Non-arc setting for “Cadomian” magmatism in Iran and Anatolia

Abstract

Establishing the type and position of plate boundaries is crucial for paleogeographic reconstructions. The northern margin of Gondwana (NMG) is inferred to have been a convergent, Andean-style, plate margin for much the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic (i.e., the Avalonian-Cadomian Orogen), based largely on the presence of igneous rocks with arc-related geochemical affinities. However, a major segment of the margin that fringed the Arabian Plate includes bimodal Ediacaran–middle Cambrian (ca. 600–500 Ma) igneous rocks, more typical of continental rift settings, which has led to ambiguous and contradictory interpretations of magma tectonogenesis. Here, we employ an alternative approach to investigate the tectonic setting of the NMG by studying the evolution of sedimentary basins that developed in Iran, Anatolia, and the Arabian Plate simultaneously with the ca. 600–500 Ma magmatism. The Ediacaran–middle Cambrian successions in this segment of the NMG consist of laterally continuous siliciclastic and carbonate sequences, which have been broadly correlated across the region. The consistent northward and eastward paleocurrent directions and decrease in clastic sediment grain-size from proximal (the Arabian Plate) to distal (Iran and Anatolia) successions suggest a northward and eastward deepening basin with relatively flat topography. The new detrital zircon (n = 2870) and apatite (n = 1178) U-Pb ages from the Ediacaran–middle Cambrian siliciclastic strata of Iran are mostly older than 600 Ma. Detrital apatite trace element compositions indicate that most grains are sourced from I-type granitoids and mafic igneous rocks, low- and high-grade metamorphic rocks, with a minority from ultramafic rocks. Together with published detrital zircon U-Pb age data from correlative strata in Anatolia and the Arabian Plate, these data suggest the pre-existing Arabian-Nubian Shield as the main source. Importantly, detrital zircon and apatite grains with ages < 600 Ma are rare in these strata, suggesting that they received little input from contemporaneous Ediacaran–middle Cambrian (ca. 600–500 Ma) igneous rocks. We suggest that the very small sediment contribution from the ca. 600–500 Ma igneous rocks argues against the tectonic model that considers the development of a large Andean-style magmatic arc at this segment of the NMG. Integrating these constraints from the sedimentary record with geochemical data from the ca. 600–500 Ma igneous rocks in Iran and Anatolia favors an extensional continental margin setting that may be related to escape tectonics or post-collisional relaxation during Ediacaran–Cambrian following Gondwana assembly.

Keywords

Northern margin of Gondwana / Cambrian / Iran / Anatolia / Detrital apatite / Cadomian orogen

References

A. Abbo, D. Avigad, A. Gerdes, T. Güngör. Cadomian basement and Paleozoic to Triassic siliciclastics of the Taurides (Karacahisar dome, south-central Turkey): Paleogeographic constraints from U–Pb–Hf in zircons. Lithos, 227 (2015), pp. 122-139,

A. Aghanabati. Geology of Iran. Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran (2004)

Aghanabati, A., Rezaei, A., 2009. Correlation of lithostratigraphic units of Iran in major structural-sedimentary basins. Geological Survey of Iran.

M.I. Al-Husseini. Middle east geologic time scale 2010: Early Cambrian Asfar Sequence. Geoarabia, 15 (1) (2010), pp. 137-160

A.S. Alsharhan, C.G.S.C. Kendall. Paleozoic sequence stratigraphy, depositional systems, and hydrocarbon habitats across the Arabian plate. AAPG Bull., 105 (6) (2021), pp. 1149-1198,

M. Asadi Sarshar, H.S. Moghadam, W.L. Griffin, J.F. Santos, R.J. Stern, C.J. Ottley, K. Sarkarinejad, F. Sepidbar, S.Y. O’Reilly. Geochronology and geochemistry of exotic blocks of Cadomian crust from the salt diapirs of SE Zagros: the Chah-Banu example. Int. Geol. Rev., 64 (10) (2020), pp. 1409-1430,

D. Avigad, A. Sandler, K. Kolodner, R.J. Stern, M. McWilliams, N. Miller, M. Beyth. Mass-production of Cambro-Ordovician quartz-rich sandstone as a consequence of chemical weathering of Pan-African terranes: Environmental implications. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 240 (3) (2005), pp. 818-826,

H. Azizi, S.A. Whattam. Does Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic (570–530 Ma) basement of Iran belong to the Cadomian Orogeny?. Precambrian Res., 368 (2022), Article 106474,

