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Investigation of salt domes was carried out on the entrie region of Southern Iran which approximately covers an area of 140,000 square kilometers.
Fifteen Landsat 1 and 2 images were selected from 325 available ones for this study. The images were of the Multispectral Scanner System (MSS), band 7 type with the scale of 1/500,000 and 1/1,000,000. False color composite prints were also utilized in delineation of salt domes. The alone imaging data were effectively used in mapping of salt domes and previously known and newly detected structural lineaments in the study area.
In 5 out of 18 cases, unpierced salt plugs were easily correlatable with erosional characteristics, anticlinal morphology and tonal contrast present in the region. Seventy percent of 118 pierced salt domes located in the study area were recognized on the basis of their special dark spectral signature and reflectance characteristics. Restrictions of utilizing the imaging data in delineation of salt domes such as their small distribution, elongation along the bedding planes, plunge of anticlinal axies, disection by faults, crushed country rocks and finally the similarity of spectral tone of the unidentified salt domes with adjacent rocks did not permit the delineation of the remaining 30 percent unknown salt domes.
NW-SE and NE-SW structural trends are considered responsible for salt plug occurances and two new North-East-Southwesterly trends are added to previously known trends.
Finally, With respect to presence of 67% of salt domes adjacent to the structural lineaments, it is concluded that tectonic forces are of greater importance in salt plug piercement in Southern Iran.