-Proterozoic-early Cambrian. The mafic-ultramafic intrusion is dominated by amphibole-gabbro, apatite- gabbro, anorthosite- gabbro, amphibole- pyroxenite, apatite-pyroxenite with predominant granular texture and cumulate characteristics. The associated main mineral assemblage composed of cumulate predominantly clino-pyroxene, Fe-Ti oxides, calcic plagioclase, amphibole, apatite, as well as minor olivine. The intrusion formed from mafic magma and differentiated from tholeiitic to weakly calc-alkaline affinity. Spider diagrams of the analyzed samples were normalized to the standard values of chondrite and primitive mantle. REE– normalized diagrams are characterized by LILEs enrichment and HFSEs depletion and mild negative REEs trend. Different tectonic setting discriminative diagrams and elemental ratios are indication of a subduction related affinity. The parental magma could be generated by melting of mantle peridotites (lithospheric mantle) which previously affected by subduction related fluids. The results of this research is consistent with the previous models which considered the Early Cambrian magmatism in Post-e-Badam block related to the subduction of Proto- Tethys oceanic crust beneath the Central Iran in the north of Gondwana land.

Keywords

• petrology
• tectonic setting
• mafic- ultramafic intrusions
• bafq area
• central iran