Table of Contents - MWR177: Salt Diapirs of the Great Kavir, Central Iran

Acknowledgments

Abstract

Part 1. Geology

Introduction
Discovery of Salt Diapirs in the Great Kavir
The Great Kavir Today
Origin of the Great Kavir basin
Stratigraphy of the Great Kavir basin
Paleocene-Eocene
Late Eocene regression
Lower Red Formation (Oligocene)
Qum Formation (upper Oligocene-lower Miocene)
Upper Red Formation (Miocene)
Age of salt in the Kavir domes
Structural classification of the Kavir evaporites Seismicity and Neotectonics
Regional Structural Geology
The broad picture
The thrust province
The pillow province
The diapir province Overview of the Kavir Diapirs
External Structure of the Kavir Diapirs
Internal Structure of the Kavir Diapirs
The gypsum rim
The diapir interior
Group A diapirs: Simple dome of shallow cover
Group B diapirs: Older Salt core and simple dome of cover
Group C diapirs: Older Salt core and discordant shallow cover
Group D diapirs: Younger and Older Salt core and discordant shallow cover
Group E diapirs: Younger and Older Salt core and concordant shallow cover
Group F diapirs: Older Salt core and concordant deep cover
Nonconforming diapirs
Diapiric salt anticline
Extrusive diapiric salt
Igneous inclusions in the Older diapiric salt
Possible fracture-controlled erosion
Other domes in the Great Kavir
Other salt domes in Central Iran
Constraints from field observations of Central Iran diapirs Structural Interpretation
Internal structure of the diapirs
Alternative interpretations of the second-order fold system
The crown interpretation
The mushroom interpretation
Examples of mushroom diapirs in the Great Kavir
Map pattern and three-dimensional form of mushroom diapirs
Map pattern and level of exposure of diapirs
The salt canopy: A major new class of salt structure
Contact strain of diapirs
Diapirism and regional deformation
Summary

Part 2. Centrifuge Modeling

Introduction
Experimental Methods
Scaling
Thickness
Density
Viscosity
Rheology of model materials
Modeling technique
 Experimental Results
Initial configuration of model 11
Kinematics of model 11
Interpretation of model 11
Initial configuration of model 13
Kinematics of model 13
Interpretation of model 13
Initial configuration of model 12
Kinematics of model 12
Interpretation of model 12
 Application of Centrifuged Models to the Kavir Diapirs
Structural style of the overburden
Simple diapirs
Mushroom diapirs
Salt canopy

Part 3. Analytical Modeling of Diapirism

Introduction
Approaches to nonlinear systems Mechanical Stratigraphy of the Models
Thickness and density
Viscosity Mathematical Formulation of the Linear Analysis
Rayleigh-Taylor instability
Thermal convection
Three-dimensional solutions Results of the Linear Analysis
Great Kavir: Canopy
Zagros region
Great Kavir: Pillow province Comparison with Centrifuged Models
General Characteristics of the R-T Instability
Motivation for the study
Models for one buoyant layer
Models with two source layers

Part 4. Summary and Conclusions

Appendix 1: Mapping Techniques

References Cited