Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geology and Geomorphology

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Soils of Iran

Part of the book series: World Soils Book Series ((WSBS))

Abstract

Soil formation is a complex phenomenon. The role of geology is mostly prominent through the influence of lithology in the production of parent material and tectonics in the geoform of structural origin. Geomorphology plays an important role in soil formation through relief, surface morphodynamics, morphoclimatic context, weathering and time (age). The geological zones and their related geomorphic features are dealt with as related to soil distribution. The Iranian Plateau is divided to eight structural zones . The Zagros mountain chain contains the most important sedimentary basins comprised mainly of calcareous detrital sediments. Karst features are the major expression of the Zagros landscape. The other mountain chain—Alborz zone—is composed of sedimentary rocks including limestone , dolomitic, and clastic rocks. Large areas in northern Iran are covered by loess deposits with a thickness of 30–70 m. Central Iran is composed of a series of inland basins and more than 60 playas. Makran zone, in east and southeast of Iran, is composed of uplands with varying width and altitude, irregular in trend and physiography . Various landforms such as fans, terraces, valleys, outwash deposits studied in several case studies from different regions of Iran are reviewed to show the close relationship between soils and geomorphology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Also written as Urmieh and Uromieh.

  2. 2.

    Consists of medium-bedded marlstone and gypsum in a ratio of 1:2. This formation is strongly affected by karst phenomena.

  3. 3.

    Consists of limestone and marly limestone locally dolomitized with a few marlstone interbeds with a thickness of 110 m.

References

  • Abtahi A (1980) Soil genesis as affected by topography and time in highly calcareous parent materials under semiarid conditions of Iran. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44:329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aghanabati A (2004) Geology of Iran. Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran

    Google Scholar 

  • Alavi M (1991) Tectonic map of the Middle East. Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran

    Google Scholar 

  • Alavi M (1994) Tectonics of the Zagros Orogenic belt of Iran: new data and interpretations. Tectonophysics 220:211–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alavi M (2004) Regional stratigraphy of the Zagros fold-thrust belt of Iran and its profogreland evolution. American J Sci 304:1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alavi Panah SK, Komaki CB, Goorabi A, Matinfar HR (2007) Characterizing land cover types and surface condition of yardang region in Lut Desert (Iran) based upon Landsat satellite images. World App Sci J 2:212–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen M, Jackson J, Walker R (2004) Lake Cenozoic reorganization of the Arabian Eurasia collision and the comparison of short-term and log-term deformation rates. Tectonics 23, TC2008. doi:10.1029/2003TC001530

  • Bahrami Sh (2013) Tectonic controls on the morphometry of alluvial fans around Danehkhoshk anticline, Zagros, Iran. Geomorphology 180–181:217–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bobek H (1963) Nature and implications of quaternary climatic changes in Iran. Symposium on changes of climate. Rome. Oct. 1961. UNESCO-WMO. Rome. Italy, pp 403–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Borujeni IE, Mohammadi J, Salehi MH, Toomanian N, Poch RM (2010) Assessing geopedological soil mapping approach by statistical and geostatistical methods: a case study in the Borujen region, central Iran. Catena 82:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosak P, Jaros J, Spudil J, Sulovsky P, Vaclavek V (1998) Salt plugs in the Eastern Zagros, Iran: results of regional reconnaissance. GeoLines 7:1–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks IA (1982) Geomorphological evidence for climatic change in Iran during the last 20000 years. P.P.H. communities in Eastern Mediterranean Region in late prehistory: British archeological reports. Int Series 133:191–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruthans J, Filippi M, Zare M, Churackova Z, Asadi N (2010) Evaluation of salt diaper karst morphology during the last glacial cycle: effects of sea-level oscillation diaper and regional uplift, and erosion (Persian Gulf, Iran). Geomorphology 121:291–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cucchi F, Zini L (2003) Gypsum karst of Zagros mountains (I.R. Iran). Acta carsologica 32(1)

    Google Scholar 

  • Darvishzadeh A (2001) Geology of Iran. Amir Kabir Press, Tehran (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eghbal MK, Southard RJ (1993) Stratigraphy and genesis of Durorthids and Haplargids on dissected alluvial fans, western Mojave Desert, California. Geoderma 59:151–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehsani AH, Quiel F (2008) Application of self-organizing map and SRTM data to characterize Yardangs in the Lut desert, Iran. Remote Sens Environ 112:3284–3294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MH, Eghbal MK (1996) Soil landscape relationships in Imam Gheis area, Charmahale Bakhtiari, Iran. Proc. of the 5th Soil Science Congress of Iran, Karadj, Iran

    Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MK, Eghbal MK, Khademi H (2003) Genesis and micromorphology of saline and gypsiferous Aridisols in different geomorphic surfaces of Rafsanjan area, Iran. J Sci Tech Agr Natur Resour 3:71–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MH, Irannejad M (2013) Soil genesis and clay mineralogy on Aliabbas River alluvial fan, Kerman Province. Arab J Geosci 6:921–928

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MH, Khademi H, Eghbal MK (2002) Genesis and distribution of palygorskite and associated clay minerals in Rafsanjan soils on different geomorphic surfaces. Iran Agr Res 21:39–60

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MH, Khademi H, Eghbal MK, Krouse HR (2004) Mode of gypsum deposition in southeastern Iranian soils as revealed by isotopic composition of crystallization water. Geoderma 121:233–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MH, Krouse HR (2008) Stable isotopic geochemistry of sulfur bearing minerals and clay mineralogy of some soils and sediments in Loot Desert, central Iran. Geoderma 146:283–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MH, Krouse HR, Mayer B (2011) Geochemistry of carbon, oxygen and sulfur isotopes in soils along a climotoposequence in Kerman Province, central Iran. J Agr Sci Tech 13:953–964

    Google Scholar 

  • Farpoor MH, Neyestani M, Eghbal MK, Esfandiarpoor I (2012) Soil-geomorphology relationships in Sirjan Playa, south central Iran. Geomorphology 138:223–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farshad A (2013) Geopedology reports historical changes in climate and agroecology: a case study from northwestern Iran. Ecopersia 1(2):145–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Farshad A, Shrestha DP, Moonjun R (2011) Do the emerging methods of digital soil mapping have anything to learn from the geopedologic approach to soil mapping and vice versa? In: Shahid Sh (ed) Soil classification and reclamation of degraded lands in arid environments. ICSC 2010, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Google Scholar 

  • Fattahi M, Talebian M, Tabatabaei (2010) Applying OSL to determine the Bam—Baravat Fault Uplift Rate. UK TL/OSL/ESR Meeting 2010, 8–10th Sep, University of Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Fattahi M, Walker RT, Khatib MM, Dolati A, Bahroudi A (2007) Slip-rate estimate and past earthquakes on the Doruneh fault, eastern Iran. Geophys J Int 168:691–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher WB The land of Iran (1968) In: Fisher WB (eds) Cambridge history of Iran. Cambridge University Press. ISBN:0-521-24693-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabriel A (1938) The southern Lut and Iranian Baluchistan. Geogr J 92:193–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghajar M (1994) Effect of landform in genesis, morphology, and soil physicochemical properties of Karadj plain. M.Sc. thesis. Tarbiat Modares Univ. of Tehran

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghorbani M (2013) Economic geology of Iran: mineral deposits and natural resources. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Goudie AS (2007) Mega-Yardangs: a global analysis. Geogr Compass 1:65–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graham RC, Buol SW (1990) Soil-geomorphic relations on the Blue Ridge Front: II. Soil characteristics and pedogenesis. Soil Sci Soc Am J 54:1367–1377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidari M, Khanlari GR, Taleb Beydokhti AR (2004) Effective karstification carbonate rock acceleration occurrence sinkholes kabodarahang plain, Hamedan, Iran. Conference on karst problems of Iran (with special emphasis on karst areas of western part). Lorestan University and West Regional Water Company of Iran, Lorestan-Iran, pp 43–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Heidari M, Khanlari GR, Taleb Beydokhti AR, Momeni AA (2011) The formation of cover collapse sinkholes in north of Hamedan, Iran. Geomorphology 132:76–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingsworth J, Fattahi M, Walker R, Talebian M, Bahroudi A, Bolourchi MJ, Jackson J, Copley A (2010) Oroclinal bending, distributed thrust and strike-slip faulting, and the accommodation of Arabia-Eurasia convergence in NE Iran since the Oligocene. Geophys J Int. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04591.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell JV (1957) Glossary of geology and related sciences. Amer Geogr Inst

