The 1990 November 6 Furg (Hormuzgan) earthquake: A rare case of coseismic surface faulting in the Zagros Mountains, Iran—Revisited

Abstract

The 6 November 1990 Furg earthquake is the only documented seismic event in the Zagros Mountains to generate a surface rupture, despite the frequent occurrence of instrumentally recorded earthquakes in the region. This event may provide important insights into the tectonic evolution of the High Zagros. In this study, we detail a 15-km-long surface rupture with ∼2.8 m of slip. The derived slip distribution indicates a shallow rupture and suggests the presence of an asperity at a depth of approximately 7 km, which likely impeded the shallower rupture until the earthquake occurred. Stress change analysis derived from slip distribution shows a robust correlation with the location of large collapse structures within a limited area.