Tectonic-sedimentary processes at the Eastern Alborz: Binaloud mountains

In this paper, the feedback or interaction between tectonic and surface processes in the Binaloud Mountains and Neyshabour plain has been investigated. To achieve this, we have used topographic data, recorded earthquake data provided by the Geophysical Institute of Tehran University (Mashhad center) and field surveying results. Surface processes affect the propagation of tectonic thrust wedges in orogenic belts. In regions tectonic processes have led to an increase in the surface slopes due to development of mountain highs, surface processes will justify the uplifted areas by smoothing the slopes, eventually shedding off a massive load of clastic sediments into the foreland basin. Because of their huge weight and volume, these sediments prevent the forward propagation of the wedge and therefore increase the accumulation rate of stress in the orogenic wedge. Also the increase of fault-plane dips in the orogenic wedge will make the slip along the fault planes hard or even impossible. Formation of out-of-sequence faults and back-rotation of preexisting thrust faults may be considered as results of these accumulated stresses. North Neyshaboor thrust fault is a later or secondary structure and can be considered as an out-of-sequence thrust because it cuts other thrust sheets and limbs of folds. Our research shows that the high volume of Paleogene/Neogen sediments in the Neyshabour foreland basin has prevented the forwards (southwestward) propagation of the Binaloud mountain range as the orogenic wedge. Releasing of the accumulated forces has therefore led to the development of the North Neyshaboor out-of-sequence fault and back-rotation of former thrust faults.