Relative tectonic activity assessment and kinematic analysis of the North Bozgush fault Zone, NW Iran. (15th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saber, Reza; Caglayan, Ayse; Isik, Veysel
• Is Part Of: Journal of Asian earth sciences. Volume 164(2018)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2018-09-15
• Subjects: Active tectonic -- Geomorphic indices -- Fault zone -- Bozgush Mountains -- Iran; Earth sciences -- Asia -- Periodicals; Sciences de la terre -- Asie -- Périodiques; Earth sciences; Asia; Periodicals; 555.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2018.06.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-9120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: This article presents a geomorphic indices and kinematic analysis along the North Bozgush Fault Zone, NW Iran. Geomorphic indices reveal tectonic control on geomorphology along the study area. Obtained data indicates decreasing of the uplift rate from west to the east. Recent tectonic regime along the North Bozgush Fault Zone is strike-slip with reverse component. Results suggest shortening principal paleo-stresses in NW–SE orientations. Abstract: NW Iran is among the most interesting and complex areas within Arabian-Eurasia collision zone. Historical and instrumental earthquake records in this region indicate that active faults have the potential to produce serious seismic hazards in the future. The North Bozgush Fault Zone, an anastomosing fault zone, consists of several parallel and sub-parallel faults which have developed in a right lateral strike-slip system with a reverse component. Our structural analysis shows that faulting occurs along a strong dominant compressional strike-slip regime and is predominantly related to NW-SE shortening along the zone. This paper represents an analysis of the morphometric indices to depict the tectonic activity of the northern part of the Bozgush Mountains, an area with a typical tectono-morphology. The result of the morphometric analysis shows that relative tectonic activity along the North Bozgush Fault Zone decreases significantly from west to east. Measured uplift rates show that the uplift rate is higher than 0.5 mm/yr in the western and central parts and decreases in the eastern part to between 0.5 and 0.05 mm/yr. The structural and morphometric data are indicative of the relation between the North Bozgush Fault Zone and the Tabriz Fault Zone during Quaternary time.