Tectonophysics, 49 (1978) 149-160 149

0 Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands

OBSERVED AND PROBABLE INTENSITY ZONING OF IRAN

A. MOHAJER-ASHJAI and AL1 A. NOWROOZI

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Site and Environmental Division, Tehran (Iran)

Thirteen avaiIabIe isoseismal maps of Iranian major earthquakes, reports

of historical damages, distribution of moderate and large e~thquakes and
post Quaternary faults and volcanoes are used to construct two intensity
maps for preliminary evaluation of earthquake hazard in Iran. First map,
Fig. 1, shows the observed and calculated intensity distribution in modified
Mercalli scale. Where information on distribution of intensities was not
available, maximum intensity was estimated based on the observed instru-
mental magnitude using equation I = l.?M- 2.8, which is derived from
Iranian data (Fig. 3). Table I presents relevant parameters of well studied
Iranian major earthquakes. Because the intensity distributions are limited, it
was decided to divide the country grossly into five zones ranging from zero
to four. Zone zero includes intensities III and less which covers a large area
of southern Lut, the northern part of the Jaz Murian depression, the south-
ern part of Bazman volcanic series, the eastern part of Lake Rezaiyeh, and
several smaller patches in central Iran. Zone one includes intensities IV and
V, corresponding to magnitude range 4.0-4,7. Major parts of this zone cover
sections of the folded belt series of Zagros, and su~ounds southern Lut, and
the northeast of Azarbaijan. Zone two includes intensities VI and VII, cor-
responding to the magnitude range 5.0-5.9. This zone covers many faults of
Iran, including a major section of the Great Kavir fault, in central Iran, north
Tabriz, east Ardabil, Astara and the Lahijan fault system of northwest Iran,
and the Piranshahr segment of the Zagros thrust-fault system. It also covers
part of the folded belt series of Zagros in the south and Kopeh Dagh in the
northern parts of Iran. Zone three includes intensities VIII, IX and higher
~o~esponding to ma~itude 6.5 and more. This zone covers patches of the
folded belt series of Zagros associated with historical accounts of destruc-
tion, the vicinity of major earthquakes and areas associated with surface
faulting since 1900. Major settings of this zone lie in north Iran covering vast
areas including the cities of Mashhad, Gorgan, Sari, Tehran, Qazvin, Tabriz
and Ardebil. In central and southern Iran, important cities of Kashan, Hame-
dan, Shiraz and Bandar Abbas also lie in this high damage zone. Zone four
covers areas with unknown history of major damages or unknown instrumen-
tal magnitude. This zone covers mainly the unpopulated portion of central
Iran.
TABLE I

