Origin and magmatic evolution of the Quaternary syn-collision alkali basalts and related rocks from Salmas, northwestern Iran

Abstract

Quaternary alkali basalts and related rocks are located in the northern portion of the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone in Iran (SaSZ). These rocks, also known as the Salmas Quaternary volcanic rocks (SQVR), consist primarily of basalts and trachy basalts (mafic parts) and basaltic trachy andesites and trachy andesites (intermediate parts), which are highly sodic alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline in character, respectively. These mafic to intermediate samples contain variable proportions of pyroxene, olivine and plagioclase, alongside ubiquitous accessory levels of biotite, amphibolte and oxides. Based on the negative Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf, and also positive Th and U anomalies in some samples, the SQVR formed in a widely-recognized syn-collision environment following the termination of oblique Neotethys subduction beneath the Central Iranian microplate. Following slab break-off of the remnants of the oceanic lithosphere under the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone, a combination of asthenospheric upwelling, small-scale mantle convection, and localized crustal extension promoted magmatism. We model that decompression melting occurred on the boundary of the lithosphere and asthenosphere at around 65–70 km. The magma of the SQVR resulted from relatively small degrees of partial melting (<5%) of a metasomatized amphibole-bearing garnet-spinel lherzolite. Fractional crystallization, combined with a small amount of assimilation and fractional crystallization occurred during transfer to the surface and resulted in the evolution of basaltic parent magmas towards intermediate compositions.