Apparent Polar Wander Path of Central Iran and its Geotectonic Interpretation

Abstract

Palaeomagnetic investigations have been made on mainly igneous rocks and red sandstones from 167 sites in Central Iran covering the time interval between Quaternary and Late Precambrian. Based on these data an apparent polar wander path has been established for Central Iran which shows marked differences with the apparent polar wander path of Eurasia (Irvan 1977) but some resemblances with the apparent polar wander paths of the Gondwana landmasses India and Africa (Klootwijik, 1976 Mcelhinny 1973; Irving 1977). The palaeoremanence directions indicate a counterclockwise rotation of more than 90° of Central Iran with respect to Eurasia since Upper Paleozoic. According to the palaeolatitudes and other, mainly geological evidence, Central Iran was part of the Gondwana landmasses throughout parts of the Paleozoic. It was separated much earlier from Gondwana than India and had also a much earlier (possibly Triassic) collision with Eurasia. © 1980, Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences. All rights reserved.