|
Original Article |
1 1CASP, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, West Building, 181A Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DH, UK
2 2Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Hafez Avenue, Tehran, Iran
Arabia–Eurasia convergence is achieved in the NW Zagros by a combination of shortening on NW–SE-trending folds and thrusts, mainly in the Simple Folded Zone, and by right-lateral strike-slip on the NW–SE-trending Main Recent Fault. A balanced and restored cross-section across this part of the range indicates c. 49 km of shortening. This probably occurred since c. 5 Ma, providing an estimate of the long-term shortening rate across the Simple Folded Zone of c. 10 mm a–1. The geometries of exposed structures suggest both basement thrusts and thin-skinned décollement levels, with major folds possibly nucleated above basement faults. Fold geometries indicate several décollement horizons; shale units are candidates, as well as evaporites in the Neogene, Mesozoic, Lower Palaeozoic and upper Proterozoic successions. The SE part of the Simple Folded Zone deforms by north–south shortening on broadly east–west-trending folds and thrusts. The link between these regions occurs via a set of fault blocks c. 400 km wide in total, each bounded by north–south right-lateral faults. Incremental changes in the strike of some of the folds occur across these right-lateral faults, with more east–west orientations to the east.
Key Words: Zagros • décollements • thrusts • folds • basement
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  M. Alavi Structures of the Zagros fold-thrust belt in Iran Am J Sci, 2007; 307: 1064 - 1095. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 O. Lacombe, K. Amrouch, F. Mouthereau, and L. Dissez Calcite twinning constraints on late Neogene stress patterns and deformation mechanisms in the active Zagros collision belt Geology, 2007; 35: 263 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Zarasvandi, S. Liaghat, M. Zentilli, and P.H. Reynolds 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of Alteration and Petrogenesis of Porphyry Copper-Related Granitoids in the Darreh-Zerreshk and Ali-Abad area, Central Iran Exploration and Mining Geology, 2007; 16: 11 - 24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. J. Stephenson, A. Koopman, H. Hillgartner, H. McQuillan, S. Bourne, J. J. Noad, and K. Rawnsley Structural and stratigraphic controls on fold-related fracturing in the Zagros Mountains, Iran: implications for reservoir development Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2007; 270: 1 - 21. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. P. Wennberg, M. Azizzadeh, A. A. M. Aqrawi, E. Blanc, P. Brockbank, K. B. Lyslo, N. Pickard, L. D. Salem, and T. Svana The Khaviz Anticline: an outcrop analogue to giant fractured Asmari Formation reservoirs in SW Iran Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2007; 270: 23 - 42. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Sepehr and J. W. Cosgrove The role of major fault zones in controlling the geometry and spatial organization of structures in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2007; 272: 419 - 436. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Cooper Structural style and hydrocarbon prospectivity in fold and thrust belts: a global review Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2007; 272: 447 - 472. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. A. Fard, A. Braathen, M. Mokhtari, and S. A. Alavi Interaction of the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt and the Arabian-type, deep-seated folds in the Abadan Plain and the Dezful Embayment,SW Iran Petroleum Geoscience, 2006; 12: 347 - 362. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. P. Wennberg, T. Svana, M. Azizzadeh, A. M. M. Aqrawi, P. Brockbank, K. B. Lyslo, and S. Ogilvie Fracture intensity vs. mechanical stratigraphy in platform top carbonates: the Aquitanian of the Asmari Formation, Khaviz Anticline, Zagros, SW Iran Petroleum Geoscience, 2006; 12: 235 - 246. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Bosold, W. Schwarzhans, A. Julapour, A. R. Ashrafzadeh, and S. M. Ehsani The structural geology of the High Central Zagros revisited (Iran) Petroleum Geoscience, 2005; 11: 225 - 238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
