The Nowdan anticline of the Zagros orogen as a geoheritage ‘window’ into the late Mesozoic– Cenozoic evolution of the African–Arabian continental margin
Loading...
Date
2020-04
Advisor
Editor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title alternative
Abstract
Geological heritage can contribute to our understanding of the long-term evolution of important sectors of our planet.
Cretaceous–Neogene rocks (chiefly carbonates) crop out in the Nowdan anticline of the Zagros orogen. Field investigations
have permitted the establishment of 10 key localities (stratigraphical reference sections) that represent these rocks
within this anticline, which is a single large geosite. The formations are related to the main phases in the evolution of the
northeastern sector of the African–Arabian continental margin. For instance, carbonate rocks of the Asmari Formation
mark changes in the affinity of the study area, from the African–Arabian plate to only the Arabian plate, separated in
conjunction with Red Sea rifting during the Oligocene. Information on the palaeogeographical changes is really precious
to geoscientists and geotourists alike, and contributes to the great value of the Nowdan anticline geosite. Evidence
from the latter, as well as from a few other places (i.e., the Mountainous Adygeya geodiversity hotspot in Russia, the
North Coast of São Paulo in Brazil and the possible Gondwanan geopark in Namibia) illustrates the necessity of distinguishing
a palaeomapping subtype in palaeogeographical characterisation of geological heritage.
Description
Sponsor
Keywords
geological heritage, palaeogeographical geosite, orogen, tourism resources, Iran