The effects of the North Anatolian Fault on the geomorphology in the Eastern Marmara Region,Northwestern Turkey

North-western Anatolia has been actively deformed since Pliocene by the right-lateral North Anatolian Fault (NAF). This transform fault, which has a transtensional character in its western end due to effects from the Aegean extensional system, is a major control on the regional geomorphologic evolution. This study applied some geomorphic analyses, such as stream longitudinal profiles, stream length-gradient index, ratio of valley floor width and valley height, mountain front sinuosity, hypsometry and asymmetry factor analyses, to an area just east of the Sea of Marmara in order to understand the tectonic effects on the area’s geomorphological evolution. The active and fastest northern branch of the NAF lies within a topographic depression connecting Sea of Marmara in the east to the Adapazar? Basin in the west. This depression filled with early Pleistocene and younger sediment after a series of pull-apart basins opened along the NAF. North of this depression lies the Kocaeli Peneplain, whose southern edge the NAF uplifted. Meandering streams on the central peneplain were incised possibly due to baselevel changes in the Black Sea. South of the depression, an E-trending mountainous area has a rugged morphology. Based on geomorphic analyses, uplifted Pliocene sediment, marine terraces, and recent earthquake activity, this area between northern and southern branches of the NAF is actively uplifting. The geomorphic indices used in this study are sensitive to vertical movements rather than lateral ones. The bedrock lithology that played an important role on the area’s geomorphologic evolution also affects the geomorphic indices used here.     

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the origin of the Southeast Anatolian ophiolites,Turkey

The Southeast Anatolian ophiolites outcropping in the Southeast Anatolian Orogenic Belt (Southeast of Turkey) mark the closure of the southern branch of the Neotethys Ocean associated with the collision between the Arabian Plate and Anatolian microplate. We present new geochemical, zircon U–Pb age, zircon Lu–Hf, and Sr-Nd isotopic data on the Southeast Anatolian Ophiolites to understand their formation ages, magma genesis, and geotectonic implications. The ophiolites, which are related to island arc igneous rocks, consist of mantle peridotites and crustal rocks (less dunite, gabbros, sheeted dykes, massive, and pillow basalts). The flat rare-earth element (REE) patterns, depletion in Nb and Ta, and enrichment in LILEs (Ba, Rb, Th, Sr, Pb) of gabbros suggest close similarities with very low Ti (boninitic) lavas found in the forearc regions. Using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, zircon separated from leucogabbros, diabase dykes, and plagiogranites yield U-Pb ages of 92 and 83 Ma, which are interpreted to represent the formation ages of the ophiolites. The zircons in the gabbros and plagiogranites are dominated by positive εHf(t) values (between +3.1 and +?17.45) with a few negative εHf(t) values. High εHf(t) features are consistent with derivation from Mid-oceanic Ridge Basalt (MORB)-source mantle. The negative εHf(t) values of the zircons suggest the involvement of subducted sedimentary rocks. The southeast Anatolian ophiolites represent an SSZ-type ophiolite and are part of the Late Cretaceous oceanic lithosphere of the southern branch of the Neotethys Ocean that opened during the Late Triassic and closed during the Late Cretaceous.     

The Nature of the Crustal Structure of the Eastern Anatolian Plateau,Turkey

The Eastern Anatolian Plateau (EAP) of Turkey, with an elevation ranging from 1700 to 2000 m, is located between the Eastern Pontide Arc to the north and the Arabian Platform to the south. In this region, pre-Maastrichtian tectonic units representing the crust crop out in only a few localities. As they are covered by Maastrichtian-Quaternary rock units, it is difficult to study the nature and mutual relationships of these pre-Maastrichtian tectonic units.

The palaeotectonic units of the EAP comprise two different levels in the present study: (1) The lower level consists of platform-type carbonates and their metamorphic equivalents. These units may represent the Taurus Platform and its metamorphic equivalents. (2) The upper level consists of an ophiolitic-mélange prism which is made up mainly of oceanic crust; the prism comprises a complex of ophiolite, ophiolitic mélange, and fore-arc deposits. This upper unit represents a subduction-accretion prism and may have originated partly from the North Anatolian Suture to the north, and partly from the South-eastern Anatolian Suture to the south.

Continental crustal rocks were thrust over by the ophiolitic mélange prism; thus outcrops of them are scarce in the region as they are exposed in tectonic windows through the ophiolitic thrust sheets. The pre-Maastrichtian tectonic units of the EAP are blanketed by Maastrichtian to Quaternary volcanic and sedimentary rock units; these sequences include successive transgressive and regressive intervals and overlie the palaeotectonic units along a pronounced unconformity. Olistostromal units are abundant in the Eocene sedimentary units and were derived from the ophiolites and ophiolitic mélange. The Maastrichtian-Quaternary cover is made up of collisional and post-collisional deposits across the whole region.

