Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quantitative analysis of relative tectonic activity in the Jarahi-Hendijan basin area, Zagros, Iran

  • Published:
Geosciences Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quantitative analysis is a major factor controlling landform development in tectonically active regions, and it has significantly affected fluvial systems and mountain-front landscapes in the Jarahi-Hendijan basin area of the Zagros, southwest Iran. The area is located along the high Zagros, Zagros simple folded belt and coastal plain. It is an outcome of the SE-NW oriented tectonic conversion that initiated in the Late Cretaceous and strengthened during the Early Miocene due to the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates. To assess tectonic activities in the area, we have analyzed geomorphic indices: the stream-gradient index (SL), drainage basin asymmetry (Af), hypsometric integral (Hi), valley floor width-valley height ratio (Vf), drainage basin shape (Bs) and mountain-front sinuosity (Smf). These indices were combined to yield the relative active tectonics index (Iat) using geographic information systems (GIS). Based on Iat values, the study area was divided into four parts: Class 1 (very high relative tectonic activity, 11.5% in area); Class 2 (high, 27.7%); Class 3 (moderate, 23.4%), and Class 4 (low, 37.4%). The results are consistent with field observations on landforms and the regions with high relative tectonic activity mostly correspond with the active mountain front faults at the northern part of study area. The coastal plain in the west and southwest of the area show the lowest relative tectonic activity (class 4).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alavi, M., 2004, Regional stratigraphy of the Zagros fold-thrust belt of Iran and its proforeland evolution. American Journal of Science, 304, 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M., 2013, Physiographic-Tectonic Zoning of Iran’s Sedimentary Basins. Open Journal of Geology, 3, 169–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M., 2011, Basement Tectonics and Geology of Iran. Asar Nafis Press, Qum, 300 p. (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M., Ahmadnia, A., Qorashi, M., and Pourkermani, M., 2002, Structural Analysis of Mengharak Transcurrent Fault System in Zagros, Iran. Special Geo 2002 Conference Issue, Geoarabia, 7, 209–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M. and Bagha, N., 2012, Active tectonics of Tehran area, Iran. Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, 2, 3805–3819.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M. and Hashemi, S.A., 2008, Seismotectonic Zoning in the Zagros. Journal of Sciences, 18, 63–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M. and Pourkermani, M., 2004, Tectonic elements of South flank in the East-Central Alborz Mountain. Journal of Science, 4, 359–368. (in Persian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M., Maleki, Z., and Noroozpour, H., 2011a, Cenozoic Diastrophism and Deformational Events in the East-Central Alborz. Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, 1, 2394–2400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arian, M., Pourkermani, M., Sistanipour, A., and Noroozpour, H., 2011b, Kinematic significance of fold - and fault-related fracture systems in the Rafsanjan’s Northeast Highlands (Central Iran). Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, 1, 3398–3406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Authemayou, C., Bellier, O., Chardon, D., Malekzade, Z., and Abassi, M., 2005, Role of the Kazerun fault system in active deformation of the Zagros fold and thrust belt (Iran). Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 337, 539–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azor, A., Keller, E.A., and Yeats, R.S., 2002, Geomorphic indicators of active fold growth: South Mountain-Oak Ridge Ventura basin, Southern California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 114, 745–753.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bachmanov, D.M., Trifonov, V.G., Hessami, K.T., Kozhurin, A.I., Ivanova, T.P., Rogozhin, E.A., Hademi, M.C., and Jamali, F.H., 2004, Active faults in the Zagros and Central Iran. Tectonophysics, 380, 221–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagha, N., Arian, M., Ghorashi, M., Pourkermani, M., El Hamdouni, R., and Solgi, A., 2014, Evaluation of relative tectonic activity in the Tehran basin, central Alborz, northern Iran. Geomorphology, 213, 66–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berberian, M., 1995, Master “blind” thrust faults hidden under the Zagros folds: active basement tectonics and surface morphotectonics. Tectonophysics, 241, 193–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bull, W.B., 2007, Tectonic geomorphology of mountains: a new approach to paleoseismology. Blackwell, Malden, 316 p.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bull, W.B. and McFadden, L.D., 1977, Tectonic geomorphology north and south of the Garlock fault, California. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Geomorphology Symposium on Geomorphology in Arid Regions, State University of New York, Binghamton, Sep. 23–24, p. 115–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burbank, D. and Anderson, R., 2001, Tectonic Geomorphology. Blackwell Science, Oxford, 247 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannon, P.J., 1976, Generation of explicit parameters for a quantitative geomorphic study of Mill Creek drainage basin. Oklahoma Geology Notes, 36, 34–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dehbozorgi, M., Pourkermani, M., Arian, M., Matkan, A.A., Motamedi H. and Hosseiniasl, A., 2010, Quantitative analysis of relative tectonic activity in the Sarvestan area, central Zagros, Iran. Geomorphology, 121, 329–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Hamdouni, R., Irigaray, C., Fernandez, T., Chacón, J., and Keller, E.A., 2008, Assessment of relative active tectonics, southwest border of Sierra Nevada (southern Spain). Geomorphology, 96, 150–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrokhnia, A., Pirasteh, S., Pradhan, B., Pourkermani, M., and Arian, M., 2011, A recent scenario of mass wasting and its impact on the transportation in Alborz Mountains, Iran using geo-information technology. