The Effect of Nehbandan Fault System Movement on Geomorphology of the Nehbandan Area

Abstract

East Neh and west Neh faults are surrounding two sides of Nehbandan city in east of Iran. This paper has studied recent effects of the faults movement on structural geomorphology of the studied area. Many geomorphological signatures that were resulted by recent activities of the east Neh and west Neh faults such as change of rivers and water cores route, V-shape valleys, travertine deposites, fold of Quaternary sediments, discoloration of deposits and stones will be discussed in this paper. Satellite images and field observations of the studied area show that faults trend parallel to contact zone between mountain and plain. The faults have steep incline (more than 80 to 90 degrees). The faults morphology seems as a rectilinear along the contact zone between mountain and plane. Reverse component of these faults plays main role in rising of these mountains and recent topographic landscopes of the area. Dip direction of the faults shows these mountains are located in hanging wall of the faults. The mountains are uplifting in opposite side of the fault dip direction.

Keywords

• geomorphology
• topography
• fault
• active tectonic
• quaternary
• nehbandan