Structural analysis of Âj Fault Zone in SW of Central Iran (NW of Dahaj- Sarduiyeh magmatic belt), Shahr-e-Babak

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Geology, University of Isfahan

2 Department of Geology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

4 Department of Geology.Faculty of Sciences. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

Abstract

The NNW-SSE trending Âj fault parallel to the Naein-Baft fault zone in the west of micro-continent of Central Iran, starts from the south of Mehriz and passes through the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc, to the southern margin of the Sanandaj- Sirjan metamorphic zone in south of Iran with N350 trend. The structural analysis of this fault in Urumieh- Dokhtar magmatic arc (Dehaj-Sarduiyeh magmatic belt) indicates a dextral oblique-slip mechanism. The paleo-stress analysis based on the data taken from the fault surfaces indicates the direction of the maximum stress in N040 parallel with the contractional movements of the Arabian plate towards the Central Iran. The Âj fault has caused many changes in the morphology of this area, one of the most important of which is the penetration of sub-volcanic dacite-rhyodacite plugs along its length. In the south of the studied area, this fault has caused the cut and dextral displacement of the ophiolites and Shahr-e-Babak fault zone. The Âj fault zone is active, because some rivers in its length are dextral displacement.

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