A. Bayet-Goll, G. Geyer, M. Daraei. Tectonic and eustatic controls on the spatial distribution and stratigraphic architecture of late early Cambrian successions at the northern Gondwana margin: The siliciclastic-carbonate successions of the Lalun Formation in central Iran. Mar. Petrol. Geol., 98 (2018), pp. 199-228,

Y. Be'eri-Shlevin, Y. Katzir, M. Whitehouse. Post-collisional tectonomagmatic evolution in the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield: time constraints from ion-probe U-Pb dating of zircon. J. Geol. Soc. London, 166 (1) (2009), p. 71,

M. Berberian, G.C.P. King. Towards a paleogeography and tectonic evolution of Iran. Can. J. Earth Sci., 18 (2) (1981), pp. 210-265,

B. Blasband, S. White, P. Brooijmans, H. De Boorder, W. Visser. Late Proterozoic extensional collapse in the Arabian-Nubian Shield. J. Geol. Soc. London, 157 (3) (2000), p. 615,

F.F. Bonavia, J. Chorowicz. Northward expulsion of the Pan-African of northeast Africa guided by a reentrant zone of the Tanzania craton. Geology, 20 (11) (1992), pp. 1023-1026,

O. Candan, O.E. Koralay, C. Akal, O. Kaya, R. Oberhänsli, O.Ö. Dora, N. Konak, F. Chen. Supra-Pan-African unconformity between core and cover series of the Menderes Massif/Turkey and its geological implications. Precambrian Res., 184 (1) (2011), pp. 1-23,

P.A. Cawood. Characterisation of intra-oceanic magmatic arc source terranes by provenance studies of derived sediments. New Zeal. J. Geol. Geophys., 34 (3) (1991), pp. 347-358,

P.A. Cawood, C.J. Hawkesworth, B. Dhuime. Detrital zircon record and tectonic setting. Geology, 40 (10) (2012), pp. 875-878,

P.A. Cawood, Y. Wang, Y. Xu, G. Zhao. Locating South China in Rodinia and Gondwana: A fragment of greater India lithosphere?. Geology, 41 (8) (2013), pp. 903-906,

P.A. Cawood, R.A. Strachan, S.A. Pisarevsky, D.P. Gladkochub, J.B. Murphy. Linking collisional and accretionary orogens during Rodinia assembly and breakup: Implications for models of supercontinent cycles. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 449 (2016), pp. 118-126,

P.A. Cawood, E.L. Martin, J.B. Murphy, S.A. Pisarevsky. Gondwana's interlinked peripheral orogens. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 568 (2021), Article 117057,

H.-Y. Chiu, S.-L. Chung, M.H. Zarrinkoub, R. Melkonyan, K.-N. Pang, H.-Y. Lee, K.-L. Wang, S.S. Mohammadi, M.M. Khatib. Zircon Hf isotopic constraints on magmatic and tectonic evolution in Iran: Implications for crustal growth in the Tethyan orogenic belt. J. Asian Earth Sci., 145 (2017), pp. 652-669,

M.E. Dabbagh, J.J.W. Rogers. Depositional environments and tectonic significance of the Wajid Sandstone of southern Saudi Arabia. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 1 (1) (1983), pp. 47-57,

D. Dedeoğlu Yıldız, K. Yılmaz, N. Aysal. Petrology and zircon U-Pb geochronology of mafic - intermediate dykes in the West-Central Taurides: Implications for magma source during the Late Precambrian-Early Palaeozoic. Int. Geol. Rev., 64 (17) (2022), pp. 2436-2455,

H. Demircan, S. Gursu, M.C. Göncüoğlu. Early Cambrian trace fossils at the northern margin of the Arabian Plate; Telbesmi Formation, Turkey. Acta Geol. Pol., 68 (2) (2018), pp. 135-145,

W.R. Dickinson, C.A. Suczek. Plate tectonics and sandstone compositions. AAPG Bull., 63 (12) (1979), pp. 2164-2182,

M.Z. El-Bialy, H.A. Eliwa, N.M. Mahdy, M. Murata, K.H. El-Gameel, H. Sehsah, M. Omar, Y. Kato, K. Fujinaga, A. Andresen, T.B. Thomsen. U-Pb zircon geochronology and geochemical constraints on the Ediacaran continental arc and post-collision Granites of Wadi Hawashiya, North Eastern Desert, Egypt: Insights into the ∼600 Ma crust-forming Event in the northernmost part of Arabian-Nubian Shield. Precambrian Res., 345 (2020), Article 105777,

