Structural Style in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt: The Gavbast Anticline, Coastal Fars

Abstract

The Gavbast anticline is located in the Coastal Fars area of the Zagros folded belt, with north-south trend. The study anticline is restricted to the Bavush and Paskhand anticlines from North, the Gezzeh and Dehnow anticlines from South, the Varavi anticline from West and Nakh anticline from East (Figure 1). Description of fold geometry is important because they allow comparisons within and between folds and pattern-recognition in addition to occurrence and distribution of fold systems. The main goal of this paper is to define folding style of the Gavbast anticline and define structural features affected on them in the study area. In this research, we used the Tectonics FP software, Global Mapper software and geological maps and reports of Iranian National Oil Company. In addition, we used common classification of fold for indicating of folding mechanism of the Tabnak anticlinal structure. In the Gavbast anticline, fold style elements in all parts of this anticline have been calculated and analyzed for indicating of folding style mechanism. The results of this method have been shown the folding geometry changes accurately. The Gavbast anticline is gentle in structural sections D-D' and G-G' to K-K'. The anticline is an open fold in the L-L' section. Also fold type in the E-E' and F-F' sections of the Gavbast anticline is steeply inclined sub-horizontal. These sections are located between the Razak (western part) and Hendurabi fault (eastern part). It seems that E-E' and F-F' parts in the Gavbast anticline have been suffered most deformation affected by the Razak and Hendurabi faults. At the end of, it seems that, the Razak and Hendurabi faults have major effects on folding style. This structure is a very good sample for effect of strike slip faults on the folding geometry and for this reason; the Gavbast anticline is considered a special structural style in the Zagros fold-thrust Belt.