Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.6, No.2, pp.195-206, 1983

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

VARIATIONS IN TECTONIC STYLES IN THE ZAGROS GEOSYNCLINES
AND THEIR RELATION TO THE DIAPIRISM OF SALT IN SOUTHERN IRAN

Mansour S. Kashfi*

*Exploration Manager, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Box 579, Kingston 10, Jamaica.

Abstract

A study of the surface and subsurface geology of the Zagros mountain belt reveals that, from the viewpoint of tectonic fabrics and the cause of diastrophism, the Zagros geosyncline can be divided into NW and SE segments. The NW segment was formed by orogenic compression and the SE segment primarily by epeirogenic uplifts. Movements of Infra-Cambrian (Hormuz) salt at the base of the sedimentary column in the SE Zagros contributed to the epeirogenesis. Faults in the SE Zagros are of a normal type, whereas in the NW Zagros they are dominantly thrust. Seismic data indicate that movement of salt is the cause of many of the earthquake shocks in the SE Zagros.