Tectonic setting of the Barm Firuz Lake, Zagros Mountains, Iran: Inferred from structural and karstic evidence

Abstract

This paper presents the role of tectonic and karstic processes in the formation and evolution of Barm Firuz Lake within the Zagros Mountains of Iran. This lake with elevation of 3 340 m from sea level is located in the crest of the Barm Firuz anticline. Results show that the structural evolution of the Barme Firuz Lake is related to both tectonic and karst processes. Therefore the term of tectonokarstic has been used for structural evolution of the lake. Structural studies especially on the stylolite structures revealed the occurrence of an important component of simple shear deformation in the study area. Based on structural and karstic evidence around the lake, the fault-dissolution sink model with oblique pure shear component is suggested as kinematic model of the Barm Firuz Lake evolution in the Zagros Mountains of Iran.

Keywords

tectonic / karst / Barm Firuz Lake / Zagros Mountains / Iran

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