Misho-Dagh Mountain range is part of Azerbaijan plateau in Northwest Iran. This E-W range is located between Marand and Shabestar plains. Northern Misho fault, the main fault in study area, and other parallel faults have separated the topographic units and geological structures. Rivers on the northern slope of Misho- Dagh, flowing from the south to the north, cut across geological structures and topographical units in their distal reaches, prior to joining in the Marand plain.The long-term drainage evolution and its creation, as transverse fluvial systems, have been examined by reconstruction of drainage network using a combination of geological and geomorphological records. This reconstruction is based on analysis of topographic and geologic maps and area photos and repeated field studies on fluvial remnants. Results show that drainage evolution in the study area has occurred in three stages: a) sedimentation of the Plio-Pleistocene non-compacted conglomerates (relict alluvial fans), b) uplift of the Plio- Pleistocene sediments in mid-? Late Pleistocene, separation of this sediments from main mountainous body of Misho-Dagh due to a E-W synclinal valley, formation of new block of mountains (anticline) in the north of the valley and eastward diversion of rivers in their distal reaches, and c) faulting of new relief block by S-N faults crossing the relief axis, verification of rivers to fault lines and formation of new alluvial fans.Neotectonic indices such as inclination of the Plio- Pleistocene sediments, separation of this sediments from main mountainous body of Misho-Dagh, verification and non-verification of rivers by tectonic and geologic structures, catchment morphometric properties, and situation and morphology of alluvial fans indicate that fluvial systems in the study area are influenced by the Pleistocene and Holocene tectonic activities, and tectonics is the main factor in the fluvial system replacement and their situation.

Introduction Loess sediments of northern Iran represent several cycles of climate change and evolution of the landform for the mid-to-late Quaternary. Climate change in elevations of Iran and its surrounding areas is very controversial in the mid and late Quaternary, and has been discussed in the past according to rainfall and rainfall periods and between rainfall, glacial and inter-glacial. Paleomegnatic results also indicate that these sediments have accumulated between, 1.8 to 2.4 million years ago. However, pedogenic processes and the effects of past climate in these soils still have not been fully investigated. The loess deposits in northern Iran are a valuable archive of regional paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental information. Extensive sedimentological and chronological studies have been carried out on the middle to upper Pleistocene loess during the past decades, but it is necessary to do a comparative research on the older loess deposits. So, this study aimed to conduct a mineralogical and physicochemical investigation on the early Pleistocene loess and to compare it with modern loess soils in Agh-Band, Yelli-Badrag and Qareh-Agach in loess plateau of eastern Golestan.
Materials and Methods The study area is located in a hot and dry climate in loess Plateau east Golestan. According to the previous studies, a total of six profiles were excavated and studied. Then, physicochemical properties such as soil texture, acidity (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), saturation moisture (SP), organic carbon (OM), cationic exchange capacity (CEC) and calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) were measured in the laboratory. Clay separation was carried out with a specific method to separate the clay as well as identification of clay minerals. After preliminary field observations and determining the horizons for each profile in the region, soil classification was done based on soil taxonomy and WRB. Then, soil samples were prepared from each horizon for physicochemical and mineralogical studies in sufficient quantities.
Results and Discussion Comparing the results of physicochemical properties (such as color, lime percentage, the cation exchange capacity and the ratio of iron, etc.) in paleosol and modern loess soils indicates that in paleosol soils, soil forming processes have passed several stages. Clay mineralogy is a good indicator for past climate change studies in loess.The existence of the arglic horizons and the evolved calcic in paleosols and their absence, in comparison with the modern soils in which they are present, indicate the change in soil formation conditions. The change in the color of paleosols also represents the soil moisture and the more suitable conditions of the past climate (temperature, and especially rainfall) in comparison with the present climate of the region, this color change was due to activation of soil formation processes in paleosols. All paleosol samples had a higher clay content than the late modern loess soils of the Pleistocene, suggesting favorable climatic conditions for soil formation processes and the development of more ancient soil than parent materials. Decrease in the amount of annual precipitation in the region, compared to the past, has led to decreased smectit and increased chlorite. Therefore, presence of smectit cannot be attributed to the present situation of the region. The presence of these clay minerals in paleosols can be due to wet weather conditions as well as weathering of clay mineral deposits. On the other hand, the dominance of less weathered clay minerals such as illite and chlorite in the late Pleistocene modern loess soils is correlated with the present dry climatic conditions.
