Prelude
For coma years, the Kerman office of the Geological Survey of Iran
had been receiving requests for information on the geology and seismicity of the Kerman basin. The geological information requested, essentially concentrated on the plio-Quaternary alluvial deposits of the piedmont regions and on the very young (Late Holocene historical) heterogeneous mixture of alluvium constituting the different geological environments of the Kerman plain, because of this, at the beginning of the year 1368, it was decided that the time had coma for a proper Quaternary research project to be carried out on the Kerman basin, with the hope that the latter would at least from the geological point of view , be able to answer coma of the requested information. A further reason for such a project is the fact that a geological study of the outcropping alluvium. forms a necessary prerequisite for future engineering geological and geotechnical studies. Up to now, no systematic studies on the engineering geology of the Kerman basin have yet been carried out. Considering the planeside industrial expansion of the Kerman area in the near future, absence of systematic engineering geological research prior to industrial plannification, can only be considered as an important major weakness during short termed regional site selections, with possible long term hazardous results. Prelxninary field observation and site selection studies show that engineering geological environment within the Kerman basin are both greatly varied and complicated. Such a project of research ,if ever begun ,would need a major plunidiscipli- nary team and be plannified in a major long run project, with all necessary required budget and eauitxrent. The sooner such a major project begins ,the safer future plannification decisions become; accompanied by obvious reduction in the probability factor of possible eventual social,economic and ecological/environmental catastrophes. I only hope that a stage will not be reached when meditating on the past,one becomes confronted with such fatalistic statements as: "It is too late!" or' we should have thought about all this a long time ago!".
Concerning the Kerman basin. It was decided that the region studied
should cover about two 1:100,000 geological maps. The mapping was essentially carried out by the following geologists from the Kerman Office: Engs . J. Rowshan ravan,M.Nazemzadeh shoal ,H.Azizan and S .Zakaryai Kermani. This mapping covered two 45 days geological field campaigns:
from 20/2/1368 to 2/4/1368 and from 29/5/1368 to 11/7/1368
Unfortunately , due to other unexpected heavy duties these geologists only managed to give the results of their field mapping during the !north of Babman 1368. As a resulting own field investigation (checking and observational documentation) was retarded until the beginning of 1369.
The following is no ironed than a general introduction to the Neogene
and Quaternary geology of the Kerman basin. During the nrnths of Ordibehesht and Khordad 1369, I had the good fortune to commence data lied field work on the Kerman basin. A great deal; of new information
was collected; particularly on the problematic Neogene and Lower Pleistocene deposits. Much information was also collected on late Holocene/historical deposits , thus showing that geological changes in historical times, in the Kerinan region , is as well represented, as the mach studied Mediterranean world (vita-finzi,1969). Due to lack of space and time and due also to the fact that much of the collected field samples (particularly archaeological pottery shreds)still remain to be analyzed in detail ;rich of the newly discovered , but as yet incomplete inforxnation, will be presented in the final report on the Kerman basin, after a much needed final field campaign. In this report , I have also kept silent in relation to seismicity.The latter still lacks its final "neotectonic background". All of this, plus all information concerned with historical sensitivity, 2Oth.century teleseisinic data and possible paleoseisrnic/archaeological data , will also be presented in the final report
Finally ,it is my pleasure to thank the Kerman office of the plan and budget organization for having financially supported Quaternary Research at the Kerman Geological Survey since the year 1362. I would also like to thank Eng. B.Aznii, chief senior scientific officer of the same organization for having strongly supported our research project and for having always shown such keen and firm support for seisemotectonic research. I owe rare than words can express to Eng. Loghman Nemat , regional director of the Kerman Geological Survey for so many things, in particular for his unfailing help and support during my Quaternary studies and most of all for having patiently had to bear with me for more than five years as a member of his staff. I also owe special thanks to my old friend and colleague Dr.M.Sabzehei for having always encouraged me in my researches with the hope that some day, something will finally come out of it all
I have always heavily relied on his guidance and opinions concerning all matters related to 'hand" rocks. I tender all my thanks to Ends. Jamal Roshan Ravan ,Massoud Nazenizadeh Shoai, Habibollah Azizan and Said Zakariaei Kermani for this warm friendship and field companionship and most of all for having bravely accepted to carry out Quaternary field work. I realize that Quaternary studies are not a great priority in their geological preference. It is a source of pride to see them all as a wonderfully gifted team of geologists, capable of working on the irost difficult terrains. They will all have, I am sure
and excellent scientific career ahead of them. I wish them well. Last but not least, I owe much to Engs. Gholam Abbas fath Nazarian and Reza Assad Abadi, both from the
darkest hours , they have always been an unlimited source of support and inspiration. It has been my greatest privilege to have been considered by them as one of "theirs". They have made it such, that Ganjali Khan will always be"homet',
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