Abstract
Structural styles in the Zagros foreland fold-and-thrust belt vary spatially. Differential lateral propagation of folds causes to create tear faults in this belt. In this research, tear faults are studied in northern Dezful Embayment. Tear faults have been accommodated the different structural styles in sedimentary cover during the compressional regime in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt. Different structural styles indicate a difference in intensity deformation. These faults originated as the pre-existing inverted reactive deep-seated faults or which activate in the sedimentary strata during the compressional regime. Investigation of the structural style of folds in the sedimentary cover is a key point to recognize tear faults. In this research, the structural style of the Kabood, Qale Nar, Bala Rud and Lab-e-Safid subsurface anticlines in the northern Dezful Embayment has been studied. The interpretation of seismic profiles, balanced cross sections, restoration, and 3D structural modeling is investigated to study the structural style of mentioned anticlines. The area of the studied region is 92 × 20 km2. Two tear faults with NNE trending have been separated Qale Nar and Bala Rud anticlines (in the central part) from Lab-e-Safid and Kabood anticlines in eastern and western parts, respectively. The intensity of deformation in the Lab-e-Safid anticline is less than the Qale Nar and Bala Rud anticlines on its western side. Displacement and deformation of the Kabood anticline are more than the Qale Nar anticline in its eastern side. Kabood anticline is multi-bend fault bend fold, Qale Nar and Bala Rud are fault bend folds and Lab-e-Safid is detachment fold. Tear faults have been accommodated by these different structural styles in this region.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbasi S, Yazaghi A (2011) Using Landsat images and magnetic field data in identifying fault lines and analyzing their origins in Lurestan, Zagros region. J Remote Sens GIS 1:19–34
Abdollahie Fard I, Braathen A, Mokhtari M, Alavi SA (2006) Interaction of the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt and the Arabian-type, deep-seated folds in the Abadan Plain and the Dezful Embayment, SW Iran. Pet Geosci 12:347–362
Abdollahie Fard I, Sepehr M, Sherkati S (2011) Neogene salt in SW Iran and its interaction with Zagros folding. J Geol Mag 14:854–867
Agard P, Omrani J, Jolivet J, Mouthereau F (2005) Convergence history across Zagros (Iran): constraints from collisional and earlier deformation. Int J Earth Sci 94:401–419
Alavi M (1994) Tectonics of the Zagros orogenic belt of Iran: new data and interpretations. Tectonophysics 229:211–238
Alavi M (2007) Structures of the Zagros fold-thrust belt in Iran. Am J Sci 307:1064–1095
Allen M (2010) The nature of the Dezful Embayment and the Balarud Line in the Iranian Zagros. In: EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts
Bahroudi A, Koyi HA (2003) Effect of spatial distribution of Hormuz salt on deformation style in the Zagros fold and thrust belt: an analogue modelling approach. J Geol Soc Lond 160:719–733
Bahroudi A, Talbot CJ (2003) The configuration of the basement beneath the Zagros basin. J Pet Geol 26:257–282
Berberian M, King GCP (1981) Towards the paleogeography and tectonic evolution of Iran. Can J Earth Sci 18:210–265
Berberian M (1995) Master “blind” thrust faults hidden under the Zagros folds: active basement tectonics and surface morphotectonics. Tectonophysics 241:193–224
Bordenave ML, Hegre JA (2005) The influence of tectonics on the entrapment of oil in the Dezful Embayment, Zagros folded belt, Iran. J Pet Geol 28:339–368
del Kerry Angel J (2012) Structural style and shortening magnitude across the Kepintage Fold and thrust belt in the Tian Shan foreland, northwest China. Dissertation, University of California
Emami H, Vergés J, Nalpas T, Gillespie P, Sharp I, Karpuz R, Blanc EP, Goodarzi MGH (2010) Structure of the Mountain Front Flexure along the Anaran anticline in the Pusht-e Kuh Arc (NW Zagros, Iran): insights from sand box models. In: Leturmy P, Robin C (eds) Tectonic and stratigraphic evolution of Zagros and Makran during the Mesozoic–Cenozoic, vol 330. Geological Society, London, pp 155–178
Epard JL, Groshong RH (1995) Kinematic model of detachment folding including limb rotation, fixed hinges and layer-parallel strain. Tectonophysics 247:85–103
Falcon NL (1979) Problems of the relationship between surface structures and deep displacements illustrated by the Zagros range. In: Kent P, Satterhwaite GE, Spencer AM (eds) Time and place in orogeny, vol 3. Geological Society, London, pp 9–22
Hessami K, Koyi HA, Talbot CJ (2001) The significance of strike-slip faulting in the basement of the Zagros fold and thrust belt. J Pet Geol 24:5–28
Homke S, Vergés J, Garcés M, Emami H, Karpuz R (2004) Magnetostratigraphy of Miocene–Pliocene Zagros foreland deposits in the front of the Push-e Kush arc (Lurestan Province, Iran). Earth Planet Sci Lett 225:397–410
International Institute of Seismology (2009) Study of Bala Rud Fault zone in north of the Dezful Embayment. Tehran, Iran
