Kharvana-Zonouz Active Fault System: An Evidence of Transpressional Tectonic Regime, North-West of Iran

摘要

The Kharvana-Zonouz Fault system with general NW-SE trending right-lateral folds and strike-slip and reverse faults is located in NW Iran. This fault system could be considered as the southeastern continuation of the Nakhichevan-Sardarapat Fault system in Azerbaijan toward NW Iran. Toward SE, the Kharvana-Zonouz Fault system reaches to the active Qoshadagh Fault. The major faults in the Kharvana-Zonouz Fault system from north to south are Kharvana Fault with dextral strike-slip movement, Estarkhan-Komar Fault with reverse movement, Nahand Fault with dextral strike-slip and reverse movements and Zonouz Fault with dextral strike-slip movement. Dextral displacement in drainage pattern and occurrence of earthquakes show the activity of the Kharvana-Zonouz fault system. Strike-slip faults almost parallel to the folds and reverse faults at the same rock formations could be evidence of transpressional tectonic regime within the Kharvana-Zonouz Fault system.