Geochemistry, petrography and tectonic provenance of the upper devonian sandstones of Ilanqareh formation, nw Iran

Siliciclastic sediments of Ilanqareh Formation in Ilanlu section with Upper Devonan (Famenian) age, are composed of varicolored sandstones and interlayerd dark-colored shales. Petrographic and geochemical studies reveal that these sandstones have a quartzarenitic composition. The provenance, weathering and tectonic setting of the sandstones of Ilanlu section have been assesed usinggeochemical studies. Geochemical study (major and trace elements) show that the sandstones of Ilanlu section sourced from cratonic provenance and affected by warm and humid paleoclimate conditionsand finally deposited in a passive margin tectonic setting. With attention to paleogeographical conditions of Iran at late Devonian (northern margin of the Gondwana supercontinent) and location of Azerbaijan (forehead of southern coast of the Paleo-Tethys), hypothesis of entrance of sediments from southern parts (Arabian-Nubian Shield) and extremely their deposition on a passive margin of the Paleo-Tethys ocean, is considered.