M. Eyal, Y. Be'eri-Shlevin, Y. Eyal, M.J. Whitehouse, B. Litvinovsky. Three successive Proterozoic island arcs in the Northern Arabian-Nubian Shield: Evidence from SIMS U-Pb dating of zircon. Gondwana Res., 25 (1) (2014), pp. 338-357,

H. Fritz, M. Abdelsalam, K.A. Ali, B. Bingen, A.S. Collins, A.R. Fowler, W. Ghebreab, C.A. Hauzenberger, P.R. Johnson, T.M. Kusky, P. Macey, S. Muhongo, R.J. Stern, G. Viola. Orogen styles in the East African Orogen: A review of the Neoproterozoic to Cambrian tectonic evolution. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 86 (2013), pp. 65-106,

H. Gamaleldien, Z.-X. Li, M. Abu Anbar, J.B. Murphy, L.S. Doucet. Geochronological and isotopic constraints on Neoproterozoic crustal growth in the Egyptian Nubian Shield: Review and synthesis. Earth-Sci. Rev., 235 (2022), Article 104244,

B. Gao, J. Chen, W. Qie, X. Wang. Revisiting the paleogeographic framework of northeastern Gondwana in the late Paleozoic: Implications from detrital zircon analysis. Sediment. Geol., 434 (2022), Article 106144,

A. Genna, P. Nehlig, E. Le Goff, C. Guerrot, M. Shanti. Proterozoic tectonism of the Arabian Shield. Precambrian Res., 117 (1) (2002), pp. 21-40,

G. Geyer, A. Bayet-Goll, M. Wilmsen, A. Mahboubi, R. Moussavi-Harami. Lithostratigraphic revision of the middle Cambrian (Series 3) and upper Cambrian (Furongian) in northern and central Iran. Newsl. Stratigr., 47 (1) (2014), pp. 21-59,

M.R. Ghasempour, A.R. Davoudian, N. Shabanian, H. Moeinzadeh, K. Nakashima. Geochemistry and mineral chemistry of gabbroic rocks from Horjand of Kerman province, Southeast of Iran: Implications for rifting along the northeastern margin of Gondwana. J. Geodyn., 133 (2020), Article 101675,

W. Ghebreab, C.J. Talbot, L. Page. Time constraints on exhumation of the East African Orogen from field observations and 40Ar/39Ar cooling ages of low-angle mylonites in Eritrea, NE Africa. Precambrian Res., 139 (1) (2005), pp. 20-41,

J.F. Ghienne, O. Monod, H. Kozlu, W.T. Dean. Cambrian-Ordovician depositional sequences in the Middle East: A perspective from Turkey. Earth-Sci. Rev., 101 (3) (2010), pp. 101-146,

R.O. Greiling, M.M. Abdeen, A.A. Dardir, H. El Akhal, M.F. El Ramly, G.M. El Din Kamal, A.F. Osman, A.A. Rashwan, A.H.N. Rice, M.F. Sadek. A structural synthesis of the Proterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield in Egypt. Geol. Rundsch., 83 (3) (1994), pp. 484-501,

S. Gürsu, M.C. Göncüoglu. Early Cambrian back-arc volcanism in the western Taurides, Turkey: implications for rifting along the northern Gondwanan margin. Geol. Mag., 142 (5) (2005), pp. 617-631,

S. Gürsu, M.C. Göncüoglu. Petrogenesis and tectonic setting of Cadomian felsic igneous rocks, Sandıklı area of the western Taurides, Turkey. Int. J. Earth Sci., 95 (5) (2006), pp. 741-757,

S. Gürsu, A. Möller, M.C. Göncüoglu, S. Köksal, H. Demircan, F.T. Köksal, H. Kozlu, G. Sunal. Neoproterozoic continental arc volcanism at the northern edge of the Arabian Plate, SE Turkey. Precambrian Res., 258 (2015), pp. 208-233,

S. Gürsu, S. Köksal, A. Möller, G.D. Kamenov, M. Cemal Göncüoğlu, K. Hefferan, P.A. Mueller, H. Kozlu. Combined U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf systematics of detrital zircons from Early Cambrian Gondwanan siliciclastic rocks in S Turkey: Provenance and correlations with coeval successions in peri-Gondwanan terranes. Gondwana Res., 107 (2022), pp. 423-450,

