Salt domes of Hormoz Formation has outcropped in large areas in south and southwest of Iran, Persian Gulf, and Eastern Saudi Arabia, with their extension delimited by major faults such as Kazeroon, Zagros, Minab, and Oman-Ural axis. Today, these domes have found various industrial applications such as radioactive waste disposal, gas storage, and tourism. In the meantime, these contribute to such problems as increased salinity of water and soil resources. Even though researchers have referred to the faults and density difference between salt and overlying sediments as the reasons behind the outcrop of the salt domes of Hormoz Series, the domes are significantly different in terms of morphometric indices and outcrop location. The present research is aimed at identification of the effects of tectonics on the form of the salt domes by calculating some morphometric indices (roundness, elevation, area) and analyzing them in Zagros and Persian Gulf zones while detecting the trend along which the domes have outcropped. Materials and method: In this research, 1: 250, 000 geological maps, satellite images and digital elevation model (DEM) were used to identify locations of salt domes and digitize the areas where the domes outcropped followed by the calculation of morphometric indices (roundness, elevation, and area) using ArcGIS Software. Subsequently, through elevation-based classification of the outcrop area on the basis of elevation and physiographic similarities and separation of salt domes based on host fold and local outcrop surface (onshore or offshore), the morphometric indices were analyzed in each area. Moreover, trend diagram was utilized to identify trend of the salt domes. Results: The results indicate that, the farther one moves from Persian Gulf region toward higher latitudes and higher onshore areas, the lower is the roundness of the salt domes while their elevation increases, so that the salt domes exhibit larger area and further roundness yet lower elevations in expansion zone of Zagros folds and synclines. This is while, the domes within the trust zone, contraction zone of folds, and high lands show higher elevation yet smaller area and lower roundness. Investigations based on the trend diagram and the researchers’ work show that, the domes outcropped at levels higher than Jahrum and Fasa and High-Zagros Faults follow the trend of the major faults, i. e. a northwest-southeast trend. However, the domes outcropped at levels below these faults tend to follow basement faults and form along a northeast-southwest trend. All of the outcropped salt domes of Hormoz Formation within Oman, Persian Gulf, and Zagros zones have been developed along basement and major faults. However, the faults are not visible in Persian Gulf zone because of the presence of water bodies, and also the basement faults in Zagros-Fars and Hormozgan areas are commonly buried because of erosion of the respective anticlines. These have made it somewhat difficult to explore the relationship between the faults and salt domes. For the bare salt domes outcropped within the contraction and high zone of Zagros, it is easy to detect their connection to the faults. An investigation on the roles of height and volume of overburden sediments along with the role played by the faults show that, in general, the higher the elevation of the outcropped zone, the lower is the number of outcropped salt domes. In the Persian Gulf zone, sea dynamics effect and burial of the salt domes have contributed to lower number of outcropped domes. Increased volume of overburden sediments on top of Hormoz Formation have hindered the outcrop of salt domes within high lands and contraction zones in Zagros. However, the large fracture generated by major faults set the stage for outcrop of the domes onto the surface. Regarding roundness and area of salt domes, it can be stipulated that, the salt domes could better develop and grow within Zagros-Fars and Hormozgan zones because of the expansion of folds, where those exhibit not only more extensive area, but also further roundness. In high Zagros zone, however, the anticlines and areas where folds are in contraction mode, lack of adequate space for dome development has resulted in a situation where the domes have been mostly developed longitudinally. This has ended up with elongation and smaller area of the OUTCROPS, as compared to those of Fars and Hormozgan zones as well as plain areas.

