M. Talebian; M. Ghorashi; E. Kosari
Abstract
On 1-12 December 2017 three earthquakes (Mw 5.9 -6.1) shake Hojedk region in Kerman province. We used satellite images, radar interferometry and field investigation to examine the sourceprocesses of these earthquakes in south–central Iran. The epicenter of first two events located near northern ...
Read More
On 1-12 December 2017 three earthquakes (Mw 5.9 -6.1) shake Hojedk region in Kerman province. We used satellite images, radar interferometry and field investigation to examine the sourceprocesses of these earthquakes in south–central Iran. The epicenter of first two events located near northern boundary of the Miankuh, a major topographic feature of the region. No surface rupture has been seen with these events and InSAR results show semi symmetric uplift of the region. Therefore, two scenarios of faulting with dip to the SW or NE are possible. Epicenter of the third event located further north within the alluvial plane. Evidence for coseismic surface rupture associated with this event was first observed on Sentinel satellite image and InSAR analysis. It was then confirmed by field investigation. The event produced a coseismic scarps with more than 1 m vertical displacement over a total distance of∼6 km, along a fault with reverse mechanism and dip to the SW. Any signs of earlier coseismic ruptures along this fault had been obliterated by the time of the 2017 earthquake, probably by occasional flash floods, so that the fault could not been identified beforehand. However, there is evidence of young alluvial offsets further to the NW along strike of the fault, suggesting existence of active structures in the region. Reactivation of blind faults have caused other major earthquakes such as 1978 Mw 7.4 Tabas, 2003 Mw 6.6 Bam, and 2017 Mw 7.3 Sarpol Zahab earthquakes in the past. The Hojedk earthquakes remind us about importance of recognizing and studying blind faults, especially if they are close to population centers.
S Eslami Farsani; M Talebian; A Saidi; M Pourkermani
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to study active faulting in western part of the Middle East, between Caspian Sea to the east and Mediterranean Sea to the west. This region covers several countries and thus geological maps have different scale and errors in locations. The mismatch between fault traces ...
Read More
The purpose of this research is to study active faulting in western part of the Middle East, between Caspian Sea to the east and Mediterranean Sea to the west. This region covers several countries and thus geological maps have different scale and errors in locations. The mismatch between fault traces in geological maps with their actual position on the ground is sometimes up to several hundred meters. The main goal of this study was to prepare continues map of active faults together with seismicity for the entire region of interest. This map also shows the slip rate of the active faults, estimated based on available geodetic measurements (GPS) or other published data. All available information including geological maps, satellite images, topographic data, GPS measurements, and earthquake data were imported into Arc GIS system. The Landsat 7 satellite images were used to correct location of active faults and measuring young offsets along the faults. Most of active faults bound the mountains implying that they control current topography of the region. The earthquakes are more frequent in the Zagros, especially in western part, around junction of the North and East Anatolian faults. This is in contrast with the Dead Sea region where lower seismic activity observed. However larger earthquakes are distributed over entire region, though we have more record of historical earthquakes in NW Iran, Eastern Turkey and the Dead Sea region probably related to documentation of historical data rather than occurence of earthquakes. In the eastern Zagros (NW of Iran) total shortening is partitioned into pure strike-slip and thrusting. In the middle part (eastern Turkey) the Zagros trends east-west and most of shortening is taken up by pure thrusting. The Central and Eastern Turkey is dominated by strike-slip faults and rotation of blocks. Shortening across left-lateral and right-lateral systems in eastern Turkey cause the Turkish block to move to the west and subduct in Hellenic trench. Comparing rate of shortening with moment released by earthquakes in Zagros and Caucuses suggest that part of shortening is taking up by creep.
Z Hamidi Beheshti; H Alimohammadian; M Talebian; A Shahidi; M.R Ghassemi
Abstract
Geomagnetism is one of the most applied techniques of geophysics in geology. Today, this method is applied in different disciplines such as Magnetic fabric of rocks, palaeomagnetism and environmental magnetism. Each of these magnetic methods is suitable for a particular lithology. Therefore, the potential ...
Read More
Geomagnetism is one of the most applied techniques of geophysics in geology. Today, this method is applied in different disciplines such as Magnetic fabric of rocks, palaeomagnetism and environmental magnetism. Each of these magnetic methods is suitable for a particular lithology. Therefore, the potential of sandstones of Shemshak Group, in central AlborzMountain range were examined to record their response to the application of some conventional magnetic methods. This rock unit is formed during two major tectonic events of early and middle Cimmerian and has great coverage not only in the study area but also in a vast majority of Iran. The total number of 135 oriented core samples was taken from 18 stations. In this study combination of magnetic and petrographic data are examined. The result of magnetic mineralogy analysis of all samples (except samples from stations 10 and 15) show irreversibility i.e. minerals such as hematite and magnetite, have formed during the heating stage. The results of thermal demagnetization analysis showed that ferromagnetic minerals present in the samples (except samples from stations 10, 14 and 15) have demagnetized below 400 °C and by proceeding heating, samples show zigzag pattern or show abnormal increase in susceptibility. This indicates that, the magnetic minerals are formed during heating in one stage and due to unstability lose its susceptibility in other stage. The magnetic susceptibility (Km) vary from 200-400×10-6 SI for more stations of study area, indicating abundance of paramagnetic mineral in this rock unit. From petrography point of view all the sandstone samples are classified as arenites and ratio of quartz to lithic fragment and feldspar is relatively low, which may indicate low mineral maturity. Comparison of magnetic mineralogy and thermal demagnetization data for two stations S10 and S15 show that there is an inverse potential relationship between amount of stable ferromagnetic mineral in a sample and amount of its alteration during heating stage. The results of this study reveal the poor nature of Shemshak Group sandstones for palaeomagnetic studies due to their low mineral maturity and water percolation which increase the possibility of acquisition of chemical remanent magnetization (CRM). The high sedimentation rate of sandstones cause magnetic inclination and declination error, and low ferromagnetic mineral fraction in samples, make them unsuitable to record magnetic directionsduring formation of rocks. However, abundance of paramagnetic minerals such as biotite in these rocks, proves their applicability for magnetic fabric studies.
U Alladin; M Talebian; M Arian; M.M Ahmadi
Abstract
Earthquake is an undeniable phenomenon that can cause financial and social damage if occur in populated areas. Vulnerability of buildings is not just function of magnitude and distance from the epicenter but also depends on physical properties of soil. In this study we evaluate physical properties ...
Read More
Earthquake is an undeniable phenomenon that can cause financial and social damage if occur in populated areas. Vulnerability of buildings is not just function of magnitude and distance from the epicenter but also depends on physical properties of soil. In this study we evaluate physical properties of alluvium in an area of approximately 100 square kilometers in west of Tehran between longitudes 51 º 15´ to 51º 23´ and latitudes 35º 40´ to 35º 50´. As a first step we collected field data regarding the alluvium deposits as well as location of Quaternary faults. We then combined this information with data from 440 boreholes which were aquired from more than hundred urban development projects. We use sedimentological diagrams of the boreholes to define three zones of coarse-, intermediate- and fine-grained material in the region. We considered physical and mechanical properties of the sediments to produce seismic amplification map of the area which shows three zones of high, moderate and no amplification. Finally, we investigated liquefaction potential of sediments, considering ground water level and structure of the basin and we have concluded that there is no potential of liquefaction in the area of study.
