Hamid Nazari; J-F Ritz; R Walker; R Salamati; A Ghasemi; A Shafei
Abstract
The Firouzkuh Fault in most of its extension is located at the southern side of Firouzkuh Valley in west of the Central Alborz. It is a SW – NE prominent structure with a 70 km long on a sinistral –normal fault. It has been known as a south-dipping reverse fault.Paleoseismic analysis ...
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The Firouzkuh Fault in most of its extension is located at the southern side of Firouzkuh Valley in west of the Central Alborz. It is a SW – NE prominent structure with a 70 km long on a sinistral –normal fault. It has been known as a south-dipping reverse fault.Paleoseismic analysis and C14 dating along the Firouzkuh left -lateral strike-slip fault indicate that Central Alborz has been shaken by large earthquakes during the Holocene. Here we present the data carried out of one of the two excavated trenches with 15 m long, 2m wide, ~ 4m deep in the east of Firouzkuh, where we found some evidence for last paleoearthquake associated to seismic re-activity on Firouzkuh Fault in the second trench (F2) that dug across a gauge zone. The last event is evidenced by cutting young superficial deposit where this faulted unit stratigrafically covered alluvium deposits yielded dated human bones fragments. The bones found in 60-70cm-deep of trench which a C14 age of 1159 ± 28 BP. Regarding to estimated slips per event on paleoseismological log of eastern wall of trench F1, event magnitudes for each paleoearthquakes are M≈7.
M. Shokri; M. Ghorashi; H. Nazari; R. Salamati; M. Talebian; J.-F. Ritz; H. Mohammad khani; M. Shahpasand zadeh
Abstract
The Astaneh fault with a length of more than 75 km is located in NW of Damghan. Morphotectonic investigation along the Astaneh fault and left - lateral displacement in quaternary deposits shows that, Astaneh is an active fault. It is necessary to recognize paleoseismicity of Astaneh fault because, this ...
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The Astaneh fault with a length of more than 75 km is located in NW of Damghan. Morphotectonic investigation along the Astaneh fault and left - lateral displacement in quaternary deposits shows that, Astaneh is an active fault. It is necessary to recognize paleoseismicity of Astaneh fault because, this fault is located in seismic zone of Komes historical earthquake with Ms=7.9 (Ambraseys & Melville, 1982). Many people (more than 45000) were killed in Damghan city in Komes historical earthquake. In this paper, 4-5 paleo events along the Astaneh fault are presented through paleoseismological investigation.
H. Nazari; J-F. Ritz; R. Salamati; M. Ghorashi; A. Ghasemi; H. Habibi; F. Jamali; Sh. Javadipur
Abstract
Tehran and its surrounding region are within affecting zone of some active faults of North Tehran and Mosha in north-north east and Parchin and Pishva in south. In addition, there are some other shorter faults and linear markers within the urban area of Tehran such as Niavaran, Mahmoudieh and Davoudieh ...
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Tehran and its surrounding region are within affecting zone of some active faults of North Tehran and Mosha in north-north east and Parchin and Pishva in south. In addition, there are some other shorter faults and linear markers within the urban area of Tehran such as Niavaran, Mahmoudieh and Davoudieh faults in the northern part of city, and Rey and Kahrizak scarps in the south.
Previously, according to occurrence of several historical earthquakes in Rey area and also some geomorphologic evidences, most of these markers with the linear scarps in south Tehran alluviums were mentioned as active faults.
From seismotectonic and urban geology point of view whether these faults exist or not are an important issue. Recent seismotectonic studies including paleoseismology and geophysics investigations have failed to prove existence of such faults beneath the observed surface scarps. So in this paper according to delivered data from our paleoseismology, geophysical and seismotectonic investigations and also some geological evidences of foreland basin deposits (late Quaternary) in the Central Alborz (ex: shoreline evidences in Parchin area-south east of Tehran) and in some other place such Kordan fan (west of Karadj), we suggest that these scarps may be a kind of shoreline in front of the Tehran piedmont or the actual faults may be in different place than that suggested by observation of surface escarps.