Introduction: The Zagros fold-thrust belt belongs to the part of the Alpine-Himalayan system, represented by the southern Zagros-Dinaride branch of the orogenic belt. This is an orogenic segment NW-SE trending to a distance of nearly 2000 km and structurally consists of many synclines and anticlines. However, as basement faults are hidden from view under the more recent sedimentary units scarcely reach the surface. As a consequence, the identification and study of basement faults has mostly relied on indirect information such as anomalies in topography. Within the Zagros fold-thrust belt, there are many pierced salt plugs that are known as Hormoz series. Hormoz Salt Basin includes many diapirs of Cambrian salt that have risen through the Permian to Recent sediments. The aim of this paper is identification of basement faults in the Zagros fold-thrust belt using interpretation of satellite images, and determination of relationship between basement faults and salt plugs of Hormoz series using Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques such as the weights of evidence modeling. Methodology: In this research, we examined many techniques of remote sensing for the recognition of faults, and then we did field checking to determination of the accuracy of the work. Remotely sensed data, including Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) images, were used to obtain information on structural features and for deriving lineaments of the study area by production of color composite images and applying some filters, such as Laplacian and Sobel and also some directional filler. Usually, the basement faults are hidden by sedimentary cover, and their location is uncertain, but there is some evidence for identification of them, such as deflections in trends of fold axes, offset markers and alignments of salt diapirs. In the study area, most of the folds have a general east-west trend that some detachment folds are cut by basement faults. There are deflection in general trend of folds and have been classically interpreted as the effect on the cover of strike-slip movement along underlying basement trends. Some conceptual models for the evolution of the fold structures affected by basement faults, offered by Leturmy et al. that in this research are confirmed. Results and discussion: In the studied area, 34 normal and strike slip faults were recognized. Some of these basement faults could have an important role for salt uplifting. Fault No. 1 is strike-slip fault with 26o azimuth crosses Larak salt plug and Hormoz salt plug and caused deviation and sinistral displacement of east of Namak anticlinal axes. Based on this fault activity, some minor faults formed parallel to the major fault. Fault No. 2 the strike-slip fault with 129o azimuth caused a deviation of the Faraghon and Namak anticline axes. This fault crosses Darbast, Takhu, Kushk kuh-West, and Gahkum salt plugs. In some tectonics text, this fault is known as Oman line. Fault No. 3 This fault is known as a Minab fault, the trend of the Minab anticline and the deviation of that axis can be considered as this fault's function. The fault has a 165o azimuth. However some of the mentioned basement faults, such as fault numbers 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28 and 33 may already identified, but the influence of them on the salt diapirism in the Zagros region have not been discussed. Based on the result of weights of modeling method, there is positive spatial association between the Basement faults and the salt diapirs as indicated by the contrasts C. So, findings of this research to be consistent with the aim of the plan. The positive spatial relationship is statistically considerable within 1000 to 10000 m; so, following to the highest Studentised C, it is optimal within 1000 m. Conclusion: The interpretation of satellite images based on remote sensing techniques such as shaded-relief images analysis, filtering, and deflections in trends of fold axes, shows that some structures have a character of regional photolineaments (especially NNW-SSE and NE-SW trending. Such structures were considered to be main fault systems of the study area. Finally, 34 basement faults have been identified that among them 14 faults are introduced as the first time. Also, there is a rectilinear pattern of salt diapir emplacements. These implicit lines of weakness are approximately indeed related to basement structural trends, based on weights of evidence method; pierced salt diapirs are associated spatially with basement faults within a distance of 1 km. Also among 123 detected salt diapirs in the region, forty-five of them, 36 percent, have a maximum relationship with basement faults. So, tectonic condition is an important factor in the exposure of salt diapirs in the study area.

In this study, a thermal modeling was carried out in surface outcropped-formations in Kuh-e Khami and Kuh-e Mish, Iran. The formations were studied by two sets of experiments obtained from three different locations. Lithology, thickness, dip and azimuth of strata were measured. Also the eroded parts of these formations were reconstructed. A cross section of Kuh-e Khami and Kuh-e Mish were prepared from NE-SW direction and was used for the simulation software. Finally maturity model and history of Kazhdumi were established based on the results. It was included that erosion had a significant impact on maturation rate of organic materials. Initiation of erosion from burial depth resulted in lower temperatures and oil production rates.

