3D Surface Heat Flow, Low-Temperature Basins and Curie Point Depth of the Iranian Plateau: Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Iron Deposits

While Surface Heat Flow (SHF) is an important indicator of the hydrocarbon reservoirs and mineral potentials, the measurements over the Iranian plateau are very sparse. In light of accessing the crustal and lithospheric structure derived from a well-constrained geophysical-petrological model, this study provides a 3D SHF, Curie depth isotherm (580 ºC), Moho temperature and low-temperature sedimentary basins ( 150 ºC) over the Iranian plateau and surrounding areas. We solve heat transfer equation using certain thermal boundary condition and user-defined thermophysical parameters for crust. Thermal conductivity of the lithosphere is calculated iteratively. The results indicate that the iron deposits (within the igneous provinces) are spatially correlated with highs in the 3D map of SHF ( 60 mW/m^2), the shallow Curie isotherm ( 40 km) and warm Moho boundary ( 800 ºC) where lithospheric thinning or crustal thickening occurs. SHF highs are observed in the northern part of the Zagros collision zone, Central Iran micro-continent and Kopet Dagh. The low-temperature sedimentary basins ( 150 ºC) are illustrated by the lows in the 3D map of SHF ( 60 mW/m^2), deep Curie isotherm ( 40 km), and cold Moho boundary ( 800 ºC) where lithosphere thickening or crustal thinning is taken place. These basins are distributed in the Oman Sea, Persian Gulf, northern margin of the Arabian plate (Mesopotamian foreland basin), the Caspian Sea and Turan platform.