Detailed crustal discontinuities, seismotectonic and seismicity parameters of the east-middle Alborz, Iran, flower structure of subsurface fault geometry

The investigation of this paper focuses on eastern part of Shahroud fault system in middle-east Alborz. This fault system is an important part in the seismotectonic map of the area. We used two local temporary dense seismological networks data installed around the fault system for several months during 2007 and 2008 and simultaneously micro-earthquakes data recorded by the permanent seismological network of the Geophysics Institute of University of Tehran were used. The seismicity of both networks has overlapping with the surface outcrops and the depth of Shahroud fault system faults, mainly Astaneh fault. Processing the data provided us a P wave velocity range within the east Alborz which resulted discontinuities like seismogenic zone thickness, 24 km. An initial estimation of Moho depth located at 34 km, near vertical and north dipping seismicity dips corresponding with the Astaneh and North Semnan faults respectively were the other results. Faults dipping and seismogenic zone thickness do not support the flower structure hypothesis at the east Alborz in spite of some author's idea. A few focal mechanisms indicated left-lateral motion and confirm high angle of the faults planes. The crustal movement directions resulted from P and T vectors show well correspondence with the GPS measured direction in the area. The b-value which could be considered as inverse short term background seismicity intense, was determined about 0.9.