Although the EAP has been experiencing considerable N-S compression, it has not been affected by significant crustal thickening because of the strike-slip tectonic regime that is dominant in the region.     

Earthquake imprints on a lacustrine deltaic system: The Kürk Delta along the East Anatolian Fault (Turkey)

Deltas contain sedimentary records that are not only indicative of water‐level changes, but also particularly sensitive to earthquake shaking typically resulting in soft‐sediment‐deformation structures. The Kürk lacustrine delta lies at the south‐western extremity of Lake Hazar in eastern Turkey and is adjacent to the seismogenic East Anatolian Fault, which has generated earthquakes of magnitude 7. This study re‐evaluates water‐level changes and earthquake shaking that have affected the Kürk Delta, combining geophysical data (seismic‐reflection profiles and side‐scan sonar), remote sensing images, historical data, onland outcrops and offshore coring. The history of water‐level changes provides a temporal framework for the depositional record. In addition to the common soft‐sediment deformation documented previously, onland outcrops reveal a record of deformation (fracturing, tilt and clastic dykes) linked to large earthquake‐induced liquefactions and lateral spreading. The recurrent liquefaction structures can be used to obtain a palaeoseismological record. Five event horizons were identified that could be linked to historical earthquakes occurring in the last 1000 years along the East Anatolian Fault. Sedimentary cores sampling the most recent subaqueous sedimentation revealed the occurrence of another type of earthquake indicator. Based on radionuclide dating (¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb), two major sedimentary events were attributed to the ad 1874 to 1875 East Anatolian Fault earthquake sequence. Their sedimentological characteristics were determined by X‐ray imagery, X‐ray diffraction, loss‐on‐ignition, grain‐size distribution and geophysical measurements. The events are interpreted to be hyperpycnal deposits linked to post‐seismic sediment reworking of earthquake‐triggered landslides.     

Anatolian surface wave evaluated at GEOFON Station ISP Isparta, Turkey

We have studied seismic surface waves of 255 shallow regional earthquakes recently recorded at GEOFON station ISP (Isparta, Turkey) and have selected these 52 recordings with high signal-to-noise ratio for further analysis. An attempt was made by the simultaneous use of the Rayleigh and Love surface wave data to interpret the planar crust and uppermost mantle velocity structure beneath the Anatolian plate using a differential least-square inversion technique. The shear-wave velocities near the surface show a gradational change from approximately 2.2 to 3.6 km s^− 1 in the depth range 0–10 km. The mid-crustal depth range indicating a weakly developed low velocity zone has shear-wave velocities around 3.55 km s^− 1. The Moho discontinuity characterizing the crust–mantle velocity transition appears somewhat gradual between the depth range  25–45 km. The surface waves approaching from the northern Anatolia are estimated to travel a crustal thickness of  33 km whilst those from the southwestern Anatolia and part of east Mediterranean Sea indicate a thicker crust at  37 km. The eastern Anatolia events traveled even thicker crust at  41 km. A low sub-Moho velocity is estimated at  4.27 km s^− 1, although consistent with other similar studies in the region. The current velocities are considerably slower than indicated by the Preliminary Reference Earth Model (PREM) in almost all depth ranges.     

Geochemistry of post-collisional mafic lavas from the North Anatolian Fault zone, Northwestern Turkey

Extensive magmatic activity developed at the northwestern part of the Anatolian block and produced basaltic lavas that are situated along and between the two segments of the North Anatolian Fault zone. This region is a composite tectonic unit formed by collision of continental fragments after consumption of Neotethyan ocean floor during the late Cretaceous. Northwestern Anatolian basalts and evolved lavas exhibit both tholeiitic and calc-alkaline characteristics. Mafic lavas are moderately enriched in LILE (except depleted part of Yuvacık and İznik samples) and depleted in HFSE (but not Zr, Hf) relative to primitive mantle values, suggesting derivation from a MORB-like mantle source that is unexpected in this subduction environment. Sr and Nd isotopes are close to the mantle array and vary beyond analytical error (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.70404–0.70546, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd 0.51270–0.51289). These geochemical features may result from two possible processes: (1) melting of a MORB-like mantle source that was modified by subduction-released fluids and melts or (2) modification of mafic liquids derived from a dominantly MORB-like source by crustal or lithospheric mantle material. Geochemical characteristics of the lavas (e.g., Ba/Rb, Rb/Sr, Ba/Zr, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, Sr/P) vary systematically along the fault zone from east to west, consistent with a decrease in the degree of melting from east to west or a change in the nature of the source composition itself. Thus, the difference in incompatible elements and Sr–Nd isotopic ratios seems to result from small-scale mantle heterogeneity in a post-collisional tectonic environment.     

