Origin, Petrogenesis and radiometric age dating of Pichagchi Batholith (North West Iran)

Pichagchi batholith, located in 35 Km southeast of Shahin Dez, northwest of Iran, is situated in Central Iran, cutting Paleozoic rocks. Absolute age determination for this batholith by K-Ar radiometric method gives 74.20 Ma. indicating Late Cretaceous-Paleocene time corresponding to lauramide orogeny. This batholith consists of quartz diorite, tonalite, granodiorite and quartz monzodiorite in which main mafic minerals are biotite and amphibole. Enclaves are mica schist and fine graind quartz diorite in various sizes. Sieve texture and zonation observed in plagioclase minerals indicate that the original magma has been produced by magma mixing of lower crust and upper mantle. Geochemistry study of the main elements shows that the batholith is calc-alkaline and meta luminous and A12O3, Na2O, K2O, FeO values are high where as MgO, CaO, MnO, P2O5, TiO2 are low. In addition, genetic parameters for this batholith is compatible with I-Type granites (Caledonian). Rare earth elements plotted in spider diagrams show that the average slope the curves is from K towards Cr (left to right), indicating partial melting. Depletion of compatible elements such as Ni, Cu, V and enrichment of incompatible elements imply that magma was not original and not initiated from mantle. Further mores trough of Nb could be interpreted by magma mixing with crustal materials or by subduction. Also trough of Ti and crest of Y elements show that the origin of the magma is I-type. Finally, Pichagchi batholith is orogenic and its tectonic setting is compatible with continental arc granitoids