Conclusion The simultaneous presence of modern and old loess soils in the studied areas demonstrates the general evolution of geographical and climatic conditions during the Pleistocene period which has altered the properties of these layers and ultimately left out the effects of high clay conditions, which is a combination of climatic evidence and intermittent pedogenic soil formation processes. The presence of early Pleistocene loess soils between late Pleistocene loess sediments in Golestan province and the conditions of the study provided pedological and mineralogical comparisons of modern and paleosols in these areas and the results clarified a part of the climate change in northern Iran. The past climate study allows for prediction of the current and future climate change process. Therefore, a more accurate study of clay minerals as the key to all soil behaviors and past climate change in different parts of the eastern Golestan plateau can be very useful in completing studies of evidence of past climate change in paleosol soils

Introduction During the last decade, considerable progress has been made in the study of known loess deposits and their paleoclimatic implications in Northern Iran, whereas little information is available about the red soils which are beneath the these loess. So, in this study, major and trace element concentrations were analyzed on the samples from a red sequence of Iranian Loess Plateau at Golestan province. The main objectives of this research are a) to address the origin of the red soils with compare to the other geochemical results such as upper Pleistocene loess-paleosol, upper continental crust and Jiaxian Red Clays in China, b)to examine the geochemical behaviors of certain elements and their ratios such as Al2O3/Na2O, Na2O/K2O, MgO/TiO2, Rb/Sr and Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) during pedogenesis and finally, to reconstruct the early Pleistocene climate.
Materials and Methods This study was carried out on a 19-m-thick sequence of deposits exposed in a limestone quarry located near the Agh Band village of Golestan province in the east of the Iranian Loess Plateau (latitude 37.688889 N and longitude 55.158333 E). The so-called Agh Band red sequence underlies an upper Pleistocene loess-paleosol sequence and covers yellow limestone of the Akchagyl formation belonging to the Upper Pliocene of Kopet Dagh sedimentary basin. It is the first sequence one of red soils described for the loess plateau of Iran. Based on the paleomagnetically dating, this section is formed during ~2.4-1.8 Ma. The present-day climate of the study area is semi-arid, with mean annual precipitation and temperature of ca. 300 mm and 17◦ C, respectively. The soil moisture regime is Xeric-Aridic and the temperature regime is Thermic. In a field campaign in autumn 2014 the morphological characteristics of the section were recorded. Based on field observations, the sequence has been subdivided into 24 units, designated consecutively as U1-U24 from the top of limestone to the bottom of the Upper Pleistocene Loess. From each unit, representative samples were taken for color measurements, grain-size and geochemical analysis. Each air-dried sample was gently crushed, taking care not affect the grain size, and then measured using a Konica-Minolta CM-700 color meter. Grain size was measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 laser grain-size analyzer following the pre-treatment procedures described in the text and the concentrations of major and trace elements were determined using a PANalytical PW2403/00 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. All of the measurements were made in the Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental systems, Lanzhou University.
