دکتر محمدرضا قاسمی

 

Mohammad Reza Ghassemi

Full Professor at the Research Institute for Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of Iran

 

B.Sc. in Geology:  1985, University of Tehran, Iran

M.Sc. in Geology:  1990, University of Tehran, Iran

Ph.D. in Geology: 1996, University of Ottawa, Canada

Phone: (9821)6459290

Fax: (9821)66070511

RIES Email: m.r.ghassemi@ries.ac.ir

Earthquake geology

Folding and faulting processes

Application of InSAR to geological problems

Natural and environmental hazards

Application of structural geology and tectonics to mineral deposits

Geological mapping techniques

Twenty-Seven years of teaching experience in B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs

Advising and supervising 149 M.Sc. and Ph.D. Thesis projects

Conducting workshops on geological mapping and constructing structural cross-sections

Tectonic and seismotectonic studies on dam projects in Iran

Geological mapping and structural studies for mineral exploration projects

Mohammad R. Ghassemi, 2008. Fundamentals of Structural Geology. RIES, GSI, 320 p (in Persian)

Mohammad R. Ghassemi, 2016. Analysis and Synthesis Methods in Structural Geology. RIES, GSI, 236 p (in Persian)

Mohammad R. Ghassemi, 2020. Applied Structural Geology and Tectonics. RIES, GSI, 172 p (in Persian)

Benn, K., Miles, W., Ghassemi, M.R., and Gillett, J., 1994, Crustal structure and kinematic framework of Pontiac Subprovince, Quebec: an integrated structural and geophysical study. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v.31, p.271-281.

Allen, M.B., Ghassemi, M.R., Shahrabi, M., and Qorashi, M., 2003, Accommodation of late Cenozoic oblique shortening in the Alborz range, Northern Iran., Journal of Structural Geology, v.25, p.659-672.

Ghassemi, M.R., 2005, Drainage evolution in response to fold growth in the hanging-wall of the Khazar fault, north-eastern Alborz, Iran, Basin Research, v.17, n.3, p.425-436.

Allen, M.B., Blanc, J.-P., Walker, R., Jackson, J., Talebian, M., and Ghassemi, M.R., 2006, Contrasting styles of convergence in the Arabia-Eurasia collision: Why escape tectonics does not occur in Iran, in Delik, Y., and Pavlides, S., eds., Postcollisional tectonics and magmatism in the Mediteranean region and Asia: Geological Society of America Special Paper 409, p. 579-589.

Zanchi, A., Berra, F., Mattei, M., Ghassemi, M.R., and Sabouri, J., 2006, Inversion tectonics in central Alborz, Iran, Journal of Structural Geology, v.28, p.2023-2037.

Taghizadeh-Farahmand, F., Sodoudi, F., Afsari, N, and Ghassemi, M.R., 2010, Lithospheric structure of NW Iran from P and S receiver functions. Journal of Seismology, p.823-836, DOI 10.1007/s10950-010-9199-2.

Ghassemi M.R., Schmalholz, S.M., Ghassemi, A.R., 2010, Kinematics of constant arc length folding for different fold shapes. Journal of Structural Geology, v.32, p.755-765.

Afsari, N. Sodoudi, F., Taghizadeh-Farahmand, F., and Ghassemi, M.R., 2011, Crustal structure of Northwest Zagros (Kermanshah) and Central Iran (Yazd and Isfahan) using teleseismic Ps converted phases. Journal of Seismology, p.341-353, DOI 10.1007/s10950-011-9227-x

Kakroodi, A.A., Kroonenberg, S.B., Hoogendoorn, R.M., Mohammd Khani, H., Yamani, M., Ghassemi M.R., Lahijani, H.A.K., 2012, Rapid Holocene sea-level changes along the Iranian Caspian coast. Quaternary International, p. 1-12, doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.12.021.

Alipoor, R., Zaré, M., Ghassemi, M.R., 2012, Inception of activity and slip rate on the Main Recent Fault of Zagros Mountains, Iran. Geomorphology, v.175–176, p.86–97.

Ballato, P., Stockli, D.F., Ghassemi, M.R., Landgraf, A., Strecker, M.R., Hassanzadeh, J., Friedrich, A., and Tabatabaei, S.H., 2013, Accommodation of transpressional strain in the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone: new constraints from (U-Th)/He thermochronology in the Alborz mountains, north Iran. Tectonics, v. 32, p. 1-18, doi: 10.1029/2012TC003159.

