An attempt towards direct dating of past earthquakes using trapped charge dating methods in the Central Alborz (Iran)

• Applicant: Dr. Maryam Heydari
• Subject Area: Geology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 507272784

Earthquakes occur around the world due to releasing energy from the Earth's interior. History indicates that this natural phenomenon can significantly endanger societies, particularly in regions situated at plate boundaries. One of these areas is Iran, with a long history of major earthquakes. As such, seismic hazard is a topic with high research priority for this region. Identifying active faults and estimating return periods (recurrence intervals) of large earthquakes are key scientific aims that play essential roles in earthquake risk assessment. There are various approaches to dating past earthquakes, including fault gouge dating. Although this technique has been employed for more than two decades on different active tectonics regions across the globe through trapped charge dating methods (ESR, luminescence dating), its application in Iran is unprecedented. In this project, for the first time, we plan to date fault gouges using trapped charge dating methods in the Central Alborz. This region is selected for this study since it encompasses the megacity of Tehran, including over 15 Mio. inhabitants in a larger area. The successful accomplishment of this project will open a doorway towards direct dating of past earthquakes in Quaternary time in Iran. It will significantly contribute to earthquake hazard assessment for this high-risk region.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Iran
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Christoph Grützner
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Mohammad R. Ghassemi, Ph.D.