Results and Discussion The grain-size distribution of the red section is dominated by fine-grained silts with the average of 86.6 percent, in addition, the amount of clay and sand are 10.9 and 2.6 percent, respectively. Angular or sub-angular blocky structures are dominated in the red sequence. The section is mainly characterized by alternations of reddish yellow )10 YR 6/6) and brownish-red (7.5 YR 3/6) to reddish (5YR) layers. In general, the color of the soil horizons in the red deposits is much redder than that in the overlying loess (7.5YR vs.10YR, respectively), and this is one of the principal differences between the red soils and the overlying loess. Another different is the amount of carbonate nodules and the size of them (up to~20 cm diameter). These soils have been subjected to relatively intensive pedogenesis, as demonstrated by the presence of clay skins and Fe-Mn coatings. The high correlation of major and trace element compositions between Agh Band red soils section, upper loess and paleosol and the Jiaxian red clay in China supports the proposal that the Agh Band red soils was wind-blown in origin. The value of CIA index (69.6 for red soils versus 59.8 for the upper loess deposits), Al2O3/Na2O, K2O/Na2O and Rb/Sr ratios are higher in the red deposits than in the upper Pleistocene loess, also, the lower amount of MgO/TiO2 ratio in reddish soils, suggesting stronger chemical weathering and thus a wetter climate during the formation of red soils in early Pleistocene.
Conclusion Finally, our main findings are as follows: 1) The geochemical composition of the red-colored sedimentsis similar to the overlying upper Pleistocene loess suggesting a similar origin; 2) wind-blown origin of the red deposits and continuous atmospheric dust deposition in the Iranian Loess Plateau during the Early Pleistocene; 3) red soil sequence formed under wetter and more humid climate compared with the Upper Pleistocene loess

One of the key issues of the Paleolithic archaeology is pathways and expansion routes of Pleistocene human populations into Asia. Recent discovered Paleolithic sites in the southern coasts and hinterlands of Iran, indicate the importance of these zones in the Pleistocene human dispersals. The 1977 joint French-Iranian geological survey carried out by Thibault, Dufaure, Mercier and Kadjar, gave rise to one of the important contributions to Paleolithic knowledge on the northern coastline of the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea in pre-revolutionary years. During this survey, remarkable lithic assemblages were collected above a sequence of successive pediment surface, but unfortunately, the final report of Paleolithic finds, was never published. The lithic collections kept at the Paleolithic Department of National Museum of Iran. In this paper, the techno-typological characteristics of this collection is presented. The most prominent feature of this collection is the core-flake industry of the Lower Paleolithic; although we are not sure about the Acheulian evidence. The Middle Paleolithic artifacts in the collections are defined by Levallois debitages, discoid/semi-centripetal cores, and scrapers on flakes, especially transverse and oblique scrapers; however, it is not enough to attribute these finds to the Mousterian culture. The low frequencies of the blades and the lack of bladelets make it difficult to draw conclusions about the Upper/Epipaleolithic industries. The small number of blades and the presence of single platform blade/bladelet core, as well as a truncated blade, are possible evidence of Upper/Epipaleolithic presence in these assemblages. These assemblages can be considered as a new insight into technological behavior of Pleistocene hunter-gatherers in this poorly known part of the Iranian plateau. They show the high capacity of northern shores and littoral of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea for Pleistocene archaeological studies, and a notable place to test hypotheses such as Out-of-Africa and coastal expansions.

IntrudactionOne of the evidences of the Quaternary climate changes in Iran , are glacial topography in mountainous areas. Understanding glacier forms such as cirques, as the accumulation of snow and ice sites and mountain glaciers supply, is very important in glacial geomorphology. Shah Alborz Mountain situated in Alborz chain system and is the only famous peak in southern part of Western Alborz. The mountain masses, including parts of Taleghan and Alamut catchment areas. Glaciers cirques topography is gentile and the main dividing lines as cliffs generally. Some of the cirques has large holes, so the native peoples called the Alborz chall (pit) mountain. The northern flank of the Shah Alborz, especially in areas where the Tertiary formations formed, influenced by water erosion processes and floods heavily. According to different formations in divide line, middle and down slopes have different landscapes.
The main objective of this paper is reconstruction of paleo-glacier equilibrium lines during the Pleistocene in the Shah Alborz Mountain (western part of the Alborz Mountain Range, Iran).