Watershed basins of Iran are very different with a view to geology, unevenness, climate and the other factors effective in erosion. The aim of this research is study of different types of erosion in Navroud watershed basin, investigation of the intensity of erosion, sediment production and the factors effective in this relation. The physiological, topographic, climatic, geological and geomorphological specifications, plant covering, soil, erosion and sediment production were generally studied. The area of the basin is about 265.46 square kilometers. Then with integration of the original work units and their petrological structure. The intensity of erosion and sediment production in each work unit was investigated with use of (qualtitative) FAO (experimental method). On the basis of the obtained results subbasins Nos. Also they have the most amount of sediment production as compared with the other subbasins. Some of the reasons include the great slope, change of application, ruining of forests and pastures, construction of roads and existence of the formations sensitive to erosion. The other subbasins have the least amount of erosion and sedimentation, because their formation is resistant to erosion and generally includes biotite, sandy lime, tuff and andesite. Generally the results of this research show that in each work unit, slop is the most important factor of erosion and this is true in some of the OUTCROPS. The most considerable factors for occurrence of erosion in a basin include application change, forests and pastures ruining, road construction and very great slope.

One of the most basic problems in the exploration and extraction of the ornamental stones quarries is the recognition and modeling of the discontinuities. Generally, in the most of the ornamental stones quarries, analysis of the discontinuities is not considered. This study is dealt with the discontinuities analysis in the limestone OUTCROPS. The Kerman ornamental stones quarries are located at the Cretaceous limestone. Geological study shows a development of lineaments due to effect of two faults systems. Normal faults have a dominated feature and cause an intensive fracturing in the ornamental stones quarries. In order to analysis of the lineaments, ETM+ image was filtered by use of ENVI software in the orientations of 45, 90 and 315 degree and then with use of ArcMap software, characteristics of discontinuities (e.g. orientation, length, intersection and number of lineaments) have identified in GIS, and map of lineaments density was prepared for each outcrop. The comparison of lineaments characteristic in GIS and field observation reveals a high coincidence between two method. The results of this study show an intensive fracturing in the OUTCROPS. It is concluded that most of OUTCROPS show a high risk for extraction.

The Oligocene felsic OUTCROPS are located in the south of Ardestan (NE of Isfahan). The area is a part of Uromieh –Dokhtar structural zone. These OUTCROPS are composed of rhyolite and rhyodacite rocks. Geochemically, these rocks are sub-alkaline, calc-alkaline composition with high-K and per aluminous. Although the whole rock composition of the felsic rocks corresponds to S-type granites (i.e. high K, Al, large ion lithophile elements, and low Ca and Sr) but the studied rocks have remarkably primitive and igneous sources. The geochemical data suggest that mantle wedge is partly metasomatized with rhyolitic materials from subducted slabs; it is more likely that the rhyolite magma developed by very low degree partial melting of the metasomatized mantle wedge. The initial reason for direct eruption of the mantle-derived rhyolitic magmas would be a tensional condition of the Ardestan region during late Eocene-Oligocene time. If mantle-derived rhyolitic magmas ascended within a compression crust, the magmas should easily react with crustal materials and therefore it would be indistinguishable from felsic magmas produced by crustal fusion. The Petrological and geochemical evidences as well as the tectonic discrimination diagrams show that rhyolitic magma formed in an active volcanic arc. It seems that these rocks are formed following the subduction of Neo-Tethys oceanic crust beneath the central Iranian micro continent.

Introduction: In general, strength of rocky OUTCROPS is associated with two factors, feature lithology that includes mineralogical composition, texture and rock Structure and environmental factors that is the area stones are located in (Hafezy moghadas, 2011, 229 after Ulusay, 1994). The mineralogical composition determines sensitivity of rocks against physical, chemical and biochemical attacks (Mahmoodi, 2010). Rocks because of containing different minerals show various stability against the degradation factors (Nikoodel, 2011). This is the first time research to use classification system of in geology for naming rocks to determine the degree of resistance of the stones against weathering and erosion.

