Active tectonics and late Cenozoic strain distribution in central and eastern Iran

摘要

Right-lateral shear between central Iran and Afghanistan is accommodated on N-S right-lateral strike-slip faults surrounding the aseismic Dasht-e-Lut. North of ～ 34°N, the right-lateral shear is accommodated on left-lateral faults that rotate clockwise about vertical axes. Little is known of the late Tertiary and younger offsets and slip rates on the active fault systems, results that are important for understanding the regional tectonics. We use observations from satellite imagery to identify displaced geological and geomorpho logical markers, which we use in conjunction with the overall morphology and orientation of the active fault systems to estimate the total cumulative right-lateral shear.