The geologic configuration of the Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt: an overview

Abstract

The Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt (ZFTB) is an outstanding orogen running from eastern Turkey to the Makran area. It is formed as a consequence of the convergence between the Arabian and the Eurasian plates that occurred in the Neogene. This still active and long-lasting process generated a topographic configuration dominated by a series of parallel folding structures which, at places, isolate internal basins. The topographic configuration has, in turn, profoundly influenced the river network evolution, which follows a trellis pattern with the main valleys developed in the synclines and rivers that occasionally cut into anticlines. The peculiar climate, characterised by arid and semi-arid conditions, makes most of the rivers ephemeral, alimented only by short rainfall events. For this reason, the sediments are transported over short distances and deposited in huge alluvial fans. Although the Zagros is one of the most studied belts in the world, its tectonic evolution is far from being fully understood. Debated, for example, are the beginning of collision, the primary deformation mechanism, the evolution of the drainage system, the formation process of the alluvial fans, and the interrelations between landscape, tectonics, and climate. This paper, focusing on the geodynamic, geological, stratigraphic, and topographic configuration of the Zagros belt, is intended to be a compendium of the most up-to-date knowledge on the Zagros and aims to provide the cognitive basis for future research that can find answers to outstanding questions.