Digital data and images gain from satellites are appropriate tools for geological studies specially in lithology and mineral exploration. In this research, to separation and detection of minerals and lithologic units, using ETM+ digital data from Landsat satellite, a region at 65 kilometers in the west of Isfahan and south of Tiran city was selected because of weak botanic cover and litological diversity. After initial processes in images, two multivariable statistical methods were used: Optimum Index Factor (OIF) and Crosta. OIF method, were used for selection of compositions contain most spectral information about minerals and rocks. Then, classification was applied to mentioned compositions and accuracy of different classifications in separation of Minerals and rocks were determined. Results of this method shows that because of existence of dense botanic cover in side of Zayandeh Rud river in region's image, using high OIF compositions, although leaded to satisfactory separation of botanic cover data class and water from rocks data class, but it was not effective in separation of minerals and rocks. Crosta method, based on principle components analysis using ETM+ 6bands, was done and components those contain information about minerals and rocks were specified. Results showed that this method reveals PC3 component of amphibole minerals in Green Stons and PC5 for clay minerals.

In this study, the permeability of structures associated with Kuhbanan fault zone has been investigated. The Kuhbanan fault zone is one of the most seismically active structural trends in Kerman province. The behaviour of fault zones against groundwater flow (conduit, barrier, or a combination of both) is relatively controlled by fault core, damage zone, and permeability of fractures and rock units in the fault zone. In this research, qualitative and quantitative data, together with field observations and numerical models have been used. In order to measure the structures in the Kuhbanan fault zone, 23 OUTCROPS were selected for model parameters. Results show that the fault zone acted as barrier in 12 OUTCROPS, conduit in 4 OUTCROPS and a combined barrier-conduit in 6 OUTCROPS. In total, the 61-m-wide southern part of the Kuhbanan fault zone is composed of a fault core of 38 m and a damage zone of 23 m wide, respectively. Therefore, this segment of the Kuhbanan faul zone acts as a combination of conduit and strong barrier for fluid flow. The fault core is well developed but the damage zone is weakly developed, and therefore deformation has been largely localized within the fault core and distributed in the damage zone. To analyze the architecture of the fault zone three Fa, Fs, Fm indices were used. For the southern segment of the Kuhbanan fault zone, the Fa, Fs and Fm were measured as 0.47, 0.73 and 0.51, respectively. The relatively low Fa and high Fs indicate that the Kuhbanan fault zone in this area is not associated with uniform architecture. Also the numerous fault springs in the area are affected by this fault zone.

Gharali lateritic iron-rich deposit is located in 20 km of Boukan city, West Azarbayedjan province. Eight surveyed stratiform OUTCROPS stretched into the dolomite and limestone of Ruteh Formationin this region. Based on mineralogy, the analysed samples indicate scattered, veinlet, acicular, replacement, spong, flow and cataclasic textures. The observed textures represents intense tectonic effects and non-residual origin. According to the chemical data, OUTCROPS varies from iron-rich laterite to bearing ferritic bauxite, but in general the different diagrams put this ore deposit in a bauxite- laterite ore type. The results of geochemical data indicate enriched Fe, Al, and Ti and depletion Si, Ca, Na and K in ore deposits. REEs distribution pattern normalized to chondrite reveals weak differentiation of HREEs and LREEs with slightly enrichment of LREEs. The primary rock type has been considered to be a rich- iron mafic rocks (e.g. basaltic type). Following the removal of mobile elements, which have also resulted in increasing of Al2O3 andFe2O3, during alteration processes. The results show that clay minerals, Muscovite are not a suitable host for rare earth elements in the ore body. The results of chemical analyses and correlation coefficients show that neither rutile - anatase and nor clay minerals, muscovite, illite, and also Mn minerals play an important role in in hosting the REEs. The negatively correlated with Ti and Th (0.99) indicating lack of anatase titanium and thorium, and positive correlation of consentration between the Ti with Gd (0.91) shows that the consentration of rutile and anatase. Strong positive correlation of P-REEs indicate the role of secondary phosphate minerals consentration on rare earth elements except three elements such as Gd, Tb and Er in OUTCROPS. The strong positive correlation of P with HREEs unravel phosphatic minerals role in enrichment of REEs except for three rare elements (Gd, Tb and Er) in OUTCROPS. The Strong correlation between Gd, Tb and Er indicates their concentration with neomorphic minerals and their resistance nature against alteration and weathering are two main reasons for their difference distribution compared to other REEs inthese deposits.