Major Iranian earthquakes and related parameters

No. Date Time Epicentre M h MM1 F.L. Location

1 1977 Apr. 06 + 13 36 36.1 30.96N 51.323 6.0 33 VII Bru jen

2 1977 Mar. 21 + 22 42 36.2 27.69N 56.493 7.0 33 VIII - Bandar-Abbas
3 1972 Jul. 05 + 12 56 06.0 30.10N 50.80E 5.4 27 - Mishan
4 1972 Apr. 10 + 02 06 53.0 28.50N 52.803 6.9 30 IX - Qir
5 1970 Jul. 30 + 00 52 20.0 37.85N 55.943 5.7 22 VII - Qarnaveh
6 1968 Sep. 01 * 07 27 28.0 34.10N 58.283 6.2 06 20 Ferdows
7 1968 Aug. 31 * 10 47 36.4 34.04N 59.023 7.3 OO(13) x 80 Dasht-e-Bayaz
8 1968 Apr. 29 ++ 17 01 57.6 39.20N 44.30E 5.3 34 VII - Maku
9 1962 Sep. 01 * 19 20 39.0 35.59N 49.853 7.2 21 IX 100 Buyin Zahra
10 1960 Apr. 24 * 12 14 31.8 27.72N 54.44E 6.0 VIII - Lar
11 1958 Aug. 16 * 19 13 43.8 34.36N 47.863 6.6 :(: (5) VIII 20 Nahavand
12 1957 Dec. 13 * 01 45 04.6 34.35N 47.673 7.1 40 IX 20 Farsinaj
13 1957 Jul. 02 * 00 42 23.0 36.14N 52.703 7.3 10 IX - Sangechal
14 1953 Feb. 12 * 08 15 29.9 35.4ON 55.083 6.5 00 VIII 08+ Torud
15 1941 Feb. 16 * 16 39 06.3 33.47N 58.923 6.3 VIII 10 Chahak
16 1933 Nov. 28 * 11 09 12.9 32.41N 56.063 6.3 :;: (27) VIII 12 Buhabad
17 1930 May 06 * 22 32 17.7 38.15N 44.653 7.2 00 X 30 Salmas
18 1929 Jul. 15 * 07 44 20.7 32.06N 49.603 6.3 29 Londeh
19 1929 May 01 * 15 37 38.9 37.86N 57.653 7.0 00 X 50 Baghan-Germab
20 1909 Jan. 23 t+ 02 48 03.0 33.42N 49.10E 7.4 N X 40 Silaklor

M = magnitude in Richter scale; h = focal depth in kilometers, N or (..) are ISC’s depth; MM1 = intensity in modified Mercalli scale;
F.L. = fault length in kilometers; + = NEIC coordinates of U.S. Geological Survey; +f = ISC coordinates; * = relocated coordinates of
Nowroozi (1976).
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Fig. 2- Prof~al~le |nte~nsity zoning map of" Ira..

 155

e 1 M:,.7+0.61

Fig. 3. Relationship between magnitude and intensity of Iranian earthquakes.

In construction of the probable intensity zoning map of Iran, it is assumed

that post-Quaternary faults (Table II) are capable of generating earthquakes.
Observed faults, associated with post-1900 earthquakes, were correlated with
magnitude for all. known Iranian major earthquakes (see Table I) and several
other shocks in the vicinity of Iran. Equation M = 5.4 + log L fitted the data
(Fig. 4), in which M is the surface-wave magnitude and L is the earthquake
rupture length in kilometers. A potential magnitude for each capable fault
was estimated using this equation, assuming that 50% of total fault-length
may rupture by one earthquake, as suggested by Albee and Smith (1966)
and several others. This magnitude is converted to the corresponding inten-
sity using I = 1.7M- 2.8 (Fig. 3). Due to the lack of an appropriate decay
law for each area, and relatively rapid attenuation of intensity with distance
in Iran, the following assumptions were made. Distances up to 20 km from
strike of a major recent fault in each direction would have the same intensity
level for the high damage zone. Similarly, the area bounded between 20 and
35 km from a recent fault trace would have a lower intensity range, corre-
sponding to moderate damage zone. Beyond that, it falls within the low
damage zone. Another matter of concern is the lack of correlation between
TABLE II

