10.57647/j.ijes.2025.16800

Petrology of volcanism in the Alasht-Haraz road of the Alborz mountain range, south of Amol (north of Iran)

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  • Reza Elmi1,
  • Mohammad Ali Arian*1,
  • Afshin Ashja Ardalan1,
  • Abdollah Yazdi2,
  1. Department of Geology, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  2. Department of Geology, Kah.C., Islamic Azad University, Kahnooj, Iran
Petrology of volcanism in the Alasht-Haraz road of the Alborz mountain range, south of Amol (north of Iran)

Received: 2024-03-09

Revised: 2024-04-10

Accepted: 2024-06-07

Published in Issue 2025-07-10

Copyright (c) -1 Reza Elmi, Mohammad Ali Arian, Afshin Ashja Ardalan, Abdollah Yazdi (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Elmi, R., Arian, M. A., Ashja Ardalan, A., & Yazdi, A. (2025). Petrology of volcanism in the Alasht-Haraz road of the Alborz mountain range, south of Amol (north of Iran) . Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.57647/j.ijes.2025.16800
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Abstract

The study area is located in the south and southeast regions of the Amol city, central Alborz mountain range, which is mainly consisted of Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, while cretaceous volcanic rocks are also found at some points of the area. Petrographical studies reveal that these rocks are consisted of basalt, andesite, trachyandesite, trachyte, dolerite, gabbro, and microgabbro, where the hypabyssal rocks are closely related to volcanic rocks through their magma origin. The above mentioned igneous rocks complex are covered with limestone’s as Tizkoh Formation. From geochemical point of view, the rocks of the region are of subalkaline and tholeiitic nature, while parts of them are alkaline. Based on petrographical studies, titanium oxides (as opaque minerals) crystallize earlier. The present findings also show that the contents of Al2O3 and MgO in comparison to that of SiO2 follow ascending and descending patterns, respectively. These findings support early partial crystallization of olivine in comparison to plagioclase crystallization in liquidus line phase. Moreover, the descending pattern observed for K2O and Na2O in comparison with MgO is also attributed to partial crystallization of the magma and their distribution to some extents is the result of their alteration or contamination with felsic crust materials. Analysis of rock samples normalized to the chondritic values shows gradual enrichment of heavy rare earth elements contents (HREES) compared to those of light rare earth elements contents (LREES). Most of basalts studied in the region are of OIB type. The magmas of basaltic rocks originate from a depth of 100-110 kilometers and a garnetic lehrzolitic source rock. According to geochemical investigations, the studied rocks originate from the melting of a mantle that undergone magmatic differentiation and is finally polluted with continental crust.

Keywords

  • Volcanic rocks,
  • Petrology,
  • Alborz mountains,
  • Amol city,
  • Partial crystallization
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