This expedition ventures into the "Ancient Heart of Persia," a region that serves as a geological bridge between the Gondwana supercontinent and Eurasia. We begin in Kerman, the gateway to the Lut Desert—a UNESCO World Heritage site known for the world's most spectacular aeolian landforms—and journey north to Tabas, often called the "Fossil Museum of Iran." This tour is a masterclass in geomorphology, paleontology, and economic geology. Under the expert guidance of Shiraz University’s professors, participants will explore extreme landscapes where volcanic basalt meets ancient coral reefs, providing a comprehensive look at the evolution of the Iranian plateau.
The journey commences in the high-altitude city of Kerman. Following an introductory seminar led by our scientific team, we will explore the structural geology of the Kerman basin. The afternoon focuses on the transition from the city’s high-mountain terrain to the edge of the Lut Desert. We will analyze the alluvial fans and "pediments" that form the boundary of the desert, providing a clear picture of the tectonic subsidence that created the Lut Depression. This evening serves as a technical orientation for the extreme conditions of the days ahead.
Today is dedicated to the world-famous Yardangs (Kaluts) of the Lut Desert. We will spend the day traversing these massive, corridor-like structures carved into the silt and clay of ancient lakebeds. Our scientific focus will be on aeolian processes, wind-flow patterns, and the role of the "120-day wind" in shaping this landscape. Participants will study the sedimentary layers of the Lut Formation, which provide clues to the humid periods of the Pliocene and Pleistocene in what is now a hyper-arid desert.
We venture deeper into the Lut to explore Gandom Beryan, a striking dark plateau covered in black basaltic lava. The technical focus here is twofold: volcanology and thermodynamics. We will examine the Neogene volcanic activity that capped the underlying sedimentary layers and discuss the thermal properties of the dark basalt, which contributes to the region’s extreme temperatures. This is a rare opportunity to study a "hot desert" landscape where chemical weathering is almost non-existent, and physical processes dominate the geological record.
As we leave the desert and head north toward Tabas, the landscape shifts toward the rugged mountains of the Tabas Block. This transit day focuses on the Nayband Formation, a crucial Triassic-Jurassic boundary site. We will make several stops to observe the transition from marine to terrestrial environments. The professors will point out the coal-bearing layers and the shift in fossil assemblages, providing a live demonstration of how sea levels fluctuated during the Mesozoic era on the Iranian micro-continent.
Today we explore the mysterious Kal-e Jeni (Jinn’s Canyon), a spectacular example of fluvial erosion in an arid environment. We will analyze the canyon’s vertical walls to understand the rapid incision caused by flash floods over thousands of years. The day focuses on "actualism" in geology—observing how water, though rare, remains the most powerful sculptor of the desert. We will also examine the "Qanat" systems in the area, discussing the hydrogeology of how ancient Persians tapped into alluvial aquifers to sustain life in the desert.
Tabas is a world-class destination for paleontologists, and today we visit its most significant fossil beds. We will explore the Devonian and Carboniferous outcrops, which are exceptionally rich in brachiopods, corals, and trilobites. The scientific leader will guide the group in identifying these specimens and reconstruct the ancient marine environments of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. This is a hands-on day for stratigraphy, where participants can see hundreds of millions of years of life history compressed into distinct, visible layers.
On our final day, we head toward the historic city of Yazd, passing through the Bafq mining district. This region is a powerhouse of economic geology. We will discuss the formation of massive iron ore and lead-zinc deposits, exploring the magmatic and hydrothermal processes that concentrated these minerals. The tour concludes in Yazd, where we will have a final farewell dinner and a wrap-up session, reflecting on the 500-million-year history we have traversed across the heart of Iran.
