Young magmatism in Afghanistan as the consequence of the neocene-quaternary tectonic movements

Abstract

A considerable portion of the territory of Afghanistan, having structures of the Mediterranean folded belt, has been subjected to a general tectonomagmatic activization over the Miocene through to the present, resulting in different (predominantly oscillating) tectonic movements, intrusive magmatism, terrestrial volcanism, mineral occurrences, and springs of carbonated and nitrous thermal water. Three types of young magmatism and volcanism products have been recognized in Afghanistan: (1) Miocene alkaline granite intrusions, described as the Share—Arman Complex, resulted from the early orogenic stage of the Late Alpine geosynclinal troughs development and were restricted to transversal uplifts, in both the geosynclinal structures and on their extension, in the surrounding median masses. These transversal uplifts also play the role of mineralization-controlling structures. (2) Late orogenic—Early Quaternary volcanics (the Dash-i-Nawar Complex) cropping out by the periphery of median masses and at the marginal uplifts of the Late Alpine folded area and also restricted to the transversal uplifts with the confined fault zones to them. (3) Alkaline carbonatitic (the Khanneshin Complex) and trachybasaltic (the SarLogh Complex) Early—Middle Quaternary volcanics in the inner parts of the Central Afghanistan Median Mass and in the southeastern segment of the Turan Plateau. Areas with products of Middle Quaternary volcanism are restricted to knot areas of the major subcrustal faults which are currently active.