Javadi, H.R., Ghassemi, M.R., Shahpasandzadeh, M., Guest, B., Estrabi-Ashtiani, M., Yassaghi, A., Kouhpeyma, M., 2013, History of faulting on the Doruneh Fault System: implications for the kinematic changes of the Central Iranian Microplate. Geol. Mag., Cambridge University Press 2013, doi: 10.1017/S0016756812000751, 22p.

Mahmoudpour, M., Khamehchiyan, M., Nikudel, M.R., Ghassemi, M.R., 2013. Characterization of regional land subsidence induced by groundwater withdrawals in Tehran, Iran. Journal of Geopersia v. 3 (2), pp. 49-62. Autumn 2013

Ghassemi, M.R., Fattahi, M., Landgraf, A., Ahmadi, M., Ballato, P., and Tabatabaei, S.H., 2014. Kinematic links between the Eastern Mosha Fault and the North Tehran Fault, Alborz range, northern Iran. Tectonophysics v. 622, p. 81–95. 21 May 2014

Pireh, A., Alavi, S.A., Ghassemi, M.R., Shaban, A., 2014. Analysis of natural fractures and effect of deformation intensity on fracture density in Garau formation for shale gas development within two anticlines of Zagros fold and thrust belt, Iran. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. v. 125, p. 162-180, Available online 3 December 2014

Jin, X and Ghassemi, M.R., 2014. Pursuing the Evolution of the Asian Tethyan Realm - Third International Symposium of IGCP-589. Episodes, v. 37 (4), p. 332.

Ballato, P., Landgraf, A., Schildgen, T.F., Stockli, D.F., Fox, M., Ghassemi, M.R., Kirby, E., Strecker, M.R., 2015. The growth of a mountain belt forced by base-level fall: Tectonics and surface processes during the evolution of the Alborz Mountains, N Iran. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 425, p. 204–218. Available online 10 June 2015 (Impact factor: 4.734)

Javadi, H.R., Esterabi-Ashtiani, M., Guest, B., Yassaghi, A., Ghassemi, M.R., Shahpasandzadeh, M., and Naeimi, A., 2015. Tectonic reversal of the western Doruneh Fault System: Implications for Central Asian tectonics. Tectonics, v. 34(10), p. 2034-2051, doi: 10.1002/2015TC003931.

Ghassemi, M.R. and Nayeb, S., 2015. Active surface cracking in Aghajari Formation of the Azar oil field, Zagros, western Iran. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 68, 498-508. (online on Dec. 17, 2015 (available online Jan. 21, 2016)

Mahmoudpour, M., Khamehchiyan, M., Nikudel, M.R. and Ghassemi, M.R., 2016. Numerical simulation and prediction of regional land subsidence caused by groundwater exploitation in the southwest plain of Tehran, Iran. Engineering Geology, 201, 6-28. (Feb. 9, 2016)

Ghassemi, M.R., 2016. Surface ruptures of the Iranian earthquakes 1900–2014: Insights for earthquake fault rupture hazards and empirical relationships. Earth Science Reviews, 156, 1-13. (May, 2016).

Zanchi, A., Zanchetta, S., Balini, M. and Ghassemi, M.R., 2016. Oblique convergence during the Cimmerian collision: Evidence from the Triassic Aghdarband Basin, NE Iran. Gondwana Research v.38, p.149–170. (October 2016) (Impact factor 8.743)

Nabavi, T., Alavi, A., Mohammadi. S., Ghassemi, M.R., and Frehner, M., 2017. Analysis of transpression within contractional fault steps using finite element method. Journal of Structural Geology, v.96, p.1-20. March 2017. Impact Factor: 2.408, 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.819

Heidarzadeh, G., Ballato, P., Hassanzadeh, J., Ghassemi, M.R., Strecker, M.R., 2017. Lake overspill and onset of fluvial incision in the Iranian Plateau: Insights from the Mianeh Basin. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. v.469, p. 135-147. 1 July 2017. Impact Factor: 4.409 5-Year Impact Factor: 4.966

Ballato, P., Cifelli, F., Heidarzadeh, G., Ghassemi, M.R., Wickert, A.D., Hassanzadeh, J., Dupont-Nivet, G., Balling, P., Sudo, M., Zeilinger, G., Schmitt, A.K., Mattei, M., and Strecker, M.R., 2017. Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the northern Iranian Plateau: insights from middle–late Miocene foreland-basin deposits. Basin Research, v.29. p. 417-446. August 2017. Impact Factor: 4.147

Jaberi, M., Ghassemi, M.R., Shayan, S., Yamani, M. and Zamanzadeh, M., 2017. Interaction between active tectonics, erosion and diapirism, a case study from Habble-Rud in Southern Central Alborz (Northern Iran). Geomorphology, 300, p. 77-94.

