3-D Geothermal Model of the Lurestan Sector of the Zagros Thrust Belt, Iran

Matteo Basilici, Stefano Mazzoli, Antonella Megna, Stefano Santini and Stefano Tavani
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Matteo Basilici: Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate (DiSPeA), Università di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Via Aurelio Saffi, 2, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Stefano Mazzoli: Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologie, Sezione di Geologia, Università degli studi di Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 7, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Antonella Megna: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Sismologia e Tettonofisica, 00143 Roma, Italy
Stefano Santini: Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate (DiSPeA), Università di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Via Aurelio Saffi, 2, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Stefano Tavani: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e delle Risorse (DiSTAR), Università di Napoli “Federico II”, 80138 Napoli, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: The Zagros thrust belt is a large orogenic zone located along the southwest region of Iran. To obtain a better knowledge of this important mountain chain, we elaborated the first 3-D model reproducing the thermal structure of its northwestern part, i.e., the Lurestan arc. This study is based on a 3-D structural model obtained using published geological sections and available information on the depth of the Moho discontinuity. The analytical calculation procedure took into account the temperature variation due to: (1) The re-equilibrated conductive state after thrusting, (2) frictional heating, (3) heat flow density data, and (4) a series of geologically derived constraints. Both geotherms and isotherms were obtained using this analytical methodology. The results pointed out the fundamental control exerted by the main basement fault of the region, i.e., the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT), in governing the thermal structure of the crust, the main parameter being represented by the amount of basement thickening produced by thrusting. This is manifested by more densely spaced isotherms moving from the southwestern foreland toward the inner parts of orogen, as well as in a lateral variation related with an along-strike change from a moderately dipping crustal ramp of the MFT to the NW to a gently dipping crustal ramp to the SE. The complex structural architecture, largely associated with late-stage (Pliocene) thick-skinned thrusting, results in a zone of relatively high geothermal gradient in the easternmost part of the study area. Our thermal model of a large crustal volume, besides providing new insights into the geodynamic processes affecting a major salient of the Zagros thrust belt, may have important implications for seismotectonic analysis in an area recently affected by a M w = 7.3 earthquake, as well as for geothermal/hydrocarbon exploration in the highly perspective Lurestan region.

Keywords: active tectonics; heat flow; 3-D thermal modelling; thermal structure; temperature profile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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