Thrust-related anticlines in the Zagros Simply Folded Belt provide excellent exposed analogue structures for fractured reservoirs located in the more external sectors of the belt. In these structures it is possible to study the fracture network attributes and understand their relationships to the folding process, thus gathering fundamental information for fracture modelling in reservoirs. In this work we analyse the mesoscopic deformation pattern of the NW–SE-trending Bangestan anticline (SW Zagros, Iran) and discuss its relationship to the kinematic evolution of the hosting structure. The deformation pattern mostly includes extensional structures and pressure solution cleavages striking parallel to the fold axial trend (i.e. longitudinal), transversal extensional structures, and N–S- and E–W-striking extensional structures (oriented oblique to the fold axis). With the aid of deep wells and a transversal reflection seismic profile, we constructed a balanced cross-section of the anticline and propose a kinematic evolution pathway constrained by the mesoscopic deformation pattern. Longitudinal and transversal deformation structures developed before and/or in the very early stages of fold growth. During this stage, the Bangestan anticline grew as a set of unconnected décollement anticlines involving the Cambrian to Pliocenic sedimentary cover. In a later stage, inherited basement faults were reactivated with a right-lateral strike-slip component and the previously developed anticlines propagated laterally up to their complete linkage and thrust breakthrough. This produced the right-lateral strike-slip reactivation of longitudinal joints and the development of N–S- and E–W-striking extensional structures, which were also frequently reworked as strike-slip faults.

The petrological and geochronological study of the Cenozoic Shaivar Dagh composite intrusion in the Alborz Mountain belt (NW Iran) reveals important clues to decipher complex relations between magmatic and tectonic processes in the central sectors of the Tethyan (Alpine–Himalayan) orogenic belt. This pluton is formed by intrusion at different times of two main magmatic cycles. The older (Cycle 1) is formed by calc-alkaline silicic rocks, which range in composition from diorites to granodiorites and biotite granites, with abundant mafic microgranular enclaves. The younger cycle (Cycle 2) is formed by K-rich monzodiorite and monzonite of marked shoshonitic affinity. The latter form the larger volumes of the exposed plutonic rocks in the studied complex. Zircon geochronology (laser ablation ICP-MS analyses) gives a concordia age of 30.8 ± 2.1 Ma for the calc-alkaline rocks (Cycle 1) and a range from 23.3 ± 0.5 to 25.1 ± 0.9 Ma for the shoshonitic association (Cycle 2). Major and trace element relations strongly support distinct origins for each magmatic cycle. Rocks of Cycle 1 have all the characteristic features of active continental margins. Shoshonitic rocks (Cycle 2) define two continuous fractionation trends: one departing from a K-rich basaltic composition and the other from an intermediate, K-rich composition. A metasomatized-mantle origin for the two shoshonitic series of Cycle 2 is proposed on the basis of comparisons with experimental data. The origin of the calc-alkaline series is more controversial but it can be attributed to processes in the suprasubduction mantle wedge related to the incorporation of subducted mélanges in the form of silicic cold plumes. A time sequence can be established for the processes responsible of the generation of the two magmatic cycles: first a calc-alkaline cycle typical of active continental margins, and second a K-rich cycle formed by monzonites and monzodiorites. This sequence precludes the younger potassic magmas as precursors of the older calc-alkaline series. By contrast, the older calc-alkaline magmas may represent the metasomatic agents that modified the mantle wedge during the last stages of subduction and cooked a fertile mantle region for late potassic magmatism after continental collision.

This paper presents quantitative data on the finite strain, quartz crystal fabric, geometry of flow and deformation temperatures in deformed quartzite samples to characterize the ductile deformation along the thrust sheets constituting the Sanandaj–Sirjan Metamorphic Belt within the Zagros Mountains of Iran. The results of this study emphasize the heterogeneous nature of deformation in this belt, showing a spatial variation in strain magnitude and in degree of non-coaxiality. A dominant top-to-the-SE sense of shear is indicated by the asymmetry of microstructures and quartz c-axis fabrics. Quartz c-axis opening angles suggest deformation temperatures range between 435° ± 50°C and 510° ± 50°C, which yield greenschist to amphibolite facies conditions during the ductile deformation. Mean kinematic vorticity number (Wm) measured in the quartzite samples ranges between 0.6 and 0.9 with an average of 0.76, which indicates that extrusion of the metamorphic rocks of the region was facilitated by a significant component of pure shear strain. Traced towards the basal thrust of the Zagros Thrust System from northeast to southwest, the quartz grain fabrics change from asymmetric cross-girdle fabrics in the internal part of the deformation zone to an asymmetric single-girdle fabric at distances close to the basal thrust. This variation may depend on the structural depth and on the geometry of the ductile deformation zone. The observed increase in strain and vorticity within the study area is comparable with patterns recorded within metamorphic rock extrusions within other orogens in the world.