Detrital zircon provenance analysis in the Zagros Orogen, SW Iran: implications for the amalgamation history of the Neo-Tethys

The Zagros Orogen developed as a result of Arabia–Eurasia collision. New in situ detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic analyses from a Cenozoic sedimentary sequence in SW Iran are used to unravel the amalgamation history of Neo-Tethys. Data indicate that: (1) Paleocene and Eocene strata (58 and 45 Ma, respectively) were sourced from obducted ophiolite and Triassic volcanics, (2) Lower Miocene (~18 Ma) strata indicate mixed provenance from obducted ophiolite and Iranian magmatic rocks, (3) Mid to Upper Miocene sediments (~14 to 11.2 Ma) were mainly sourced from Sanandaj–Sirjan zone granitoids to the north, and (4) Lower Pliocene (~5 Ma) sediments mainly show Arabian age characteristics, with a minor Eurasian affinity component. Two hypotheses are outlined to highlight the key events: Hypothesis A, previously published by several workers, suggests that the sequence studied lay on the Arabia passive margin and that initial collision occurred prior to 18 Ma; Hypothesis B, modified from the Makran model, which is here preferred, suggests that Paleogene to Upper Miocene sediments were sourced from the northern Neo-Tethyan accretionary complex or Eurasia, and carry no input from Arabia, whereas the Lower Pliocene sample shows a mixed provenance from both Arabia and Eurasia, suggesting that collision occurred between ~11.2 and 5 Ma.