Crustal Velocity Model and Fault Mechanism of the Tabriz Strike-Slip Zone.

The North Tabriz Fault (NTF) is an active fault which poses a high seismic hazard to the areas of NW Iran, especially the city of Tabriz with a population of 1.6 million. In order to determine the geometry and the kinematics of this fault system, a local dense seismological network including forthy 3-component stations was installed around the central segment of Tabriz Fault which crosses the northern part of the city of Tabriz. This network operated for 3 months. Using microearthquakes recorded by our temporary network in addition of more than 6 years of local events recorded by 8 permanent stations of Tabriz telemetry network, the 1-D crustal velocity of the region was determined. Our results indicates that the upper crust consists of a ~6 km thick sedimentary layer (VP = 5.23 km s-1) overlying a ~18 km thick upper crystalline crust (VP = 5.85 km s-1). We estimate a velocity of 6.54 km s-1 for the lower crystalline crust, but the limited focal depths of our local events did not allow determining the thickness of this layer. The well-located earthquakes indicate the seismic activity along the Tabriz fault. Precise examination of the focal depths on different cross sections indicates that the western and central segment of this fault system dip northeast ward while the eastern part shows almost southwest dipping plane. Calculated focal mechanism all indicate the right-lateral strike-slip motion of the Tabriz Fault. The most reliable fault plane solutions are consistent with cross sections showing evidence of extension in Eastern part comparing to compression observed in Western segment. Our focal mechanisms and geodetic studies using GPS measurements indicate that the North Tabriz Fault helps to northeast motion of trapped crust in this area.