U.S. Hargrove, R.J. Stern, J.I. Kimura, W.I. Manton, P.R. Johnson. How juvenile is the Arabian-Nubian Shield? Evidence from Nd isotopes and pre-Neoproterozoic inherited zircon in the Bi’r Umq suture zone, Saudi Arabia. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 252 (3) (2006), pp. 308-326,

C. Hawkesworth, S. Turner, K. Gallagher, A. Hunter, T. Bradshaw, N. Rogers. Calc-alkaline magmatism, lithospheric thinning and extension in the Basin and Range. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 100 (B6) (1995), pp. 10271-10286,

M. Honarmand, X.-H. Li, G. Nabatian, M. Rezaeian, N. Etemad-Saeed. Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian tectono-magmatic evolution of the Central Iranian terrane, northern margin of Gondwana: Constraints from detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf–O isotope studies. Gondwana Res., 37 (2016), pp. 285-300,

P.R. Hooper, D.G. Bailey, G.A.M. Holder. Tertiary calc-alkaline magmatism associated with lithospheric extension in the Pacific Northwest. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 100 (B6) (1995), pp. 10303-10319,

B.K. Horton, J. Hassanzadeh, D.F. Stockli, G.J. Axen, R.J. Gillis, B. Guest, A. Amini, M.D. Fakhari, S.M. Zamanzadeh, M. Grove. Detrital zircon provenance of Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic deposits in Iran: Implications for chronostratigraphy and collisional tectonics. Tectonophysics, 451 (1) (2008), pp. 97-122,

İ. Hoşgör, İ.Ö. Yılmaz. Occurrence of the Lower Cambrian anemone-style trace fossils in the Zabuk Formation (Mardin–Derik, SE Turkey). C.R. Palevol, 17 (8) (2018), pp. 495-503,

R.D. Jarrard. Relations among subduction parameters. Rev. Geophys., 24 (2) (1986), pp. 217-284,

P.R. Johnson, A. Andresen, A.S. Collins, A.R. Fowler, H. Fritz, W. Ghebreab, T. Kusky, R.J. Stern. Late Cryogenian-Ediacaran history of the Arabian-Nubian Shield: A review of depositional, plutonic, structural, and tectonic events in the closing stages of the northern East African Orogen. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 61 (3) (2011), pp. 167-232,

R.P. Johnson, P.G. Halverson, M.T. Kusky, J.R. Stern, V. Pease. Volcanosedimentary basins in the Arabian-Nubian Shield: Markers of repeated exhumation and denudation in a Neoproterozoic accretionary orogen. Geosciences, 3 (3) (2013), pp. 389-445,

O. Karsli, F. Şengün, A. Dokuz, F. Aydin, R. Kandemir, M. Kristoffersen, J.F. Santos, M. Hofmann, L. Duygu. Early Cambrian S-type granites in the Sakarya Zone, NE Turkey: A record for transition from subduction to post-collisional extension deduced from U–Pb zircon age and Nd–Hf isotopes. Lithos, 428–429 (2022), Article 106809,

Y. Katzir, B.A. Litvinovsky, B.M. Jahn, M. Eyal, A.N. Zanvilevich, J.W. Valley, Y. Vapnik, Y. Beeri, M.J. Spicuzza. Interrelations between coeval mafic and A-type silicic magmas from composite dykes in a bimodal suite of southern Israel, northernmost Arabian-Nubian Shield: Geochemical and isotope constraints. Lithos, 97 (3) (2007), pp. 336-364,

K. Kolodner, D. Avigad, M. McWilliams, J.L. Wooden, T. Weissbrod, S. Feinstein. Provenance of north Gondwana Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone: U-Pb SHRIMP dating of detrital zircons from Israel and Jordan. Geol. Mag., 143 (3) (2006), pp. 367-391,

W. Kozdrój, A.K. Kennedy, P.R. Johnson, M. Ziółkowska-Kozdrój, K. Kadi. Geochronology in the southern Midyan terrane: a review of constraints on the timing of magmatic pulses and tectonic evolution in a northwestern part of the Arabian Shield. Int. Geol. Rev., 60 (10) (2018), pp. 1290-1319,

V. Levin, J. Park. Shear zones in the Proterozoic lithosphere of the Arabian Shield and the nature of the Hales discontinuity. Tectonophysics, 323 (3) (2000), pp. 131-148,

