Study of Seismic Potential of Benarvan Fault by Deterministic and Probabilistic methods

Benarvan Fault with the length of more than 20km is one the most important faults existing in Azarbaijan region which is located on the southern flank of Bozghoush Mount of Azarbaijan with the general orientation of southwest- northeast. In this research seismicity and seismic risk were determined by deterministic and probabilistic methods and the obtained results were analyzed. To do so, first, existing seismic sources and faults of the region and surrounding regions were identified and investigated in a radius of about 100 km and their characteristics such as length, orientation and distance from the center of Benarvan Village were determined. Then the maximum credible earthquake resulting from the activities of these faults was calculated by using deterministic and probabilistic methods. The Gutenberg-Richter Method was applied for calculating the return period of earthquake magnitude, as well. In fact, in this section the magnitude return period was calculated for the 100 km extent of the region by using the statistical methods. The results of the calculation of return periods for various magnitudes showed that the return period for an M7 earthquake was about 107 years.