Known Quaternary and Recent faults in Iran *

No. Refs. ** Fault name Location (Age) Sense of movement Fault length
Recency of movement
~~_~
1 + Aghajari S.W. Iran Quaternary Thrust 180 km
2 + Astara N.E. Iran Quaternary Normal 140 km
3 + Bakhtegan S. Iran Quaternary Thrust, right lateral 200 km
4 ++ Barn S.E. Iran Recent Normal 150 km
5 ++ Cheshmeh Rostam E. Iran Recent Normal 130 km (70 + 60)
6 + Daman S.E. Iran Early Quaternary Normal 190 km
7 + Dehshir C. Iran Recent Normal, wrench? 450 km
8 ++ Doruneh (Great Kavir) C. to E. Iran Recent Wrench, normal 690km(260+430)
9 ++ East Neh E. Iran Recent ? 200 km
10 ++ Gowk S.E. Iran Quaternary Right lateral 160 km
11 ++ Jiroft S.E. Iran Recent Right lateral, normal 250km(170+80)
12 ++ Kahurak E. Iran Recent Normal 220 km
13 ++ Kalmard (Chah-Sorb) E. Iran Early Quaternary High angle reverse 230 km
I4 + Kazerun S.W. Iran Quaternary Right lateral 60 km
15 ++ Kuh Banan EC. Iran Quaternary High angle reverse 350 km
16 + Kushk-e-Nosrat C. Iran Quaternary Normal 150 km
17 + Meyamey (Shahrud) N.E. Iran Recent Normal 180 km
18 + Minab S.E. Iran Recent Normal, wrench? 260 km
19 ++ Nayband E. Iran Recent Normal, right lateral 275 km
20 + North Tabriz N.W. Iran Recent Normal, right lateral 150 km
21 + Piranshahr W. Iran Quaternary Normal 250 km
22 + Rag-e-Sefid S.W. Iran Recent High angle reverse 90 km
23 + Saravan S.E. Iran Quaternary Normal 275 km
24 ++ Sarvestan S.E. Iran Quaternary Normal, right lateral 175km(100+75)
25 + Shahr Babak C. Iran Recent Normal 320 km
26 + Torbat-e-Sheikh Jam N.E. Iran Quaternary Normal 125 km
27 ++ West Neh E. Iran Recent High angle reverse 225 km
28 + Zephreh C. Iran Early Quaternary High angle reverse 75 km

* Recent earthquake ruptures in Iran are presented in Table I.

** References: + Berberian (1976); ++ Mohajer-Ashjai et al. (1975).
 157

I \I I I I I \(,I II I II h 11,

Fig. 4. Relationship between fault-rupture length and magnitude of southwest Asian

earthquakes.

seismicity of the Zagros area and known surface structures. Thus it has been
suggested that slippage along the bedding planes of the Zagros folds and/or
low angle over-thrusting of lithospheric plates (Nowroozi, 1976) could give
rise to the random distribution of activities in this area. It is also postulated
by Mckenzie (1972) that the decoupling produced by the salt layers within
and at the base of the sedimentary column does not permit faults to be ob-
served and mapped at the surface.
On the basis of the above considerations a revised map was prepared
assuming a moderate magnitude earthquake to float within the Zagros seis-
motectonic province which could occur anywhere within this area and may
cause, at least, moderate damages in the order of intensity VII.
The “observed intensity map” and the intensities obtained by the above
procedure were used to construct the probable intensity map of Iran (Fig. 2).
In this map only three zones are considered. Zone one (low damage) includes
intensity IV and V, covers an elongated zone parallel to the Zagros thrust
from the southern part of Lake Rezaiyeh to the southeast of Esfahan, and
some patches of east and central Iran, the foot-hill folded belt of Zagros and
northeast Azarbaijan. Zone two, or moderate damage zone, includes intensi-
ties VI and VII and covers most of the country. Zone three (high damage)
includes intensity VIII, IX and higher. It covers the surrounding of post-
Quaternary fault systems as well as areas associated with major destructive
earthquake.
Except Esfahan and Abadan which are in the low damage zone and Yazed,
Ahwaz, Bushehr and Kermanshah which are in the moderate damage zone,
158

the remaining large Iranian cities including Tehran are in the high damage
zone.

REFERENCES

Albee, A.L. and Smith, J.L., 1966. Earthquake characteristics and fault activity in south-
ern California. Spec. Publ. Los Angeles Sect. Assoc. Eng. Geol., pp. 9-13.
Berberian, M., 1976. Contribution to the seismotectonics of Iran. Geol. Surv. Iran, Rep.
No. 39.
Mckenzie, D., 1972. Active tectonics of the Mediterranean region. Geophys. J. R. Astron.
Sot., 30: 109-158.
Mohajer-Ashjai, A., Behzadi, H. and Berberian, M., 1975. Reflections on the rigidity of
the Lut block and recent crustal deformation in eastern Iran. Tectonophysics, 28:
281-301.
Nowroozi, A.A., 1976. Seismotectonic provinces of Iran. Bull. Seismol. Sot. Am., 66:
1249-1276.