J.-P. Liégeois, J. Navez, J. Hertogen, R. Black. Contrasting origin of post-collisional high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonitic versus alkaline and peralkaline granitoids. The Use of Sliding Normalization. Lithos, 45 (1) (1998), pp. 1-28,

U. Linnemann, A. Gerdes, M. Hofmann, L. Marko. The Cadomian Orogen: Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian crustal growth and orogenic zoning along the periphery of the West African Craton—Constraints from U–Pb zircon ages and Hf isotopes (Schwarzburg Antiform, Germany). Precambrian Res., 244 (2014), pp. 236-278,

M. Mattei, F. Cifelli, G. Muttoni, A. Zanchi, F. Berra, F. Mossavvari, S.A. Eshraghi. Neogene block rotation in central Iran: Evidence from paleomagnetic data. GSA Bull., 124 (5–6) (2012), pp. 943-956,

W.A. Matthews, B. Guest. A practical approach for collecting large-n detrital zircon U-Pb data sets by quadrupole LA-ICP-MS. Geostand. Geoanal. Res., 41 (2) (2017), pp. 161-180,

G. Meinhold, A. Bassis, M. Hinderer, A. Lewin, J. Berndt. Detrital zircon provenance of north Gondwana Palaeozoic sandstones from Saudi Arabia. Geol. Mag., 158 (3) (2020), pp. 442-458,

A.S. Merdith, S.E. Williams, S. Brune, A.S. Collins, R.D. Müller. Rift and plate boundary evolution across two supercontinent cycles. Global Planet. Change, 173 (2019), pp. 1-14,

S.E. Meyer, C. Passchier, T. Abu-Alam, K. Stüwe. A strike-slip core complex from the Najd fault system, Arabian Shield. Terra Nova, 26 (5) (2014), pp. 387-394,

H.S. Moghadam, X.-H. Li, X.-X. Ling, R.J. Stern, M.Z. Khedr, M. Chiaradia, G. Ghorbani, S. Arai, A. Tamura. Devonian to Permian evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean: New evidence from U-Pb zircon dating and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes of the Darrehanjir-Mashhad “ophiolites”, NE Iran. Gondwana Res., 28 (2) (2015), pp. 781-799,

H.S. Moghadam, Q.L. Li, W.L. Griffin, R.J. Stern, O. Ishizuka, H. Henry, F. Lucci, S.Y. O'Reilly, G. Ghorbani. Repeated magmatic buildup and deep “hot zones” in continental evolution: The Cadomian crust of Iran. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 531 (2020), Article 115989,

H.S. Moghadam, Q.L. Li, W.L. Griffin, R.J. Stern, J.F. Santos, F. Lucci, M. Beyarslan, G. Ghorbani, A. Ravankhah, R. Tilhac, S.Y. O'Reilly. Prolonged magmatism and growth of the Iran-Anatolia Cadomian continental arc segment in Northern Gondwana. Lithos, 384–385 (2021), Article 105940,

N. Morag, D. Avigad, A. Gerdes, E. Belousova, Y. Harlavan. Crustal evolution and recycling in the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield: New perspectives from zircon Lu–Hf and U–Pb systematics. Precambrian Res., 186 (1) (2011), pp. 101-116,

J.B. Murphy, G. Gutierrez-Alonso, R.D. Nance, J. Fernandez-Suarez, J.D. Keppie, C. Quesada, R.A. Strachan, J. Dostal. Origin of the Rheic Ocean: Rifting along a Neoproterozoic suture?. Geology, 34 (5) (2006), pp. 325-328,

G. Muttoni, M. Mattei, M. Balini, A. Zanchi, M. Gaetani, F. Berra. The drift history of Iran from the Ordovician to the Triassic. Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ., 312 (1) (2009), pp. 7-29,

R.D. Nance, J.B. Murphy, R.A. Strachan, J.D. Keppie, G. Gutiérrez-Alonso, J. Fernández-Suárez, C. Quesada, U. Linnemann, lemos, R., Pisarevsky, S.A.. Neoproterozoic-early Palaeozoic tectonostratigraphy and palaeogeography of the peri-Gondwanan terranes: Amazonian v. West African connections. Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ., 297 (1) (2008), p. 345,

N. Nayebi, D. Esmaeily, R. Shinjo, R. Deevsalar, S. Modabberi, B. Lehmann. Petrogenetic and geodynamic evolution of plutonic rocks from the Chadormalu district, Kashmar-Kerman tectonic zone, Central Iran. Miner. Petrol., 117 (4) (2023), pp. 619-637,

