Tectono-sedimentary basins around Paleotethys suture zone in NE Iran

Ten tectono-sedimentary basins have been identified around the Paleotethys suture zone in NE Iran. These basins have been developed from the Lower Paleozoic to recent time in response to relative movements of the of Eurasia and Gondwana supercontinents. The recognized basins from ancient to modern are: 1) Paleozoic passive marginal basin of central Iran, 2) Devonian-Carboniferous platform basin of Turan plate, 3) Active continental margin basin (trench and foreland), 4) Permo-Triassic arc-related basins, (5) Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic peripheral foreland basin, 6) Lower to Middle Jurassic intramontane basin, 7) Middle Jurassic rift basin, 8) Oligocene-Pliocene foreland basin and 10) Post orogenic molasses basin. Each basin has its own characteristics, and is formed in different tectonic setting during the evolution of the Paleotethys Ocean in NE Iran.