Quaternary state of stress in the Mahneshan‌–‌Mianeh sedimentary basin, NW Iran

Aflaki, M; Shabanian, E; Davoodi, Z

doi:10.22071/gsj.2017.44070

Quaternary state of stress in the Mahneshan‌–‌Mianeh sedimentary basin, NW Iran

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

M Aflaki ¹

E Shabanian ¹

Z Davoodi ²

¹ Assistant professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

² Assistant professor, Department of Geology, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

10.22071/gsj.2017.44070

Abstract

Mahneshan–Mianeh Cenozoic basin, in southern part of SE–termination of North Tabriz Fault, is located between two distinct NW and N Iran tectonic domains affected by different Quaternary tectonic and stress regimes, with a transitional boundary. Determining the Quaternary state of stress in the area of interest is a key to locate the locus of this transition between the two tectonic domains. In this study, Quaternary stress state of the area was studied using the inversion of fault kinematics data (with well-known sense and chronology) measured in 25 sites in the Mahneshan–Mianeh Cenozoic basin. Our results indicate a homogenous modern compressional stress field characterized by a NE-trending horizontal maximum stress axis (~N055) prevailing through Quaternary, and coherent with the direction of the Arabia–Eurasia convergence in Iran.

Keywords

Fault kinematics inversion

Quaternary state of stress

Mahneshan‌–‌Mianeh Cenozoic basin

NW Iran