G. O'Sullivan, D. Chew, G. Kenny, I. Henrichs, D. Mulligan. The trace element composition of apatite and its application to detrital provenance studies. Earth-Sci. Rev., 201 (2020), Article 103044,

L. Qi, Y. Xu, P.A. Cawood, Y. Du. Reconstructing Cryogenian to Ediacaran successions and paleogeography of the South China Block. Precambrian Res., 314 (2018), pp. 452-467,

A. Rajabi, C. Canet, E. Rastad, P. Alfonso. Basin evolution and stratigraphic correlation of sedimentary-exhalative Zn–Pb deposits of the Early Cambrian Zarigan-Chahmir Basin, Central Iran. Ore Geol. Rev., 64 (2015), pp. 328-353,

J. Ramezani, R.D. Tucker. The Saghand region, Central Iran: U-Pb geochronology, petrogenesis and implications for Gondwana tectonics. Am. J. Sci., 303 (7) (2003), pp. 622-665,

M.P. Roberts, J.D. Clemens. Origin of high-potassium, calc-alkaline. I-type granitoids. Geology, 21 (9) (1993), pp. 825-828,

F.A. Robinson, J.D. Foden, A.S. Collins, J.L. Payne. Arabian Shield magmatic cycles and their relationship with Gondwana assembly: Insights from zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopes. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 408 (2014), pp. 207-225,

Ruttner, A., Nabavi, M., Hajian, J., 1968. Geology of the Shirgesht area (Tabas area, East Iran). Iran: Geological Society of Iran, Report 4.

A.M. Satkoski, B.H. Wilkinson, J. Hietpas, S.D. Samson. Likeness among detrital zircon populations—An approach to the comparison of age frequency data in time and space. GSA Bull., 125 (11–12) (2013), pp. 1783-1799,

T.M. Schwartz, K.D. Surpless, J.P. Colgan, S.A. Johnstone, C.S. Holm-Denoma. Detrital zircon record of magmatism and sediment dispersal across the North American Cordilleran arc system (28–48°N). Earth-Sci. Rev., 220 (2021), Article 103734,

R.C. Selley. Diagnosis of marine and non-marine environments from the Cambro-Ordovician sandstones of Jordan. J. Geol. Soc. London, 128 (2) (1972), pp. 135-150,

A.M.C. Şengör, N. Lom, C. Zabcı, G. Sunal, T. Öner. Reconstructing orogens without biostratigraphy: The Saharides and continental growth during the final assembly of Gondwana-Land. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 117 (51) (2020), pp. 32278-32284,

F. Sepidbar, H.S. Moghadam, C. Li, R.J. Stern, P. Jiantang, Y. Vesali. Cadomian magmatic rocks from Zarand (SE Iran) formed in a retro-arc basin. Lithos, 366–367 (2020), Article 105569,

F. Sepidbar, G. Ghorbani, B. Zoheir, R.M. Palin, S.M. Homam, T. Zafar, J. Ma, L. He. Coeval calc-alkaline and alkaline Cadomian magmatism in the Bafq, central Iran: Insights into their petrogenesis. Lithos, 406–407 (2021), Article 106535,

F. Sepidbar, S.M. Homam, F. Ghaemi, R.J. Stern, H. Jun, O. Karsli, M. Gholami. Cadomian tectonic evolution of Iran: records of an unusually hot and broad extensional convergent margin on the northern margin of Gondwana. Int. Geol. Rev., 66 (7) (2023), pp. 1352-1372,

H. Shafaii Moghadam, R.J. Stern. Ophiolites of Iran: Keys to understanding the tectonic evolution of SW Asia: (I) Paleozoic ophiolites. J. Asian Earth Sci., 91 (2014), pp. 19-38,

S. Shahkarami, M.G. Mángano, L.A. Buatois. Ichnostratigraphy of the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary: new insights on lower Cambrian biozonations from the Soltanieh Formation of northern Iran. J. Paleontol., 91 (6) (2017), pp. 1178-1198,

P. Sharland, R. Archer, D.M. Casey, R. Davies, S.H. Hall, A. Heward, A. Horbury, M. Simmons. Arabian Plate Sequence Stratigraphy. Gulf PetoLink. GeoArabia, Special Publication 2, Bahrain (2001)

H.C. Soffel, H.G. Förster. Apparent polar wander path of central Iran and its geotectonic interpretation. Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity, 32 (Supplement3) (1980), pp. SIII117-SIII135,