    Google Scholar 

  • Karimi A, Frechen M, Khademi H, Kehl M, Jalalian A (2011) Chronostratigraphy of loess deposits in northeast Iran. Quat Int 234:124–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karimi A, Khademi H, Kehl M, Jalalian A (2009) Distribution, lithology and provenance of peridesert loess deposits in northeastern Iran. Geoderma 148:241–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazanci N, Gulbabazadeh T (2013) Sefidrud delta and Quaternary evolution of the southern Caspian lowland, Iran. Mar Pet Geol 44:120–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazanci N, Gulbabazadeh T, Leroy SAG, Ileri O (2004) Sedimentary and environmental characteristics of the Gilan-Mazenderan plain, northern Iran: influence of longe-and short-term Caspian water level fluctuations on geomorphology. J Mar Sys 46:145–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kehl M (2010) Late quaternary loesses, loess-like sediments, soils and climate change in Iran. Relief, Boden, Palaoklima, E. Schweizerbart Sceince Publishers, Stuttgart, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Kehl M, Frechen M, Skowronek A (2005) Paleosols derived from loess and loess-like sediments in the Basin of Persepolis, Southern Iran. Quat Int 140–141:135–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khademi H, Mermut AR (1998) Source of palygorskite in gypsiferous Aridisols and associated sediments from central Iran. Clay Miner 33:561–575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khademi H, Mermut AR (1999) Submicroscopy and stable isotope geochemistry of carbonates and associated Palygorskite in Iranian Aridisols. Eur J Soil Sci 50:207–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khademi H, Mermut AR (2003) Micromorphology and classification of Argids and associated gypsiferous Aridisols from central Iran. Catena 54:439–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khademi H, Mermut AR, Krouse HR (1997a) Sulfur isotope geochemistry of gypsiferous Aridisols from central Iran. Geoderma 80:195–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khademi H, Mermut AR, Krouse HR (1997b) Isotopic composition of gypsum hydration water in selected landforms from central Iran. Chem Geol 138:245–255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khanlari GR (2010) The necessity of Hamedan sinkholes study from an environmental point of view. Proceedings of the 2nd congress of Water Industry Researches in Hamedan province, Hamedan, Iran, pp 162–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Khormali F, Ajami M (2011) Pedogenetic investigation of soil degradation on a deforested loess hillslope of Golestan Province, Northern Iran. Geoderma 167–168:274–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khormali F, Kehl M (2011) Micromorphology and development of loess-derived surface and buried soils along a precipitation gradient in Northern Iran. Quat Int 234:109–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kober F, Zeilinger G, Ivy-Ochs S, Dolati A, Smit J, Kubik PW (2013) Climatic and tectonic control on fluvial and alluvial fan sequence formation in the Central Makran Range, SE-Iran. Global Planet Change 111:133–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krinsley DB (1970) A geomorphological and paleoclimatological study of the playas of Iran. U.S. Geological Survey. U.S. Government Printing Offic, contract. PROCP 700–800. US Air Force Cambridge Research. 329 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Dortz K, Meyer B, Sebrier M, Nazari H, Braucher R, Fattahi M, Benedetti L, Foroutan M, Siame L, Bourles D, Talebian M, Bateman MD, Ghoraishi M (2009) Holocene right-slip rate detemrined by cosmogenic and OSL dating on the Anar fault, Central Iran. Geophys J Int 179:700–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahler PJ (1979) Manual of land classification for irrigation. Soil Institute of Iran. Pub. No. 205

    Google Scholar 

  • McCall GJH (2002) A summary of the geology of the Iranian Makran. In: Clift PD, Kroon D, Gaedicke C, Craig J (eds) The tectonic and climatic evolution of the Arabian Sea region. Geolog Soc London, London, pp 147–204

    Google Scholar 

  • McCall CJH, Eftekhar-Nezhad J (1993) Explanatory text of the Nikshahr Quadrangle Map, 1:250000-L14. In: Iran GSO (ed) Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran

    Google Scholar 

  • Mildrexler DJ, Zhao M, Running SW (2006) Where are the hottest spots on earth? Eos, transactions. American Geophys Union: 87–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Moazallahi M, Farpoor MH (2012) Soil genesis and clay mineralogy along the xeric-aridic climotoposequence, south central Iran. J Agr Sci Tech 14:683–696

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nabavi MH (1976) An introduction to the geology of Iran. Geological Survey of Iran. 109 pp (In Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadimi M, Farpoor MH (2013) Genesis and clay mineralogy of soils on different geomorphic surfaces in Mahan-Joupar area, central Iran. Arab J Geosci 6:825–833

