Abstract

This paper concerns the kinematics of active strike-slip faults in the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone, and how they accommodate plate convergence. Several roles are discernible: (1) collision zone boundaries, the left-lateral Dead Sea Fault System and right-lateral faults in eastern Iran form the western and eastern boundaries of the collision zone; (2) tectonic escape structures, the North and East Anatolian faults transport intervening crust westwards, out of the path of the Arabia; (3) strain partitioning, right-lateral slip on the Zagros Main Recent Fault and NW–SE-striking thrusts to its SW produce north–south convergence, parallel to the plate vector; left-lateral slip along the Alborz range and thrusts across it produce oblique left-lateral shortening; (4) shortening arrays, arrays of strike-slip faults (e.g. Kopeh Dagh and eastern Iranian faults) rotate about vertical axes, producing north–south shortening without crustal thickening; (5) transfer zones, fold trends and earthquake slip vectors change orientation across strike-slip faults in the Zagros, suggesting that these faults allow for changes in thrust transport along strike in the orogen. These different roles emphasize the complex behaviour of continental crust, and the advantages of studying active tectonics rather than ancient examples.