A. Spina, S. Cirilli, M. Ghorbani, R. Rettori, A. Sorci, T. Servais. Middle-late Cambrian acritarchs of the Zagros Basin, southwestern Iran. Palynology, 45 (1) (2021), pp. 171-186,

J.S. Stacey, J.D. Kramers. Approximation of terrestrial lead isotope evolution by a two-stage model. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 26 (2) (1975), pp. 207-221,

G.M. Stampfli, G.D. Borel. A plate tectonic model for the Paleozoic and Mesozoic constrained by dynamic plate boundaries and restored synthetic oceanic isochrons. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 196 (1) (2002), pp. 17-33,

R.J. Stern. The Najd Fault System, Saudi Arabia and Egypt: A Late Precambrian rift-related transform system?. Tectonics, 4 (5) (1985), pp. 497-511,

R.J. Stern. Arc assembly and continental collision in the Neoproterozoic east African orogen: Implications for the Consolidation of Gondwanaland. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 22 (1) (1994), pp. 319-351,

R.J. Stern. The Cadomian (∼550 Ma) orogen in North Africa and Arabia. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 215 (2024), Article 105276,

Stampfli, G.M., Mosar, J., Favre, P., Pillevuit, A., Vanney, J.C., 2001. Permo Mesozoic Evolution of the Western Tethys Realm: The Neotethys East Mediterranean Basin connection. In: Ziegler, P.A., Cavazza, W., Robertson, A.F.H., Crasquin-Soleau, S. (Eds.), Peri-Tethys memoir 6: Peri-Tethyan Rift/Wrench Basins and Passive Margins. (Vol. 186, pp. 51-108). Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.

Stern, R.J., 2002. Subduction zones. Rev. Geophys. 40(4), 3-1-3-38. https://doi.org/10.1029/2001RG000108.

S.A. Stewart. Structural style of buried Ediacaran basins in Saudi Arabia on seismic reflection data. Precambrian Res., 351 (2020), Article 105954,

J. Stöcklin. Structural History and Tectonics of Iran1: A Review. AAPG Bull., 52 (7) (1968), pp. 1229-1258,

J. Stöcklin. Possible Ancient Continental Margins in Iran. C.A. Burk, C.L. Drake (Eds.), The Geology of Continental Margins, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg (1974), pp. 873-887

T.E. Stump, J.G. Van der Eem. The stratigraphy, depositional environments and periods of deformation of the Wajid outcrop belt, southwestern Saudi Arabia. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 21 (3) (1995), pp. 421-441,

L. Tsige, M.G. Abdelsalam. Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic gravitational tectonic collapse in the southern part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield: The Bulbul Belt of southern Ethiopia. Precambrian Res., 138 (3) (2005), pp. 297-318,

T. Ustaomer, A.H.F. Robertson, P.A. Ustaomer. Ion probe U-Pb dating of the Central Sakarya basement: A peri-gondwana terrane intruded by Late Lower Carboniferous subduction/collision-related granitic rocks. Turk. J. Earth Sci., 21 (6) (2012), pp. 905-932

P.A. Ustaömer, T. Ustaömer, A.S. Collins, A.H.F. Robertson. Cadomian (Ediacaran–Cambrian) arc magmatism in the Bitlis Massif, SE Turkey: Magmatism along the developing northern margin of Gondwana. Tectonophysics, 473 (1) (2009), pp. 99-112,

P.A. Ustaömer, T. Ustaömer, A. Gerdes, A.H.F. Robertson, A.S. Collins. Evidence of Precambrian sedimentation/magmatism and Cambrian metamorphism in the Bitlis Massif, SE Turkey utilising whole-rock geochemistry and U-Pb LA-ICP-MS zircon dating. Gondwana Res., 21 (4) (2012), pp. 1001-1018,

P. Vermeesch. IsoplotR: A free and open toolbox for geochronology. Geosci. Front., 9 (5) (2018), pp. 1479-1493,

J.D. Vervoort, T. Plank, J. Prytulak. The Hf–Nd isotopic composition of marine sediments. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 75 (20) (2011), pp. 5903-5926,

Y. Vesali, F. Sepidbar, R.M. Palin, M. Chiaradia. Crustal architecture studies in the Iranian Cadomian arc: Insights into source, timing and metallogeny. Ore Geol. Rev., 136 (2021), Article 104280,

