HOME JOURNALS CONTACT

Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2008 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 8 | Page No.: 1426-1434
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2008.1426.1434
Structural Analysis and Evolution of the Kashan (Qom-Zefreh) Fault, Central Iran
H. Safaei, A. Taheri and H. Vaziri-Moghaddam

Abstract: The main objectives of this research were to identify the geometry and structure of the Qom-Zefreh fault and to determine the extent of its effects on stratigraphy and facies changes. The identification of movement mechanism of major faults in basement, extent and time of their activities are important effects for evaluation of paleogeography of the Iran plateau. In the Orumieh-Dokhtar volcanic band, there are nearly parallel faults to the Zagros Zone. These faults were formed during closure of the Neothetys and collision of the Arabic plate with crust of Iran. The Qom-Zefreh fault is one of these faults, which is known as having four different trend faults. The result indicates that, this fault is not divided in four segments with different trends but the major trend is of Central section, which is the Kashan segment with AZ140 trend and other segments are just related faults. Thus the name of the Kashan fault is recommended for this fault. The mechanism of the Kashan fault is dextral transpression and other related faults in the region are in good correlation with fractures in a dextral transpression system. The stratigraphic studies conducted on the present formations show the effect of fault movements in Upper Cretaceous sedimentary basin. Lack of noticeable changes in Lower Cretaceous sediments and before that indicates that, the fault system activity has been started from the Upper Cretaceous. Thus, based upon these results, the effect of the Neothetys sea closure in this region could be considered at least from the Upper Cretaceous.

Fulltext PDF Fulltext HTML

How to cite this article
H. Safaei, A. Taheri and H. Vaziri-Moghaddam, 2008. Structural Analysis and Evolution of the Kashan (Qom-Zefreh) Fault, Central Iran. Journal of Applied Sciences, 8: 1426-1434.

Related Articles:
© Science Alert. All Rights Reserved