Tectonosedimentary evolution of the basins in Central Alborz, Iran

Evidence of at least ten different tectonic- controlled sedimentary basins can be recognized in the central part of the Alborz Mountains in the Middle part of the Alpine-Himalayan belt. They formed from Neoprotrozoic to recent time as the results of the relative plate motion in southwest of Asia in Tethyan realm. The basins include: (1) Prototethys Late Neo-Proterozoic to Early Ordovician epi-continental/platform basin; (2 Paleotethys Middle Ordovician to Devonian rift basin; (3) Devonian to Middle Triassic continental shelf basin; (4) Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic foreland basin; (5) Shemshak back arc rift basin; (6) South Caspian carbonate platform basin; (7) Paleocene clastic sedimentary basin; (8) Karaj back arc basin; (9) Oligo-Miocene foreland basin; (10) Pliocene-Pleistocene intramontane basin. Each basin has its own unique history connected to the different stages of the birth, development and destruction of the Prototethys, Paleotethys and Neothethys Oceans in the Middle East region in the southwest of Asia.