The North Tabriz Fault, a barrier to groundwater flow in an alluvial aquifer northwest of Tabriz, Iran

Geological structures, specifically faults, may influence the permeability of geological units and so can be an important factor in the movement of groundwater and hydrogeological processes. This study is an investigation of the local influence of the North Tabriz Fault on the hydrogeology of the adjacent unconfined alluvial aquifer. The study area is located northwest of the city of Tabriz, Iran, on the North Tabriz fault zone. The North Tabriz Fault is a prominent tectonic structure with strike-slip right-lateral kinematics and is considered as one of the most active faults in Iran. This study shows that the fault has a major influence on the hydrogeological characteristics of the local aquifers. Sharp changes in the position of aquifer bedrock and aquifer thickness over relatively short distances (