Structural style of the eastern part of Dehsheikh peridotite massif, Esfandagheh ophiolitic mélanges, Southwest of Iran

The Dehsheikh peridotite massif, as a part of the Esfandagheh ophiolitic mélanges, is located in the south of Baft, Kerman province. Structural analysis of the ophiolitic complexes play an important role in understanding geodynamics of the orogenic belts. In this research, structural elements of the eastern part of the Dehsheikh peridotite massif as well as prevailing deformational patterns of the area and its relation to the Zagros orogenic belt was studied. The chromitite folds, dunitic/pyroxenitic dykes and ductile to brittle shear zones (faults and magnesite veins) constitute the principal structures of this area. Structural evidence indicate two successive tentional/transtentional and dextral transpressional deformational phases. The early D1 deformation took place in a back-arc basin during ascending of the Dehsheikh Peridotite massif. This caused emplacement of the lithospheric mantle in the low crust level, and was accompanied by deformation of the chromitites and intrusion of the dunitic/pyroxenitic dykes. The next D2 right-lateral transpressional deformation with development of the brittle-ductile shear zones accommodated emplacement of this massif in the high pressure-low tempretaure Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone.