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Structural Characteristics, Paleoseismology and Slip Rate of the Qoshadagh Fault, Northwest of Iran

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Abstract

Geometric and seismic parameters of the Qoshadagh Fault (QDF) were investigated to evaluate seismic hazard along this fault, which consists of three segments. The central E–W striking, dextral-reverse segment is the longest and terminates at both ends into NW–SE striking splay arrays. Both eastern and western splay arrays form locally transtensional bends. Paleoseismic data obtained from three excavated trenches across the fault combined with dated offset geomorphic features revealed that the central segment experienced at least 5 surface rupturing earthquakes during the past 2.5 ka, with maximum moment magnitude of Mw = 6.8 ± 0.2. The mean recurrence interval for the identified paleoearthquakes is 452 ± 143 years (±2σ) and the calculated amount of slip per event is ca. ≈0.85 m. These results imply that the QDF slips at an average rate of 1.9 ± 0.1 mm yr–1 for over the past 2.5 ka. The obtained values define the seismic behavior of the fault and are essential to remediate ensuing seismic risks.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work is carried out in the frameworks of Project of Geodynamic Azerbaijan (common project between GSI, RIES and ETH Zurich). Our fieldwork was supported by SNF Research Grant (project 200021_153124/1) Switzerland. Field logistics and camping are provided by the GSI. We thank Dr. F. Herman and Dr. G. King from University Lausanne (Switzerland) for their efforts on OSL analyses. We are grateful to Prof. V.G. Trifonov (Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow) and Prof. V.V. Balagansky (Geological Institute of Cola Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Murmansk region, Apatity) for their constructive review of the manuscript and appreciate the help and corrections by Editorial Supervisor M. N. Shoupletsova. We also thank all the participants from Geological Survey of Iran (Tabriz Center) who helped during the fieldwork.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Earth Sciences, PO Box 13185-1494, Tehran, Iran

    M. Faridi, H. Nazari, M. Talebian, M. Ghorashi & E. Ahmadzadeh

  2. Department of Earth Sciences—Ion Beam Physics, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland

    J.-P. Burg & N. Haghipour

  3. Geological Survey of Iran, PO Box 5167733551, Tabriz, Iran

    M. Faridi

  4. Geological Survey of Iran, PO Box 4188957981, Rasht, Iran

    M. A. Shokri

  5. Roshdiyeh High Education Center, PO Box 5158464918, Tabriz, Iran

    S. S. Sahebari

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  1. M. Faridi
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Correspondence to M. Faridi.

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Reviewers: V.G. Trifonov, V.V. Balagansky

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Faridi, M., Nazari, H., Burg, JP. et al. Structural Characteristics, Paleoseismology and Slip Rate of the Qoshadagh Fault, Northwest of Iran. Geotecton. 53, 280–297 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016852119020031

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