P. Vickers-Rich, S. Soleimani, F. Farjandi, M. Zand, U. Linnemann, M. Hofmann, S.A. Wilson, R. Cas, T.H. Rich. A preliminary report on new Ediacaran fossils from Iran. Alcheringa: an Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, 42 (2) (2018), pp. 230-243,

J.F. von Raumer, G.M. Stampfli, R. Arenas, S. Sánchez Martínez. Ediacaran to Cambrian oceanic rocks of the Gondwana margin and their tectonic interpretation. Int. J. Earth Sci., 104 (5) (2015), pp. 1107-1121,

W. Wang, P.A. Cawood, M.K. Pandit, X. Xia, M. Raveggi, J. Zhao, J. Zheng, L. Qi. Fragmentation of South China from greater India during the Rodinia-Gondwana transition. Geology, 49 (2) (2020), pp. 228-232,

L. Wang, S. Lin, W. Xiao, J.M. Hanchar, W.J. Collins, D.W. Davis, C. Yakymchuk, G. Xing, Z. Niu, D. Xiang, C.R. van Staal, Q. Wú. Identifying and characterizing missing source orogens for syn-orogenic basins based on detrital accessory mineral U-Pb geochronology and trace element geochemistry. Geology, 52 (8) (2024), pp. 577-582,

T. Weissbrod, I. Perath. Criteria for the recognition and correlation of sandstone units in the Precambrian and Paleozoic-Mesozoic clastic sequence in the near east. J. Afr. Earth Sci., 10 (1) (1990), pp. 253-270,

S.A. Whattam, R.J. Stern, H. Azizi, K. Yi, H.M. Baggazi, A. Alqubalee, F. Nouri, B. Jicha, Y. Brice Lemdjou, A. El Fakharani. Shift from arc to within-plate magmatism at 635 Ma as recorded by Neoproterozoic dikes, southern Midyan terrane, NW Arabian Shield. Precambrian Res., 409 (2024), Article 107430,

M.J. Whitehouse, V. Pease, S. Al-Khirbash. Neoproterozoic crustal growth at the margin of the East Gondwana continent – age and isotopic constraints from the easternmost inliers of Oman. Int. Geol. Rev., 58 (16) (2016), pp. 2046-2064,

E.-K. Xue, D. Chew, F. Drakou, W. Wang. Paleogeographical reconstruction of the South China Block during Gondwana assembly using detrital apatite: Pan-African source affinity concealed by detrital zircon. GSA Bull., 136 (5–6) (2023), pp. 2063-2074,

E.-K. Xue, D. Chew, F. Drakou, W. Wang. Detrital multi-mineral provenance constraints on the reconstruction of the South China Block within Gondwana. Earth-Sci. Rev., 253 (2024), Article 104798,

F.G. Yeshanew, V. Pease, M.J. Whitehouse, S. Al-Khirbash. Zircon U-Pb geochronology and Nd isotope systematics of the Abas terrane, Yemen: Implications for Neoproterozoic crust reworking events. Precambrian Res., 267 (2015), pp. 106-120,

İ. Yilmaz, S.Y. Şahin, N. Aysal, Y. Güngör, A. Akgündüz, U.C. Bayhan. Geochronology, geochemistry and tectonic setting of the Cadomian (Ediacaran–Cambrian) magmatism in the Istranca (Strandja) Massif: new insights into magmatism along the northern margin of Gondwana in NW Turkey. Int. Geol. Rev., 64 (17) (2022), pp. 2456-2477,

O. Zlatkin, D. Avigad, A. Gerdes. Evolution and provenance of Neoproterozoic basement and Lower Paleozoic siliciclastic cover of the Menderes Massif (western Taurides): Coupled U–Pb–Hf zircon isotope geochemistry. Gondwana Res., 23 (2) (2013), pp. 682-700,

Y. Zoleikhaei, J.A. Mulder, P.A. Cawood. Integrated detrital rutile and zircon provenance reveals multiple sources for Cambrian sandstones in North Gondwana. Earth-Sci. Rev., 213 (2021), Article 103462,

Y. Zoleikhaei, J.A. Mulder, P.A. Cawood. Evaluating sediment recycling through combining inherited petrogenic and acquired sedimentary features of multiple detrital minerals. Basin Res., 34 (3) (2022), pp. 1055-1083,

Y. Zoleikhaei, J.A. Mulder, P.A. Cawood. Early Paleozoic extensional tectonics along Gondwana’s northern margin: Insights from Iran. Gondwana Res., 128 (2024), pp. 106-126,