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History of faulting on the Doruneh Fault System: implications for the kinematic changes of the Central Iranian Microplate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2013

HAMID REZA JAVADI ,
MOHAMMAD REZA GHASSEMI ,
MAJID SHAHPASANDZADEH ,
BERNARD GUEST ,
MARZIEH ESTERABI ASHTIANI ,
ALI YASSAGHI  and
MEYSSAM KOUHPEYMA
HAMID REZA JAVADI*
Affiliation:
Research Institute for Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Meraj Ave, Azadi Sq., P.O. Box 13185-1494, Tehran, Iran Geological Survey of Iran, Meraj Ave., Azadi Sq., Tehran, Iran
MOHAMMAD REZA GHASSEMI
Affiliation:
Research Institute for Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Meraj Ave, Azadi Sq., P.O. Box 13185-1494, Tehran, Iran Geological Survey of Iran, Meraj Ave., Azadi Sq., Tehran, Iran
MAJID SHAHPASANDZADEH
Affiliation:
Kerman Graduate University of Technology, Haftbagh Highway, Kerman, Iran
BERNARD GUEST
Affiliation:
University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr., NW Calgary, Alberta, CanadaT2N 1N4
MARZIEH ESTERABI ASHTIANI
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Iran, Meraj Ave., Azadi Sq., Tehran, Iran Department of Geology, Tarbiat Modares University, P. O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
ALI YASSAGHI
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Tarbiat Modares University, P. O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran
MEYSSAM KOUHPEYMA
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Iran, Meraj Ave., Azadi Sq., Tehran, Iran
*
†Author for correspondence: hr.javadi.k@gmail.com
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Abstract

The Doruneh Fault System is one of the major transcurrent faults in central Asia, extending ~900 km from western Afghanistan into West-Central Iran. The left-lateral Doruneh Fault System is also a key structure in the Arabia–Eurasia collisional zone, bounding the northern margin of the independent Central Iranian Microplate. The Doruneh Fault System exhibits a curved geometry, and is divided here into three segments: Eastern, Central and Western. We present the results of geological, structural and geomorphic studies into the nature of recent activity along the Doruneh Fault System segments. A surprising observation is that small, relatively young drainage systems often show recent systematic left-lateral displacement across the fault, whereas large rivers indicate a former more complex right-lateral history. Furthermore, the existence of right-lateral offsets of pre-Pliocene rocks and S-C fabrics confirm this earlier phase of right-lateral movement on the fault. We suggest that the early right-lateral kinematics resulted from an earlier NW–SE-directed regional shortening, associated with the anticlockwise rotation of the Central Iranian Microplate. The shortening is characterized by the NE–SW-striking en échelon folds within the fault slivers, the right-lateral Taknar imbricate fan and the superimposed folding exposed north of Kashmar. Thus, assuming an initiation age of Eocene (55.8 Ma) for the fault, we estimate a former right-lateral slip rate of about 5.2–5.5 mm yr−1, which accompanied the 35° anticlockwise rotation of the Central Iranian Microplate. According to our study, the youngest units exhibiting right-lateral displacement are Middle Miocene in age, suggesting a post-Middle Miocene timing for the onset of slip-sense inversion.

Keywords

Central Iranian MicroplateDoruneh Fault Systemslip-sense inversionkinematic reversalblock rotation
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 150 , Issue 4 , July 2013 , pp. 651 - 672
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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