Introducing the Geological and Natural Heritage of Sharbazhiar

Tectonic Evolution of the Sharbazher Area: Fold–Thrust Belts, Fault Systems, and Uplift History in the Northwestern Zagros Orogen

The Sharbazher area, located in the northwestern segment of the Zagros Mountain Belt, represents a key geological region formed by the ongoing convergence between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. This study examines the tectonic evolution of the Sharbazher area with a focus on fold–thrust belt development, major fault systems, and the uplift history that shaped its present-day mountainous landscape. The region lies near the boundary between the Arabian Plate and the Zagros suture zone, where intense compressional tectonics since the Late Cretaceous have produced complex structural architectures. Field observations, stratigraphic relationships, and regional tectonic synthesis indicate that progressive shortening, thrust stacking, and crustal thickening have played a dominant role in the uplift of the Sharbazher mountains. The results highlight the scientific importance of Sharbazher as a natural laboratory for understanding continental collision processes in the Zagros Orogen and support its significance as a core geological area within the proposed Sharbazher Geopark.