Geometric and kinematic analysis of the West Talesh Fault, NW Iran

The West Talesh fault with NE-SW general trend is located in western Alborz- Azarbaijan structural zone, northwest of Iran and south of Ardabil city. This fault is the boundary between the highlands (south of Ardaebil city) of the Eocene andesitic and basaltic volcanics in the southeast block and the Late Pliocene- Quaternary clastic sediments plain in the northwest block. The Fractures with high dip angle (dip angle between 60 to 80 degrees) and syndepositional normal faults in Eocene volcanic and pyroclastic rocks are considered to be related with the Eocene extensional phase in the fault zone of West Talesh Fault. The gentle hangingwall anticline with an vergence of the axial surface to the northwest in the Eocene rock units is related to the southeast dipping reverse fault activity, which is currently covered with Late Pliocene-Quaternary detrital deposits. The vertical fractures and faults along the West Talesh fault are related to active left lateral movements in this fault deformation zone, which also have displaced left laterally the river channels.