Material and methodsThe main objective of this study is to identify evidence of Pleistocene geomorphological mountain glaciers on the northern flank of the Shah Alborz Mountain using experimental methods(such as Porter and Wright methods) and field studies. Two main access routes to Shah Alborz peak include:1-The North slope route (Alamut), respectively: Qazvin Plain – Rajae dasht- Moalem kolaye-Garmarud-hiking to Shah Alborz summit and cirque of C from Evank village.
2-The South slope route (Taleghan), respectively: Qazvin - Taleghan- Hassan Jvn village-hiking to the summit.
After reviewing the available literature, field studies take place by using of GPS and collection data was transferred in maps of 1 : 25,000. For analyze temperature and precipitation, used synoptic stations of Taleghan (southern slope) and Moallem Kalayeh(northern slope)data . Exception of the initial field visit for general identifying, the main field works in three stages, was conducted in the summer of 2013. After identifying the glacial landforms, coordinates and other characteristics of each landforms were recorded. To display data from ArcGIS version 9.3 and analysis of location and altitude of the digital terrain model(DEM) with resolution of 90 m(SRTM) and 30(SRTM)was used .In the end, after geomorphological mapping and profiles drawing, analysis was performed on the relationship between glacial landforms and prevailing processes in the Pleistocene.
In this study, morph metric parameters of the cirque-like features with use of digital elevation model(DEM) and topographic profiles have been considered and analyzed.
Results and discussionPleistocene glacial reliefs were studied in Shah Alborz mountain based on field works and satellite image analyses. According to field studies and analyzing, glacial landforms were divided into two main groups, namely:-Erosional landforms
One of the most striking landforms in Shah Alborz mountain are glacial cirques that key to the reconstruction of Pleistocene Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA).Cirques are an amphitheater-like shape, formed at the head of glacier valley.
Evidence indicates the dominance of glacial erosion ice and permanent snow. According to studies, on the northern flank of Shah Alborz in the Pleistocene, there were four glacial cirques from West to East A, B, C and D, respectively. Cirque of C to 205 hectares area is the largest glacier circus in Sah Alborz Mountain. But there was no circus in southern slopes.
-Depositional Landforms
Depositional Evidence comprised of a variety of moraines, which represents preiglaciers territory. There is a huge amount of moraines in Shah Alborz cirques. Adequate supply of c and d cirques leads to the formation of a large glacier toungue.Therfore, in C and D cirques and its downstream valleys, the highest moraines can be viewed. Using Porter and Wright methods, Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) in the Pleistocene, was estimated to be 3472 and 3660 meters respectively.
Conclusion The main objective of this research is reconstruction of the altitude of paleo-glacier equilibrium lines during the Pleistocene in the northern flank of Shah Alborz Mountain (western alborz of Iran). More glacial landforms identified in this study are, Erosional type, glacial cirques mainly. Probably in the Quaternary, in Shah Albrz, four cirques in the northern flank and two in southern flank had actived. Snow and ice equilibrium line in Shah Alborz was located at a higher altitude than other regions like the Shahrestanak, Jajrood Valleys and Alam Kohe Mountain. At present, the areas above the height of 2000 meters are in periglacial territory or cryo-nival. In terms of Morphdynamic process, ice and melting in outcrops, gelifluction and Solifluction in fine-grained material of slopes are prevails.