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 4, 1337–1349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GSI, 2001, Geologic map of Behbahan, Ardekan, Ramhormuz and Kazeroun Quadrangles (1:250,000). Geological Survey of Iran.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hack, J.T., 1957, Studies of longitudinal stream-profiles in Virginia and Maryland. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 294, 45–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hack, J.T., 1973, Stream-profiles analysis and stream-gradient index. Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1, 421–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hack, J.T., 1982, Physiographic division and differential uplift in the piedmont and Blue Ridge. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1265, 1–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hare, P.W. and Gardner, T.W., 1985, Geomorphic indicators of vertical neotectonism along converging plate margins, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Proceedings of the 15th Annual Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium on Tectonic Geomorphology, Allen and Unwin, Boston, p.123–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadinsky-Cade, K. and Barzangi, M., 1982, Seismotectonics of southern Iran: the Oman line. Tectonics, 1, 389–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, E.A., 1986, Investigation of active tectonics: use of surficial Earth processes. In: Wallace, R.E. (ed.), Active tectonics. Studies in Geophysics. National Academy Press, Washington DC, p. 136–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller, E.A. and Pinter, N., 2002, Active Tectonics: Earthquakes, Uplift, and Landscape (2nd Edition). Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 362 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khavari, R., Arian, M., and Ghorashi, M., 2009, Neotectonics of the South Central Alborz drainage basin, in NW Tehran, N Iran. Journal of Applied Sciences, 9, 4115–4126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacombe, O., Mouthereau, F., Kargar, S., and Mayer, L., 2006, Late Cenozoic and modern stress fields in the western Fars (Iran): Implications for the tectonic and kinematic evolution of central Zagros. Tectonics, 25, 1823–1831.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molin, P., Pazzaglia, F.J., and Dramis, F., 2004, Geomorphic expression of active tectonics in a rapidly-deforming forearc, Sila massif, Calabria, southern Italy. American Journal of Science, 304, 559–589.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molinaro, M., Leturmy, P., Guezou, J.C., Frizon de Lamotte, D., and Eshraghi, S.A., 2005, The structure and kinematics of the southeastern Zagros fold thrust belt, Iran: from thin-skinned to thickskinned tectonics. Tectonics, 24, 1617–1633.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nouri, R., Jafari, M.R., Arian, M., Feizi, F., and Afzal, P., 2013, Correlation between Cu mineralization and major faults using multifractal modeling in the Tarom area (NW Iran). Geologica Carpathica, 64, 409–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pourkermani, M. and Arian, M., 2001, Structural geomorphology of northeastern Kurdistan. Journal of Humanities, 7, 37–48. (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qorashi M. and Arian, M., 2011, Tectonics of Iran. Geologic Survey of Iran, Tehran, 336 p. (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Herrera, M.T., 1998, Geomorphic assessment of active tectonics in the AcambayGraben, Mexican volcanic belt. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 23, 317–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rockwell, T.K., Keller, E.A., and Johnson, D.L., 1985, Tectonic geomorphology of alluvial fans and mountain fronts near Ventura, California. Proceedings of the 15th Annual Geomorphology Symposium on Tectonic Geomorphology, Allen Unwin, Boston, p. 183–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, P.G., 1994, Evolución geodinámica de la depression del Guadalentíndesde el Mioceno superior hasta la Actualidad: Neotectónica y geomorfología. Ph.D. Thesis, Complutense University, Madrid, 642 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, P.G., Goy, J.L., Zazo, C., and Bardajm, T., 2003, Fault generated mountain fronts in Southeast Spain: geomorphologic assessment of tectonic and earthquake activity. Geomorphology, 250, 203–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strahler, A.N., 1952, Hypsometric (area-altitude) analysis of erosional topography. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 63, 1117–1142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, S.G., Bullard, T.F., Menges, T.M., Drake, P.G., Karas, P.A., Kelson, K.I., Ritter, J.B., and Wesling, J.R., 1988, Regional variations in tectonic geomorphology along segmented convergent plate boundary, Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Geomorphology, 1, 239–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Jahanbakhsh Ehsani & Mehran Arian

Authors
  1. Jahanbakhsh Ehsani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mehran Arian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mehran Arian.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ehsani, J., Arian, M. Quantitative analysis of relative tectonic activity in the Jarahi-Hendijan basin area, Zagros, Iran. Geosci J 19, 751–765 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-015-0016-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-015-0016-3

Key words

Search

Navigation