Geometry and Recent Kinematics of the North Qazvin Fault: Morphotectonics Approach

The E-W trending North Qazvin Fault is situated in north & northeast of Qazvin city in south-central Alborz. Across the fault, Karaj formation (Eocene) is thrusted over Hezardarreh Formation (A) and the alluvial B Formation. It could be the source for the 1119 AD earthquake with an estimated magnitude of Ms: 6.5. The North Qazvin Fault is a seismically active fault, therefore it is one of the most important earthquake threats for the Qazvin as an industrial city of Iran. Morphotectonicand detailed field studies along a part of the North Qazvin Fault allows us to measure horizontal and vertical offsets caused by recent movements on this fault. One of the measured horizontal and vertical displacements due to the recent movements on the fault is 4 and 3.5 meters, respectively. The geometry (strike, dip and rake) of the North Qazvin Fault in this part is 090˚, 45˚, 51˚ respectively. Our investigations show that the North Qazvin Fault is a north-dipping compressional fault. The North Qazvin Fault and its surrounding faults such as Najm-abad fault appear as a propagating fault system which has left-lateral compressional kinematics in southern part of the west-central Alborz.