Active tectonics and climate changes have important role in evolution of the alluvial fans in Central Iran. Climate change coupled with neotectonics of Marvast active faults have had significant role in creation and transformation of abnormal morphological patterns on the Marvast alluvial fan. In this research, have been imployed fieldworks, different software, digital elevation model, satellite images and results generalization of paleo-climatic changes studies related to Iran and adjacent areas to determine the evolution of Marvast alluvial fan. We considered all aspects of dispersion, distribution and landforms patterns to determined the mechanism of faulting, and then the development and evolution of the Marvast alluvial fans are analyzed. Perhaps, Initial formation of the Marvast alluvial fan could be attributed to the late Pleistocene, when the basin had cold and dry climate and poor vegetation cover and thunder rainfall, therefore existed large floods associated with high frequency. Following this period, with increasing of precipitation and wet period (15-10 million years ago), there were not much vegetation in the watershed, but water flow and sediment loads are increased dramatically, therefore the Marvast fan has reached its maximum expansion (950 Km2). With establishment of the wet period and dense vegetation in the basin, the sediment loads of the basin have been outclassed on basin water debit. These led to: the trenching of large fan, leaving the water flow from the abandonment fans (3 cone) on the hanging-wall of the Marvast fault, forming the new fan on foot-wall of fault (5-10 thousand previous year). The most important factor of changing of the Marvast fans, after conquering the dry climate conditions (since the early Holocene), is the active tectonic of the Marvast fault. It cased to forming a new alluvial fans in direct the Marvast fault. Although large amounts of sedimentation of dry-wet periods late Pleistocene had an important role in the Marvast alluvial fan, but available evidence suggests acceleration of the morphogenesis processes by tectonic activities. Deformation of tectonic landforms on Marvast fans, indicated displacement of about 1000 m of Pleistocene landforms, and offset the Holocene drainage systems as much as 30 meters, all of which imply an active tectonic fault Marvast, and possibly high seismic potential of faults in the future.

Paleozoology of Yafteh and Kani Mikaiel caves in center and northwest of Zagros Mountains led to the identification of small mammal's assemblage. Taxonomic determination revealed inclusion of four orders of small mammals including: order Rodentia with families of Muridea, Cricetidae, Calomyscidae, Dipodidae; order Lagomorpha with two families of Ochotonidae and Leporidae; order Soricomorpha with family Talpidae, and order Carnivores with family Mustelidae. These remains were recovered after systematic excavation in these caves. Radiocarbon analysis of these remains showed the oldest sample belonged to Yafteh cave with 35,000 BP. and Pleistocene period, whereas, Kani Mikaiel cave covered the periods from lat Pleistocene (19,000 BP.) to Holocene (17, 00 BP.). Geochronology analysis of Kani Mikaiel sediments showed that the lower layers of this cave belonged to the last glacial age in Pleistocene which gradually has been replaced by the warm weather in Holocene period. With continuing of this weathering varying, faunal spectrum of Pleistocene and Holocene periods has been migrated in cold and warm phases or more spread. The aim of this research, are the study of small mammal remains of Yafteh and Kani Mikaiel caves in center and northwest of Zagros mountains and the research about the study of paleobiodiversity, paleoenvironment conditions and the evolution of microvertebrate on the Iranian plateau.

The Gorgan Plain is located in the north of Iran and has mud volcanoes and high-pressure zones. There is limited information on Miocene and older sediments in this area and the available data on the Pliocene and younger sediments do not provide a complete understanding of the geology of these areas. The absence of marker fossils in the sediments has led to ambiguities in age determination and study of layers expansion in the study area. The Cenozoic sediments of Gorgan Plain which include Paleocene-Miocene sediments and Cheleken (Lower Pliocene), Akchagyl (Upper Pliocene), Apsheron (Lower Pleistocene), Baku (Upper Pleistocene) and Neo-Caspian (Holocene) formations, are mainly composed of sandstone and mudstone. This study shows that the thick Pliocene-Present sediments of Gorgan Plain were deposited at high rates, which was simultaneous with the increase in orogenic activity in the region and the gradual separation of the South Caspian Basin from open waters and the change of the sedimentary environment from marine to fluvial-deltaic. Sedimentation rates of Cenozoic deposits increase towards the coastal parts of the Gorgan Plain. The lowest sedimentation rates are in the Paleocene-Eocene deposits, and the highest rates are in the Baku Formation. High sedimentation rate is one of the controlling factors in the formation of mud volcanos and high-pressure zones in the region, and these rates can have a significant impact on the processes and elements of the petroleum system.