Petrogenesis of Heiran area submarine lavas in north east of Ardabil, Iran: A case study of Sevan-Akera-Qaradagh Ocean back arc basin

Authors : Yousef VASİGH, Erkan AYDAR, Shahriyar KARİMDOUST, Ekrem KALKAN, Abdulvahab MUKHTAROV

Pages : 14-22

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Publication Date : 2019-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Heiran area is located in north-west of Ardabil and south west of Caspian Sea. Field evidences indicatesubmarine volcanic activities in this area. The rocks in this area are of basaltic composition. Theoutcrops of pillow lavas, prisms, dykes and lava flows in different points are evidences showing theexistence of oceanic crust in this area. Studies on other locations of southern margin of Caspian Seaas well as structural and petrological similarities between Heiran and these areas may confirm thefact that Heiran area is part of geo-suture of Caspian Sea southern margin. The submarine lavas inthis area are associated in age with late Cretaceous-Eocene. With regard to petrographicalcharacteristics, the rocks under study range from andesitic basalt to olivine basalt and belong toalkaline series. The tectonomagmatic environment of these lavas is related to back arc basin. Thesemagmas originate from subcontinental lithospheric mantle and have formed in a supra subductionenvironment. During upper Cretaceous-middle Paleogene, the closing of Sevan-Akera-QaradaghOcean led to the formation of marginal basin in the form of a back arc basin in the margin of CaspianSea. The submarine lavas of Heiran area are likely to have originated from the volcanic activities ofthis marginal basin.
Keywords : pillow lava, back arc basin, Sevan Akera Qaradagh Ocean, Heiran, Ardabil

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