International Journal of Geosciences, 2015, 6, 776-794
Published Online July 2015 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/ijg
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2015.67063
How to cite this paper: Mosavi, E. and Arian, M. (2015) Neotectonics of Kashaf Rud River, NE Iran by Modified Index of Ac-
tive Tectonics (MIAT). International Journal of Geosciences, 6, 776-794. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2015.67063
Neotectonics of Kashaf Rud River, NE Iran by
Modified Index of Active Tectonics (MIAT)
ElaheJavadi Mosavi, Mehran Arian
*
Department of Geology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Email:
*
mehranarian@yahoo.com
Received 21 June 2015; accepted 25 July 2015; published 30 July 2015
Copyright © 2015 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
Kashaf rud river is located in border zone of East Alborz and Kopet Dagh physiographic provinces
in the north east Iran. Geomorphic indices are useful tools to show the neotectonic regimes. These
indices have got the advantage of being calculated from Arc GIS and remote sensing packages over
large area as a useful tool to identify geomorphic anomalies possibly related to active tectonics. In
this research, seven geomorphic indices (stream-gradient index, valley floor width-valley height
ratio, mountain-front sinuosity, drainage basin asymmetry, hypsometric integral, drainage basin
shape and transverse topographic symmetry factor) were calculated along the Kashaf rud river.
Then, based on a new index or modified index of active tectonics (Miat) values that calculated by
average of seven geomorphic indices, relative tectonic activities levels were revealed. The low
class of Miat is mainly in the sub-basins of No. 6, 10, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 & 28 while the rest of the
study area has moderate tectonic activities in the other sub-basins. Our results show that the
moderate value has located along faulted area, which shows 2 class of relative tectonic activity.
These faults have been formed above an old suture zone between Cimmerian and Eurasian plates.
Keywords
Neotectonics, Miat, Geomorohic Index, Kashaf Rud, Iran
1. Introduction
The study area is around of Mashhad city in the border zone of East Alborz and Kopet Dagh physiographic
provinces in the north east Iran (Figure 1). Dominant structural trend in East Alborz province is NW-SE in
eastern part. From tectonics view, it contains Binalod magmatic arc and its fore arc basin with volcanic activities
*
Corresponding author.