Nabavi, T., Alavi, A., Mohammadi. S. and Ghassemi, M.R., 2017. Mechanical evolution of transpression zones affected by fault interactions Insights from 3D elasto-plastic finite element models. Journal of Structural Geology, v. 106, p. 19-40.

Gholami-Zadeh, P., Adabi, M.H., Hisada, K.I., Hosseini-Barzi, M., Sadeghi, A. and Ghassemi, M.R., 2017. Revised version of the Cenozoic Collision along the Zagros Orogen, Insights from Cr-spinel and Sandstone Modal Analyses. Nature, Scientific Report, 7(1), 1-15, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-11042-1.

Latifi, K., Kaviani, A., Rümpker, G., Mahmoodabadi, M., Ghassemi, M.R., and Sadidkhouy, A. 2018. The effect of crustal anisotropy on SKS splitting analysis-synthetic models and real-data observations. Geophys. J. Int., v. 213, p. 1426-1447.

Hassanpour, J., Jahani, S., Ghassemi, M.R., Alavi, A. and Zeinali, F., 2018. Evolution of the Karebas Fault System and adjacent folds, central Zagros fold-and-thrust belt, Iran: Role of pre-existing halokinesis (salt sructures and minibasins) and detachment levels. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences v. 164, p. 125-142.

Garzanti, E., Ghassemi, M.R., Limonta, M. and Rosentini, A., 2019. Provenance of Karakum desert sand (Turkmenistan): Lithic-rich orogenic signature of central Asian dune fields. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (Research in Paleontology and Stratigraphy) v. 125(1), p. 77-89. IF: 0.978 (March 2019)

Sheikholeslami, M.R., Oberhänsli, R. and Ghassemi. M.R., 2019. Transpression tectonics in the eastern Binalud Mountains, northeast Iran; Insight from finite strain analysis, vorticity and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, v. 179 p. 219–237. IF: 2.866 5yr IF: 3.515. (online: 10-5-2019) (1 August 2019)

Ghassemi, M.R. and Garzanti, E., 2019. Geology and geomorphology of Turkmenistan: A review. Geopersia 9 (1), pp. 125-140. (online: 21-5-2019) (Winter-Spring 2019)

Sheikholeslami, M.R., Ghassemi, M.R. and Hassanzadeh, J., 2019. Tectonic evolution of the hinterland of the Zagros Orogen revealed from the deformation of the Golpaygan Metamorphic Complex, Iran. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, v. 182, 103929. (12 Sept. 2019)

Gholami Zadeh, P., Adabi. M.H., Ghassemi. M.R., Sadeghi. A., Eshraghi. S.A., 2020. Mélange development in the Neyriz region of Zagros Orogen, Iran: Record of convergence and collision in the Neotethyan Realm. Basin Res. 2020; 00:1–27. (6 March 2020 – IF 3.542)

Mohammadrezaei, H., Alavi, A., Cardozo, N., and Ghassemi, M.R., 2020. Deciphering the relationship between basement faulting and two-phase folding in the Hendijan anticline, northwest Persian Gulf, Iran. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 122 (2020) 104626. (Online August 12, 2020 – IF: 3.79)

Torabi, M., Fattahi, M., Amini, H., Ghassemi, M.R., Karimi, N., 2020. OSL dating of landslide-dammed-lake deposits in the North of Tehran, Iran 958 Ray-TaleghanRuyan Quaternary International, 562, 46-57. 10 October 2020, IF: 2.003

Öztürk, S., Ghassemi, M.R., and Sari, M., 2020. A comparison of alternative curve fitting techniques for different earthquake fault parameters of Iranian earthquakes. Earth Sci. Res. J. Vol. 24, No. 4 (December, 2020), 459-472.

Sheikholeslami, M.R., Mobayen, P., Javadi, H.R., and Ghassemi, M.R., 2021. Stress field and tectonic regime of Central Iran from inversion of the earthquake focal mechanisms. Tectonophysics, 813 (2021) 228931, 18 p.

