Khorassan Geotourism

One of the attractions of structural and sedimentary areas of khorasan, from geological point of view is the existence of various regions of geology which is briefly described as follow:

 Sabzevar – South Fariman Ophiolitic rocks: In northern part of Sabzevar and southern part of Fariman threr is an extensive cutcrops of ophiolitic rocks, volcanosedimentary rocks and a sequence of Metamorfic rocks (sOne of the attractions of structural and sedimentary areas of khorasan, from geological point of view is the existence of various regions of geology which is briefly described as follow:

Sabzevar – South Fariman Ophiolitic rocks: In northern part of Sabzevar and southern part of Fariman threr is an extensive cutcrops of ophiolitic rocks, volcanosedimentary rocks and a sequence of Metamorfic rocks (specially Soltan – abad metamorphic rocks). In some parts, this ophiolitic rocks have been cut by granitoide rocks. (figure in page 2.7 report 52) Ophilitic rocks are mainly comprised of Peridotite Harzburgite, Gabbro and sheeted – dykes which are covered by confirmed by sedimentary rocks. Soltan – abad metamorphic exists between green and blue sheests. This transitional seqwence is indicted by crosstie – Barrosite assemblage. ( F,Baroz etal 1983). Magmatic are in Northern part of Daroneh fault: In central parts of Khorasan province and in the northern part of Daroneh fault, there is a narrow belt of volcanic and plutonic rocks, which belongs ti tertiary age and with an approximately East – west trend. The main parts of these rocks units composed from taff pyroclastic rocks, Andesite, trachyte, Ignimbrite and … . Which have been cut by Granitoid rocks, specially in north of Kashmar region. This situation is visible in north of Daroneh fauit, except in taknar inlier – erosional window (borderbetween Daroneh fault and taknar fault). In south of taknar fault, there is an outcrop of Precambrian and paleozic sedimentary rocks. Due to operation of magmatic solutions and hydrothermal aiterations. This region is very importand from metallic and non – metallic mineralizations point of view. South of Daroneh fault region: In southern Daroneh region, except Kavir- e – Namak (namak-desert) and great kavir (great desert), that from playas in Khorasan province, from west to east there are below units, which are as mosaic froms of central Iran blocks, these blocks consist:

 1- Yazd block

 2- Tabas block

 3- Lut block

4- Remnants of ophiolitic rocks and flysch sedimentary rocks in east Iran. Yazd block is very important due to stratigraphic investigations for Paleozoic sedimentrary rocks and also Tabas block for Mesozoic rocks. Although in some parts of this area, there are also outcrops of Devonian.Carboniferous and Permian rocks (Hows – e – Dorah region). Where as lut block is mainly covered with cale – alkaline volcanic rocks and is cut by granitoid rocks. (Figure in page 286 – report si) Ophiolitic remnants and flysh sedimentary rocks in east Iran. This sedimentary rocks as a thin belt with north. South trend extends from Makran (south east Iran) to east of Birjand . R . Tirrul et al. (1983) nemed it as Acceretionary complex and believed that here are some differences between this belt and remnants of Sabzevar neo – tethys, and the age is one of them. Ricou et al . (1973) believe that the remnants of Neo – tethys in Sabzevar region is at least as old as triassic, where as on the basis of Pelagic microfauna (stocklin, 1977) and radiometric dating (Delalige and Desmins, 1980) these remnants in east of Birjand have cenomanian to Eocene age. Other differences are existence of more sedimentary and volcanogenic rocks and absence of Exotic blocks. The zone separates the Lut block from Afghan block and both blocks are relative to the East Iran ranges. (figure in page 96 – transition of the Sistan suture zone of eastern Iran) For further information refer to tirrul. R,Bell. I.R,Gerffis R.J, camp V.E (1983). pecially Soltan – abad metamorphic rocks). In some parts, this ophiolitic rocks have been cut by granitoide rocks. (figure in page 2.7 report 52) Ophilitic rocks are mainly comprised of Peridotite Harzburgite, Gabbro and sheeted – dykes which are covered by confirmed by sedimentary rocks. Soltan – abad metamorphic exists between green and blue sheests. This transitional seqwence is indicted by crosstie – Barrosite assemblage. ( F,Baroz etal 1983). Magmatic are in Northern part of Daroneh fault: In central parts of Khorasan province and in the northern part of Daroneh fault, there is a narrow belt of volcanic and plutonic rocks, which belongs ti tertiary age and with an approximately East – west trend. The main parts of these rocks units composed from taff pyroclastic rocks, Andesite, trachyte, Ignimbrite and … . Which have been cut by Granitoid rocks, specially in north of Kashmar region. This situation is visible in north of Daroneh fauit, except in taknar inlier – erosional window (borderbetween Daroneh fault and taknar fault). In south of taknar fault, there is an outcrop of Precambrian and paleozic sedimentary rocks. Due to operation of magmatic solutions and hydrothermal aiterations. This region is very importand from metallic and non – metallic mineralizations point of view. South of Daroneh fault region: In southern Daroneh region, except Kavir- e – Namak (namak-desert) and great kavir (great desert), that from playas in Khorasan province, from west to east there are below units, which are as mosaic froms of central Iran blocks, these blocks consist: 1- Yazd block 2- Tabas block 3- Lut block 4- Remnants of ophiolitic rocks and flysch sedimentary rocks in east Iran. Yazd block is very important due to stratigraphic investigations for Paleozoic sedimentrary rocks and also Tabas block for Mesozoic rocks. Although in some parts of this area, there are also outcrops of Devonian.Carboniferous and Permian rocks (Hows – e – Dorah region). Where as lut block is mainly covered with cale – alkaline volcanic rocks and is cut by granitoid rocks. (Figure in page 286 – report si) Ophiolitic remnants and flysh sedimentary rocks in east Iran. This sedimentary rocks as a thin belt with north. South trend extends from Makran (south east Iran) to east of Birjand . R . Tirrul et al. (1983) nemed it as Acceretionary complex and believed that here are some differences between this belt and remnants of Sabzevar neo – tethys, and the age is one of them. Ricou et al . (1973) believe that the remnants of Neo – tethys in Sabzevar region is at least as old as triassic, where as on the basis of Pelagic microfauna (stocklin, 1977) and radiometric dating (Delalige and Desmins, 1980) these remnants in east of Birjand have cenomanian to Eocene age. Other differences are existence of more sedimentary and volcanogenic rocks and absence of Exotic blocks. The zone separates the Lut block from Afghan block and both blocks are relative to the East Iran ranges. (figure in page 96 – transition of the Sistan suture zone of eastern Iran) For further information refer to tirrul. R,Bell. I.R,Gerffis R.J, camp V.E (1983).