Binalud Mountains

Lore & Background

The Binalud Mountains were formed primarily during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs as part of the Alpine orogeny. The range is composed mainly of Triassic and Jurassic rocks, with Jurassic rocks dominating the northwestern part and a smaller portion of Paleozoic rocks in the western section. On the southern margin, a strip of Eocene rocks runs parallel to the range, and on the northwestern side of this strip lies another section of Eocene volcanic rocks. The weathered and broken trachytes and andesites of these volcanic rocks yield the famous Nishabur turquoise, with the main mines located about 50 kilometres northwest of Nishapur near a village called Madan. The city of Mashhad lies in the northeastern part of the range, while Nishapur (or Neyshabur) is situated on the southwestern section.

Reader's Guide

The Binalud Mountains hold significance as a geological and cultural landmark in northeastern Iran. Geologically, they exemplify the Alpine orogeny's effects in the region, with a complex mix of Triassic, Jurassic, Paleozoic, and Eocene rocks. The range's volcanic Eocene rocks are the source of Nishabur turquoise, a historically valued gemstone mined near the village of Madan, about 50 kilometres northwest of Nishapur. The mountains also play a role in active tectonics, accommodating the collision between the Arabian and Eurasian plates at a measurable rate. Their highest peak, Mount Binalud, serves as a prominent landmark for the province.

Did You Know?

• The Binalud Mountains run northwest-southeast between the cities of Nishapur and Mashhad.
• The main turquoise mines are located about 50 kilometres northwest of Nishapur near a village called Madan.
• The range accommodates the motion of Central Iran on the Arabian plate at a rate of 4.0 ± 1.3 mm per year.
• The weathered and broken trachytes and andesites of Eocene volcanic rocks yield the famous Nishabur turquoise.