Geomorphological analysis of tectonic activities affecting the formation of Maharlou Lake

Authors

1 Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Maharlou Lake was formed as a northwest-southeast-trending tectonic depression in response to the movement on the Maharlou and Ghareh faults in the southeast of Shiraz city. The presence of the fault along the margin of the lake and the geomorphic features of the mountain fronts provide suitable field data for the evaluation of the tectonic activity affecting the formation of the lake. Using a quantitative approach for the geomorphological analyses including measurements of geomorphic indices (e.g. mountain front sinuosityand valley width/height ratio), the tectonic activity of the faults affecting the formation of this lake was evaluated. The results of geomorphic and morphometric data reveal differences between the two mountain front faults (e.g. Ghareh Fault and Maharlou Fault on the SW and NE sides of the basin) indicating different levels of tectonic activity along each mountain front. These results show a relatively high degree of tectonic activity along the Ghareh Fault in contrast with a low degree of tectonic activity along the Maharlou Fault. The results of the statistical analyses of geomorphic data suggest different tectonic activity classes along each of the faults that can be related to the change in geological conditions and/or due to strain partitioning along these faults.
 
 

Keywords

References

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