DISCUSSION OF MOHAJER-ASHJAI’S PRESENTATION

V. Karnik

Have you established empirical intensity-distance relations?

A. Mohajer-Ashjai

Yes, two average curves were drawn through the observed data, one for
isoseismal line parallel to the structure, the other perpendicular to the struc-
ture. On the average, absorption appears to be stronger than in California.

M. Niazi

Would you not think the 20 km distance assumed for every two step
attenuation of the MM intensity scale is too short?

A. Mohajer-Ashjai

Since the assumed maximum shock may originate at any point along the
fault trace, an attenuation step was required to estimate the intensity level
away from capable fault lines. The proposed 20 km step is, therefore, an
average distance inferred from the transverse attenuation curve, illustrating
higher absorption rates, on the basis of existing isoseismal maps.

N. V. Shebalin

Which criteria were used when reducing the initial seismological informa-
tion presented, as usual, in the form of plotted points to the final estimation
of seismic damages expressed in the form of prolonged stripes?
 159

A. Mohajer-A~hj~~

We used available isoseismal maps incorporated with location and magni-

tude of other shocks; the prolonged stripes in particular, reflect the influence
of geological data, such as trend of Quaternary and recent faults under the
assumption that they are capable of generating future shocks. The magnitude
of maximum earthquake associated with these faults was estimated using
relationships developed between fault rupture length and magnitudes of Iran-
ian e~hquakes.

G. Purcaru

How did you estimate the fault length?

A. Mohajer-Ashjai

The total length of Quate~ary and recent faults, was first measured, on
the available maps, Care was taken to consider only the straight segments of
these fault traces. Arcuate, offsetted or dissected traces were divided into
several units, each capable of generating a separate shock.
It was then assumed that 50% of the total fault length breaks for each
earthquake.

Has any work been done in trying to work out the history of motion on
any of the Quaternary faults during the past four thousand years, in terms of
recurrence intervals and amount of slip in each episode?

A. Mohajer-Ashjai

Detailed studies on the historical activities of Quatern~ faults, also on

the nature and rate of their recent movements are available for a number of
faults in eastern Iran, Tehran region, and the Zagros area. However, there are
other fault traces used in this study cutting through Quaternary alluvial
deposits, which are depicted either on aerial photographs or observed during
reconnaissance field visits.

A.R. Ritse~a

It seems likely that under the Zagros Mountains a “Quaternary” thrust

fault does exist of considerable extent. According to the size of this feature
and the M - L relation used by you, a magnitude 8 earthquake should easily
be possible in this particular region. If we consider that the depth of this
fault has to be on the order of 20-30 km at most, I wonder if your correc-
160

tion for the effects at the earth’s surface of such hypothetical events should
not be larger than that indicated on your last map. I should expect maxi-
mum risk values in the whole of the Zagros area, and not the small values
found by you.

The likelihood of low-angle thrusting with no exposure at the ground sur-

face, under the Zagros Mountains, was also considered by us. Nevertheless,
their extent should be quite limited as indicated by frequent small magni-
tude shocks. The largest earthquake ever recorded or reported in the Zagros
does not exceed magnitude 7.1 which corresponds to a 60 km long capable
fault according to our proposed M-L relationship. Mapped Qua~rn~
linear faults in this area have not exceeded that length either. It is, therefore,
suggested that a moderate to large magnitude earthquake may float, at a
depth of 20-30 km, anywhere under this area and consequently all inferred
low damage zones were designated by moderate damage risk on our final
zoning map, which also signify high damages at the areas along the exposed
faults.