Active transtension inside central Alborz: A new insight into northern Iran–southern Caspian geodynamics

Research Article| June 01, 2006 Active transtension inside central Alborz: A new insight into northern Iran–southern Caspian geodynamics J.-F. Ritz; J.-F. Ritz 1Laboratoire Dynamique de la Lithosphère, UMR 5573, Université Montpellier 2, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. Nazari; H. Nazari 2Laboratoire Dynamique de la Lithosphère, UMR 5573, Université Montpellier 2, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France, and Geological Survey of Iran, P.O. Box 13185 1494, Tehran, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Ghassemi; A. Ghassemi 3 Geological Survey of Iran (GSI), P.O. Box 13185 1494, Tehran, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. Salamati; R. Salamati 3 Geological Survey of Iran (GSI), P.O. Box 13185 1494, Tehran, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Shafei; A. Shafei 3 Geological Survey of Iran (GSI), P.O. Box 13185 1494, Tehran, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Solaymani; S. Solaymani 4International Institut of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), Dibaji, 19531, Tehran, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. Vernant P. Vernant 5Laboratoire Dynamique de la Lithosphère, UMR 5573, Université Montpellier 2, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2006) 34 (6): 477–480. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22319.1 Article history received: 19 Oct 2005 rev-recd: 19 Jan 2006 accepted: 20 Jan 2006 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J.-F. Ritz, H. Nazari, A. Ghassemi, R. Salamati, A. Shafei, S. Solaymani, P. Vernant; Active transtension inside central Alborz: A new insight into northern Iran–southern Caspian geodynamics. Geology 2006;; 34 (6): 477–480. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22319.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The tectonic activity in the Alborz mountain range, northern Iran, is due both to the northward convergence of central Iran toward Eurasia, and to the northwestward motion of the South Caspian Basin with respect to Eurasia inducing a left-lateral wrenching along this range. These two mechanisms give rise to a NNE-SSW transpressional regime, which is believed to have affected the entire range for the last 5 ± 2 m.y. In this paper, we show that the internal domain of central Alborz is not affected by a transpressional regime but by an active transtension with a WNW-ESE extensional axis. We show that this transtension is young (middle Pleistocene). It postdates an earlier N-S compression and may have been initiated when the South Caspian Basin started moving. Consequently, our results suggest that the South Caspian Basin motion may have taken place more recently than previously proposed. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.