Ghassemi, M.R. and Roustaei, M., 2021. Salt extrusion kinematics: insights from existing data, morphology and InSAR modelling of the active emergent Anguru diapir in the Zagros fold and thrust belt, Iran. Journal of the Geological Society, 15 p. June 8, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2020-136 (Impact factor: 3.100 5yr IF: 3.556)

Khalifeh-Soltani, A., Alavi, A., Ghassemi, M.R., and Ganjiani, M., 2021. Geomechanical modelling of fault-propagation folds: Estimating the influence of the internal friction angle and friction coefficient, Tectonophysics, 815 (2021) 228992, 15 p. (20 Sep. 2021; IF: 3.933)

Biralvand, M., Ballato, P., Balestrieri, M. L., Mohajjel, M., Sobel, E. R., Dunkl, I., Montegrossi, G., Ghassemi, M.R., Glodny, J., and Strecker, M.R., 2023. Low-temperature thermochronologic response to magmatic reheating: Insights from the Takab metallogenic district of NW Iran, (Arabia-Eurasia collision zone). Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24, e2022GC010561. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010561 (impact factor: 4.48)

Khalifeh-Soltani, A., Ghassemi, M.R., Alavi, A., and Ganjiani, M., 2023. Parameters controlling the geometry of detachment and fault-bend folds Insights from 3d finite-element models applied to the Ahwaz anticline in the Dezful embayment, SW Iran. Journal of Petroleum Geology, 46(2), 157-190. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpg.12834 (impact factor: 2.325)

Eslamirezaei, N., Alavi, A., Nabavi, T., and Ghassemi, M.R., 2023. Influence of multiple décollement and cover rock rheology on the structural evolution of thin-skinned fold-and-thrust belts insights from discrete element modelling. Comptes Rendus Géoscience - Sciences de la Planète, 355, 215-236. https://doi.org/10.5802/crgeos.224 (published online: June, 27, 2023 – IF: 1.512)

Khalifeh-Soltani, A., Alavi, A., Ghassemi, M.R., and Derakhshani, R., 2023. Stress and strain evolution in fault-related folds insights from 2D geomechanical modelling. Frontiers in Earth Sciences, 11:1249446. doi: 10.3389/feart.2023.1249446 (Published: Aug., 31, 2023; IF: 2.9)

Ghassemi, M.R., Allen, M.B., and Motamedi, H., 2023. A synthesis of the geology and petroleum geology of the Iranian portion of the South Caspian Basin and surrounding areas. Journal of Petroleum Geology, 46(4), 487-512. (Published: Oct. 1, 2023, IF 2022: 1.8)

Ghassemi, M.R., 2023. Inheritance of geology and geomorphology amidst urban growth: Historical development of the Tehran Metropolitan area, Iran. Geoheritage, 15:119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00882-1 (Published: Oct. 17, 2023, IF 2022: 2.9)

Ghassemi, M.R., Sheikholeslami, M.R., Javadi, H.R., and Heidarzadeh, G., 2023. Block rotation, kinematic relations, and block configurations: How do they work in nature? Journal of Structural Geology, 176, 104979. (Published: Nov. 1, 2023, IF 3.1)

Khalifeh-Soltani, A., Alavi, A., Ghassemi, M.R., Ganjiani, M., and Derakhshani, R., 2023. Elucidating fault-related fold mechanics: a 2D finite element analysis of bending, slip, and buckling mechanisms. Front. Earth Sci. 11:1295898. doi: 10.3389/feart.2023.1295898 (Published: Nov. 16, 2023, IF 2.9)

Shomali, S., Ghorbani, M., Ghassemi, M.R., Moosavi, E., and Salma, J., 2024. Petrography, U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry of Varcheh intrusions Insight into younging trend of mid-Cretaceous subduction in the northern Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone, western Iran. Geological Journal, 59(8), 2156-2174. https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.5001 (August 2024) (IF: 1.4)

Heydari, M., Ghassemi, M.R., Grützner, C., Tsukamoto, S., Chruścińska, A., and Preusser, F., 2024. First luminescence dating of exhumed fault-zone rocks of the North Tehran Fault, Iran. Quaternary Geochronology, 83, 101562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2024. 101562. (August 2024 – IF: 1.7)

Heydari, M., and Ghassemi, M.R., 2025. Revisiting the dip-slip rate of the North Tehran Fault (Northern Iran) through studying the faulted materials and geomorphic markers. Tectonophysics 897 (2025) 230610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2024.230610. (Published: 8 Jan. 2025) (IF: 2.7)

Ghassemi, M.R., Heydari, M., and Preusser, F., 2026. Mountain lake development by active tectonics and landslides in the North-Central Alborz (Northern Iran). Geomorphology, 493, 110058, 17 p.

Heydari, M., Kreutzer, S., Hung, C., Ghassemi, M.R., Martin, L., Tsukamoto, S., Preusser, F., and Niemeijer, A., 2026. Unveiling earthquakes: thermoluminescence signal resetting of a natural polymineral sample in laboratory-produced fault gouge. Scientific Reports, 16:12746, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-47125-1 (Aprile 19, 2026) (IF: 3.