Morphotectonic analysis of Ramhormoz fault, Khozestan, Iran

Ramhormoz Fault has been located in the Dezful embayment and it is active from point of tectonics. The Geomorphic indices including mountain front sinuosity (Smf), valley floor width to valley height ratio (Vf), basin shape index (Bs), and stream length–gradient index (SL) have been calculated for determination of various tectonic activities along the Ramhormoz fault. The mountain front sinuosity (Smf) index was calculated about 1.003 to 1.14 respectively in the active and inactive parts of the Ramhormoz fault. The amounts of valley floor width to valley height ratio (Vf) index show the range between 0.37 to 13.48 in the active parts with V shape valley morphology and inactive parts with U shape valley morphology respectively. The basin shape (Bs) index has been calculated between 6.5 for the very active parts and, 0.5 for the low active parts of the fault. The stream length–gradient (SL) index was calculated between the range of 227-14.5 for the active and inactive parts of the fault respectively. The overlaying of the data layers was made and the active tectonic map of the study area was created with application of the GIS techniques. According to the active tectonic map the Ramhormoz fault was divided to the three classes of tectonic activity zones. Class 1 shows the high tectonic activity and class 3 shows the low tectonic activity parts. Results show more tectonic activity in the central and south west parts of the hanging wall respect to the other parts of the Ramhormoz fault.