Impact of salt layers interaction on the salt flow kinematics and diapirism in the Eastern Persian Gulf, Iran: Constraints from seismic interpretation, sequential restoration, and physical modelling

Interpretation of reflection seismic profiles, sequential restoration, and physical modelling are presented to understand the kinematics salt flow diapirism in Eastern Persian Gulf, offshore Southern Iran. Salt tectonics this area result from overlapping Ediacaran–Early Cambrian Hormuz Salt, which is regionally present, Oligocene–Early Miocene Fars locally developed. The salts began flowing at Cambrian(?) Early times, respectively. Diapirs fed by rose passively during Palaeozoic Mesozoic times were rejuvenated contractional deformation events Cenozoic. Fars-Salt structures exist either as walls anticlines around those diapirs that developed allochthonous bodies a Palaeocene–Eocene squeezing before deposition or gentle shallow pillows above deep suggesting kinematic linkage. Flow was mainly triggered differential sedimentary loading. It seems its lateral controlled behaviour underlying Hormuz-Salt sheets. More than ~10-km-long sheets efficiently evacuated back towards diapir, consequently, maintained evacuation same direction, accompanied welding both layers. Conversely, smaller, less ~3-km-long allowed limited rearrangement probably still sufficient trigger near central (Hormuz-Salt) diapir. enhanced loading, resulting incipient primary welds. Subsequently, depocentres migrated areas available away In cases, layer-parallel shortening related regional contraction played also role triggering Miocene, but more influential later stages (Hormuz Fars) since about Late onwards.