Iran's Mass Wasting Hazards

Mass wasting is a term used for any type of down slope movement of earth materials. It is a significant part of the process or erosion because it moves materials from high elevations to lower elevations. There are various types of mass wasting distinguished by the type of earth material moving down- slope, the speed in which it moves, and sometimes the mechanics involved in its motion. Common examples are creep, earthflows, landslides, mud and debris flows, rockfalls, rock and debris avalanches, rock slides, rock topple, and slumps. The primary cause for mast wasting is the steepness of slope. Gravity is the driving force but it can also be triggered by other natural events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and flooding. Climate can also have a great influence. Certain human activities are known to affect mass wasting as well. Many potential problems can be avoided by sufficient planning techniques and engineering solutions. 

Mass wasting is being considered as one of the severe forms of natural disaster. Iran is geographically located in the Alps- Himalayas seismicity belt. It has a high potential to mass wasting. This creates land slides and rock fall in the Alborz and Zagros Mountains. Iran's scientists started mapping and studying various types of mass movement and stability of slopes. In the study, they used field data coupling with tectonic- related factors to provide a solution for slope related hazards. They first looked at geological factors such as lineaments and faults, vegetation, lithology, slope, drainage, land/use, land cover, seismicity and road networks. The study was divided into four regions based on the rate of mass wasting and its degree of vulnerability. The results showed how severe the erosion was in Karaj formation. The research also showed hydrothermal solutions caused by the erosional activities had influenced the glassy element of the tuffs and subsequently changed into the clays. Resulted in making the tuffs relatively unstable. It was found evident that most of the mass wasting has occurred in the unstable tuffs on the Karaj formation. Iran realized their road construction has increased the potential danger for generating the mass waste. They are trying to figure out a way to build roads that create the least amount of unstability. 

Works Cited: 

"What Causes Avalanches, Landslides, Flow, and Creep?" About. com. Education. Web. 26 Mar, 2016. 

"A Recent Scenario of Mass Wasting and Its Impact on the Transportation in Alborz Mountains, Iran Using Geo-information Technology." ResearchGate. Web. 26 Mar. 2016.

Iran's Volcanic Activity

     Iran lies between the Eurasian and Arabic tectonic plate that is known as the collision zone. Iran consists of a few intraplate volcanoes. Most notable is the stratovolcano, which is also the highest mountain in the Middle Eastern region. Mount Bazman is the youngest volcano of Iran. It is located 115 km away from northwest of Iranshahr and and 120 km away from Westrern Kash. This semi- active volcano has a height of 3490 meters from sea level. Bazman is made of pumice, lava and breccia, alternately. It was known to appear during the Quaternary period. Through observation, there has been a couple of small cones, made of basalt lava, spotted around the main peaks; the known rocks are made of acidic lavas seen in western flanks known as andesite and dacite. It's biggest crater has a diameter of 5000 meters. Mount Sabalan is a point type volcano bearing a stratavolcano cone. It's located in the western part of Ardebil with a height of 4800 meters. This mountain includes three cones along with each other and it's lava distribution indicates huge explosion and discharge of lava high volume. Geologically, it' s region is at the Oligocene big horst. Mount Sabalans only sign of activity is various sulfuric and hot water springs indicating post- volcanism phenomenon. Iran's third volcano is Mount Sahand. It has 12 cones separated a couple meters apart from one another. Sahand is located in southeastern region of Tabriz and has a height of 3600 meters. It's cones are made of tuff an ash. Existence of high volume of ash and pume pieces in far distanced indicates vigorous explosion. Mount Taftan is a semi- active volcano being the highest mount of Baluchestan, 450 meters from sea level, located near Khash city. Andestic is it's type of lava. It is an active volcano due to the various sulfuric springs surrounding the mount and gas emission from its highest peak. In 1970 to 1971, it was reported that molten materials came out of Taftan. Mount Damavand is a stratovolcano, as well as the highest mountain in the Middle Eastern region. It is placed 70 km northeast of Tehran and 70 km south of Caspian Sea. Mount Damavand' s first eruption was about 1. 78 million years ago in the Pleistocene. There were several known eruptions around 600, 000 and 280, 000 years ago, until it finally erupted 7, 300 years ago in the Holocene. It' s steep cone is formed by ash and lava flow made of trachyte, andesite, and basalt. Mount Damavand can be considered a potentially active volcano considering July 6, 2007 where fumaroles near the summit crater were emitting sulfur. Unfortunately, I could not find much information on Iran warning people of volcanoes. I believe since their volcanoes due not have extreme activity, the Iranian people are not extremely concerned and do not have it at the top of their priority list. Although, one fact I found interesting is a proposal has been made by the Iranian mountaineers to register Mount Damavand as a national heritage site. The department of Mazandaran Cultural Heritage and Tourism has accepted the proposal. I think it is a great idea for Iran to have an educational and research institution, especially of a volcano.

Works Cited 

"Damavand." Volcano, Iran. Volcano Discovery, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.

"Damavand Volcano Iran." Damavand Volcano Iran. Damawand.de, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.

"Volcano World." Damavand. Oregon State University, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.