Jahani S, Callot JP, Letouzey J, Frizon de Lamotte D (2009) The eastern termination of the F-FATB, Iran: structures, evolution, and relationships between salt plugs, folding, and faulting. Tectonics 28:1–22
Jahani S, Hassanpour J, Mohammadi-Firouz S, Letouzey J, Frizon de Lamotte D, Alavi SA, Soleimany B (2017) Salt tectonics and tear faulting in the central part of the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt. Iran Mar Pet Geol 86:426–446
Marshak S, Mitra G (1988) Basic methods of structural geology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River
Misra AA, Mukherjee S (2015) Tectonic inheritance in continental rifts and passive margins. Briefs in earth sciences. Springer, Berlin
Motiei H (1995) Petroleum geology of Zagros. Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran
Pirouz M, Simpson G, Bahroudi A, Azhdari A (2011) Neogene sediments and modern depositional environments of the Zagros foreland basin system. In: Lacombe O, Grasemann B, Simpson G (eds) Geodynamic evolution of the Zagros. J Geol Mag 148:838–853
Razavi Pash R (2017) Structural analysis of the Bala Rud fault and investigation of the structural analysis of the Bala Rud fault and the investigation of its effect on the deformation and structural evolution of the Bala Rud, Qaleh Nar, Lab-e Safid and Kabood anticlines. Dissertation, University of Shiraz
Sarkarinejad K, Goftari F (2019) Thick-skinned and thin-skinned tectonics of the Zagros orogeny, Iran: constraints from structural, microstructural and kinematics analyses. J Asian Earth Sci 170:249–273
Sarkarinejad K, Razavi Pash R, Motamedi H, Yazdani M (2017) Deformation and kinematic evolution of the subsurface structures: Zagros foreland fold-and-thrust belt, northern Dezful Embayment, Iran. Int J Earth Sci 107:1287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531017-1532-3
Sarkarinejad K, Zafarmand B, Oveisi B (2017) Evolution of the stress fields in the Zagros Foreland Folded Belt using focal mechanisms and kinematic analyses: the case of the Fars salient, Iran. Int J Earth Sci 107:611. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-017-1516-3
Sepehr M, Cosgrove JW (2004) Structural framework of the Zagros fold-thrust belt, Iran. J Mar Pet Geol 21:829–843
Sepehr M, Cosgrove JW (2007) The role of major fault zones in controlling the geometry and special organization of structures in the Zagros fold-thrust belt. J Geol Soc Lond 272:419–436
Sepehr M, Cosgrove JW, Moieni M (2006) The impact of cover rock rheology on the style of folding in the Zagros fold-thrust belt. Tectonophysics 427:265–281
Sherkati S, Letouzey J (2004) Variation of structural style and basin evolution in the central Zagros (Izeh zone and Dezful Embayment), Iran. J Mar Pet Geol 21:535–554
Sherkati S, Molinaro M, Frizon de Lamotte D, Letouzey J (2005) Detachment folding in the Central and Eastern Zagros fold-belt (Iran): salt mobility, multiple detachments and late basement control. J Struct Geol 27:1680–1696
Sherkati S, Letouzey J, Frizon de Lamotte D (2006) The Central Zagros fold-thrust belt (Iran): new insights from seismic data, field observation and sandbox modeling. Tectonics. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004TC001766
Stöcklin J (1968) Structural history and tectonics of Iran: a review. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 52:1229–1258
Talbot CJ, Alavi M (1996) The past of a future syntaxis across the Zagros, in Alsop. In: Alsop GI, Blundell DJ, Davison I (eds) Salt tectonics. J Geol Soc Lond 100:89–109
Talebian M, Jackson J (2004) A reappraisal of earthquake focal mechanisms and active shortening in the Zagros mountains of Iran. Geophys J Int 156:506–526
Twiss RJ, Moores EM (1992) Structural geology. Macmillan, New York
Vernant P, Nilforoushan F, Hatzfeld D, Abbassi MR, Vigny C, Masson F, Nankali H, Martinod J, Ashtiani A, Bayer R, Tavakoli F, Chéry J (2004) Present-day crustal deformation and plate kinematics in the Middle East constrained by GPS measurements in Iran and northern Oman. Geophys J Int 157:381–398
Walpersdorf A, Hatzfeld D, Nankali H, Tavakoli F, Nilforoushan F, Tatar M, Vernant P, Chery J, Masson F (2006) Difference in the GPS deformation pattern of north and central Zagros (Iran). Geophys J Int 167:1077–1088
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Pro. Dullo (Chief Editor) and Pro. Soumyajit Mukherjee (Editorial handling) for valuable comments to improve the content of the manuscript. The authors are especially indebted to the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) for providing the well data and seismic profiles for this study. This research was supported by the Shiraz University Research Council (SURC) Grant which is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pash, R.R., Sarkarinejad, K., Ghoochaninejad, H.Z. et al. Accommodation of the different structural styles in the foreland fold-and-thrust belts: northern Dezful Embayment in the Zagros belt, Iran. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 109, 959–970 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-020-01844-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-020-01844-6