In this research we use satellite imagery (Land Sat, Spot, Quick birds), aerial photos and GPS kinematics to do Digital Elevation Model (DEM) through the Kahrizak scarp with paleoseismology trenching and geophysical (Geoelectric and Georadar) investigations on different parts of Rey and Kahrizak scarps.
H. Nazari; J-F. Ritz
Abstract
The Taleghan Fault is located at the southern side of Taleghan valley in Central Alborz, 50 km north west of the Tehran mega city. Usually described as a south-dipping reverse fault, it could be the source of some of the strongest historical earthquakes recorded in the Tehran region, notably the 958 ...
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The Taleghan Fault is located at the southern side of Taleghan valley in Central Alborz, 50 km north west of the Tehran mega city. Usually described as a south-dipping reverse fault, it could be the source of some of the strongest historical earthquakes recorded in the Tehran region, notably the 958 AD (estimated magnitude M 7.7). The fault stands out as one of the major active structure menacing the cities of Tehran and Karadj, representing together 12 millions inhabitants. In order to analyze the recent activity of the fault, a morphological study was carried out along the fault combining satellite imagery, aerial photographs and Digital Elevation Model. We found out an active branch that had never been described whereas the fault classically mapped appears inactive. Detailed field work along the branch allows us to show that the fault had its vertical component recently reverted from reverse movement to normal movement. One of the measured ratios of accumulated horizontal / vertical displacements associated to the left lateral and normal movement is 2.5-5. The strike, estimated dip and rake in the eastern part are 105°, 60° and 40° respectinely making it a left lateral- normal strike slip fault in this part of the Central Alborz.
H. Nazari; J-F. Ritz; S. Oghbaee
Abstract
Development and evolution of Tethys basins during geological history from the Precambrian to Paleogene has been considered by many geoscientists. The first sign of various basins propagation of Tethys which resulted in separation of supercontinents, ancient lands (such as Eurasia, Gondwana) and ...
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Development and evolution of Tethys basins during geological history from the Precambrian to Paleogene has been considered by many geoscientists. The first sign of various basins propagation of Tethys which resulted in separation of supercontinents, ancient lands (such as Eurasia, Gondwana) and blocks or microplates among them, are found in the Precambrian. One of these old basins in the north of Iran has been called Ortho-Tethys, its evidence can be found in the primary structures of Alborz and its Precambrian units.
Some other researchers believe that the Ordovician and Silurain volcanic series of Iranian Plateau and Alborz were formed after genesis of Early Tethys basin or Paleotethys due to extension-shear system along the Paleo-Tethys between Turan plate and Alborz-Kopet-Dagh belts. By increasing the rate of subsidence in the Permain basin, the dominating marks of extension system between Iranian microcontinents and Arabian plate were recorded, however, the related alkaline volcanic rocks of the Neotethys rifting found in Triassic succesion. In addition, the most important tectonic changes of the Caspian and Black seas occurred in the Triassic time.
Structural upheaval of Tethys basins among blocks and plates, such as Turan in the north Kopet-e-Dagh, Caucasus, Alborz, Sabzevar, Central Iranian micro-continents and Arabian plate in the south is traceable periodically.
The succession of extension and compression tectonic events resulting from opening and closing of such basins during Assynitic–Pan african and Alpine orogenies which sometimes correspond to metamorphic facies from Caldonian and Hercynian orogenies, resulted in tectonic evolution of sedimentary basins in the areas impressed by various orogenies.
Alborz as an extended block in active tectonic zone and impressed by most distinguished geological events in both supercontinents of Eurasia and Gondwana is evolved between two ancient continents. The total of thinning and thickening of Alborz basement during ancient events in comparison to other parts of Iran indicate approximately constant rate and little negative gradients due to thickness decrease of crystalline crust and lower crust towards Caspian basin.
Detachment folding system with uplift of ancient facies in hanging wall of basic fault in north Alborz is one of the apparent features of central part of this structural block that occurred in flower structure. More folding and movement in western part of this fault comparing to eastern part, is another structural feature in the area.
North Alborz , Mosha and Taleghan faults as principal faults appearing in internal part of Central Alborz,wheresomepropagationfaults like the North Tehran and Khazar can be derived from them to the south and north side of Central Alborz.