Tectonics
Hamid Nazari; Jean-Francois Ritz; Ara Avagyan
Abstract
The Alborz mountain range accommodates some of the convergence between Central Iran and Eurasia. At present, the kinematics of the range involves a strain partitioning mechanism, and is associated with clockwise rotation of the South Caspian Basin. left-lateral strike-slip faulting is present along the ...
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The Alborz mountain range accommodates some of the convergence between Central Iran and Eurasia. At present, the kinematics of the range involves a strain partitioning mechanism, and is associated with clockwise rotation of the South Caspian Basin. left-lateral strike-slip faulting is present along the entire of its central part, while reverse faulting is affects its northern and southern borders. Several slip-rate studies have been carried out along active faults in the internal and southern parts of the range. Our analysis provides new constraints on the activity of this important active thrust fault. We show that the fault generally is a hidden thrust fault, often associated with fault-bend and fault-propagation folds (forebergs). In the central part of the fault near Chamestan, radiocarbon dating on an old elevated terrace allows estimating the minimum vertical slip of 2.0± 0.5 mm / year. Considering a 34 degree slope for the fault, the minimum horizontal slip rate will be 3 mm/yr and the minimum slip rate along the fault plane will be up to 3.6 mm / year. Our results confirm that the Khazar Fault is a major active structure in northern Iran, and represents a significant seismic hazard for the entire Central Alborz region.
E. Gholami; S. Shoraka; A. Yassaghi
Abstract
The East-West to Northwest-Southeast trending Ashkhaneh fault zone is located in northeast of Iran between the Alborz and Kopeh-dagh tectonic zones. Geometric and kinematic characteristics of Ashkhaneh fault zone was revealed by measuring of fault kinematic indicators such as: S-C structures, asymmetric ...
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The East-West to Northwest-Southeast trending Ashkhaneh fault zone is located in northeast of Iran between the Alborz and Kopeh-dagh tectonic zones. Geometric and kinematic characteristics of Ashkhaneh fault zone was revealed by measuring of fault kinematic indicators such as: S-C structures, asymmetric folds, slip lines and fault steps along eight cross-sections across this fault zone and perpendicular to main structures. Stereographic analysis of the measured structural elements and constructing cross-sections show a dominant reverse mechanism with left-lateral strike-slip component for the Ashkhaneh fault zone. Donghozdagh Anticline in the hanging wall of Ashkhaneh fault zone is a fault-propagation fold. To the east and in the hanging wall of the fault zone, several thrust faults such as Kuh-e-Docheng fault, North Beruj fault and South Beruj fault have the same geometrical characteristics of the Ashkhaneh fault zone. These thrusts in hanging wall of the Ashkhaneh fault zone with dip to north (same as Ashkhaneh fault) are evidences for of the occurrence of greater convergence in southeast than the northwest part of the Ashkhaneh fault zone. Eight structural cross-sections perpendicular to the Ashkhaneh fault zone show evolution of thrusts and fault-related folds, as well as migration of rock units toward south-southwest in this area. The arrangement of these thrust fault systems emphasis that structural growth took place from north to south-southwest in this part of the Kopeh-dagh.
F. Ghaemi; F. Ghaemi
Abstract
The Northern Khorasan is one of important active tectonics area. The main faults are strike slip (dextral and sinistral) and minor faults are thrust faults. Many of thrust faults are older than strike- slip faults and some of them are younger and are active now. It is because of bending of strike-slip ...
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The Northern Khorasan is one of important active tectonics area. The main faults are strike slip (dextral and sinistral) and minor faults are thrust faults. Many of thrust faults are older than strike- slip faults and some of them are younger and are active now. It is because of bending of strike-slip faults that converts, them into thrust faults. We recognized active faults based on their characteristics. In this area we have two series of tensile joints and two series of shear joints. Principal stresses have the fallowing attitudes :() - ((
)- ). Strikeslip faults can be sympathetic. For example the 1997 Bojnurd earthquake on the Yekke-shakh fault affects Baba- aman and Gharlegh faults