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nezafati N (2006) Au-Sn-W-Cu Mineralization in the Astaneh-Sarband Area, West Central Iran. Ph.D. thesis, University of Tübingen (Germany), 116 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Okhravi R, Amini A (2001) Characteristics and provenance of the loess deposits of the Gharatikan watershed in Northeast Iran. Glob Planet Change 28:11–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regard V, Bellier O, Thomas J, Bourles D, Bonnet S, Abbassi MR, Braucher R, Mercier J, Shabanian E, Soleymani Sh, Feghhi Kh (2005) Cumulative right-lateral fault slip-rate across the Zagros-Makran transfer zone:role of the Minab-Zendan fault system in accommodating Arabia–Eurasia convergence in southeast Iran. Geophys J Int 162:177–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rooyani F, Southard AR (1985) Characteristics and genesis of some soils in the southern foothills of central Alborz, Iran. Soil Sci 140:45–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salehi J (1994) Application of RS and GIS for evaluation of soil and water resources for development planning in the Hamadan area, Iran. Unpublished MSc thesis, ITC, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanjari S, Farpoor MH, Eghbal MK, Esfandiarpoor I (2011a) Genesis, micromorphology and clay mineralogy of soils located on different geomorphic surfaces in Jiroft area. J Water Soil 25:411–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanjari S, Farpoor MH, Esfandiarpoor I, Eghbal MK (2011b) Micromorphology and clay mineralogy comparison of paleosols and modern soils in Jiroft area. J Sci Technol Agric Natur Resour, Water Soil Sci 58:153–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Stocklin J (1968) Structural history and tectonics of Iran, a review. AAPG Bulletin 527:1229–1258

    Google Scholar 

  • Talbot CJ, Medvedev S, Alavi M, Shahrivar H, Heidari E (2000) Salt extrusion rates at Kuh-e-Jahani, Iran: june 1994 to november 1997. Geological 174:93–110 Society London Special Publications

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talbot ChJ, Pohjola V (2009) Subaerial salt extrusions in Iran as analogues of ice sheet, streams and glaciers. Earth-Sci Rev 97:155–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Talebian M, Tabatabaei SH, Fattahi M, Ghorashi M, Beitollahi A, Ghalandarzadeh A, Riahi MA (2010) Estimating slip rates of faults around Bam and their application in evaluation of earthquake hazard. Geosciences 19(74):149–156 (in Persian with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Toomanian N, Jalalian A, Eghbal MK (2001) Genesis of gypsum enriched soils in north-west Isfahan, Iran. Geoderma 99:199–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toomanian N, Jalalian A, Khademi H, Eghbal MK, Rapritz A (2006) Pedodiversity and pedogenesis in Zayandeh-rud Valley, central Iran. Geomorphology 81:376–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker AS (1986) Chapter 8: Plate E-19. In: Nicholas M, Short S, Robert J, Blair W (eds) Geomorphology from space: NASA http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/geomorphology/index.shtml

  • Walker RT, Fattahi M (2011) A framework of Holocene and Late Pleistocene environmental change in eastern Iran inferred from the dating of periods of alluvial fan abandonment, river terracing, and lake deposition. Quat Sci Rev 30:1256–1271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarasvandi A, Charchi A, Carranza EJM, Alizadeh B (2008) Karst bauxite deposits in the Zagros mountain belt, Iran. Ore Geol Rev 34:521–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zinck JA, Metternicht G, Bocco G, Del Valle HF (2016) Geopedology; An Integration of Geomorphology and Pedology for Soil and Landscape Studies. ISBN 978-3-319-19158-4 Springer (www.Springer.com)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Mostafa Karimian Eghbal

  2. University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran

    Nikoo Hamzehpour

  3. Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Mohammad Hady Farpoor

Authors
  1. Mostafa Karimian Eghbal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nikoo Hamzehpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohammad Hady Farpoor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mostafa Karimian Eghbal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Soil and Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Hassan Roozitalab

  2. Soil and Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

    Hamid Siadat

  3. ITC, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Abbas Farshad

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Eghbal, M.K., Hamzehpour, N., Farpoor, M.H. (2018). Geology and Geomorphology. In: Roozitalab, M., Siadat, H., Farshad, A. (eds) The Soils of Iran. World Soils Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69048-3_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation