Morphotectonic and earthquake data analysis of interactional faults in Sabzevaran Area, SE Iran

Abstract

We used satellite images, earthquake catalogues and field observations to study several active fault systems and their interactions in Sabzevaran Area in SE Iran. The focus of this study is to verify the link between the active faults, their kinematics and seismic activity. Field observations and geomorphological analysis highlight the interaction of the active faults. Moreover, most of the tectonic activity is observed in the area, related to the Chahmazrae- North Faryab shear zone. Most of the earthquakes in this shear zone are reverse and occur in the deeper crust while aftershocks dominantly occur in the shallower crust. The Main Zagros Reverse Fault (MZRF) is the source of reverse events and the Chahmazrae-North Faryab shear zone is source of left-lateral, oblique reverse faulting events, and strike-slip events. These types of the earthquakes in the study area confirm the idea of tectonic proximity of the root faults and shear zone. In the interaction area, minor fractures begin to develop and are progressively linked to the main faults. In the en échelon arrangement of the faults, the minor faults have grown and linked the en échelon segments of the faults. It seems that the earthquake ruptures can spontaneously propagate across both extensional and compressional fault steps. This propagation occurs along strike-slip faults such as Sabzevaran fault and its branches.