Folding Style in Kermanshah Radiolarites and its Significance in Collision Tectonic of Northwest Iran

Abundant chevron folds were produced in well-bedded red thin layers radiolarites in Kermanshah area. Various fold hinge area structures were produced due to competency contrast and change of thickness in radiolarian shale and thick-bedded limestone intercalation in radiolarite sequence. Different styles of folding exist in massive to thick-bedded limestone and shale where they are inter-bedded with radilarites. Unique thin layers of the radolarite layers were folded in parallel shape but change of folds shape and mechanism were produced where thick bedded limestone or thin layers of radiolarian shale intercalations exist. Fold accommodation faults were generated in cases during folding. Geometry and style of folding indicate that deformation in radiolarites was produced by parallel folding due to buckling mechanism with southwest vergence. Thrust faults were generated during later stages, displacing some parts of the folded radiolarites.