Determining the geological structures and the role of rock formations in controlling the quality and quantity of ground water in the Firouzabad area, SW Iran

The presence of abundant salt plugs in the Zagros simply folded belt makes south of Iran one of the unique places among the world’s orogenic belts. Because the salt diapirs play an important role in groundwater quality, quantity, and flow direction, determining their tectonic setting in the region can shed some light on the groundwater conditions. In this research, the role of rock formations in controlling the quality and quantity of ground water in region around the Konarsiah and the Mangerak salt diapirs, SW Iran, has been studied. For this purpose, a detailed large-scale geological map, stratigraphic column and structural cross sections of the study area have been prepared and systematic joints have been analyzed. It seems that the pattern of fractures and type of rock formations in the study area have an important influence in the quality, quantity, and flow direction of groundwater. Although the salt diapirs play the most important role in ground water quality, in order to investigate the principal role of various rock formations in the hydrogeological characteristics of the study area, the rock formations have been divided into two main groups. One group of formations comprising Gachsaran, Mishan and Agha Jari play a major role in water quality while the other group including Sarvak, Asmari and Bakhtyari control the ground water quantity and flow pattern.

Determining the geological structures and the role of rock formations in controlling the quality and quantity of ground water in the Firouzabad area, SW Iran Keywords:

salt diapirs , Firouzabad , Konarsiah , Mangerak , ground water quality