Activity level of tectonic basins,western section of the North Anatolian Fault Zone,Turkey

We employed quantitative techniques to investigate tectonic activity levels and development stages of the Bolu, Yenicaga, Dortdivan, Cerkes, Ilgaz, and Tosya structural basins along the western portions of the main trace of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). Our methodology incorporates six morphometric indices: basin shape (basin elongation and compactness), hypsometric integral, mountain-front sinuosity, stream length gradient index, valley floor width-to-height ratio, and asymmetry factor, obtained from the digital elevation model of the region generated from 1/25,000-scale topographic maps. These indices are integrated within the framework of an analytical hierarchy process to provide relative activity level values of the individual basins. The new analyses indicate that the basins have contrasting tectonic activity characteristics. Judging from the applied indices, the relative increasing order of the tectonic basin activity is Dortdivan, Cerkes, Yenicaga, Ilgaz, Tosya, and Bolu. Among the basins located to the north of the NAFZ, the activity decreases eastwards, whereas to the south of this profound fault zone, it decreases towards the west.     

Geologic and Tectonic Setting of the Yozgat Batholith,Northern Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex,Turkey

The Yozgat Batholith lies along the northern edge of the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex in Central Anatolia, Turkey. The batholith intruded the Paleozoic-Mesozoic metamorphics and Cretaceous ophiolitic mélange, and was nonconformably overlain by latest Maastrichtian-Paleocene and/or Eocene clastics, carbonates, and volcanics. The batholith itself may be subdivided into several mappable subunits bounded by Cretaceous ophiolitic mélange, Eocene cover, and/or faults.

Major- and trace-element as well as REE analyses of the subunits indicate that the granitoids of the Yozgat Batholith are principally metaluminous monzogranites, of subalkaline-calc-alkaline character, except for the peraluminous leucogranitoids of the Yozgat subunit. The granitoids were derived by thickening of the continental crust and related partial melting; the thickening was caused by emplacement of ophiolitic nappes during collisional events.     

Neotectonic evolution of the northwestward arched segment of the Central Anatolian Fault Zone,Central Anatolia,Turkey

Abstract

Central Anatolia has undergone complex Neotectonic deformation since Late Miocene-Pliocene times. Many faults and intracontinental basins in this region were either formed, or have been reactivated, during this period. The eastern part of central Anatolia is dominated by a NE-SW-trending, left lateral transcurrent structure named the Central Anatolian fault zone located between Sivas in the northeast and west of Mersin in the southwest. Around the central part, it is characterized by transtensional depressions formed by left stepping and southward bending of the fault zone. Pre-Upper Miocene basement rocks of the region consist of the central Anatolian crystalline complex and a sedimentary cover of Tertiary age. These rock units were strongly deformed by N-S con- vergence. The entire area emerged to become the site of erosion and formed a vast plateau before the Late Miocene. A NE-SW- trending extensional basin developed on this plateau in Late Miocene-Early Pliocene times. Rock units of this basin are characterized by a thick succession of pyroclastic rocks intercalated with calcalkaline-alkaline volcanics. The volcanic sequence is uncon- formably overlain by Pliocene lacustrine-fluviatile deposits interrelated with ignimbrites and tuffs. Thick, coarse grained alluvial/colluvial fan deposits of marginal facies and fine grained elastics and carbonates of central facies display characteristic synsedimentary structures with volcanic intercalations. These are the main lines of evidence for development of a new transtensional H?rka— k?zd?rmak basin in Pliocene times. Reactivation of the main segment of the Central Anatolian fault zone has triggered development of depressions around the left stepping and southward bending of the central part of this sinistral fault zone in the ignimbritic plateau during Late Pliocene-Quaternary time. These transtensional basins are named the Tuzla Gölü and Sultansazl??? pull-apart basins. The Sultansazl??? basin has a lazy S to rhomboidal shape and displays characteristic morphologic features including a steep and stepped western margin, large alluvial and colluvial fans, and a huge composite volcano (the Erciyes Da??).

The geometry of faulting and formation of pull-apart basins can be explained within the framework of tectonic escape of the wedgelike Anatolian block, bounded by sinistral East Anatolian fault zone and dextral North Anatolian transform fault zone. This escape may have been accomplished as lateral continental extrusion of the Anatolian Plate caused by final collision of the Arabian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

Neotectonic evolution of the northwestward arched segment of the Central Anatolian Fault Zone,Central Anatolia,Turkey

Central Anatolia has undergone complex Neotectonic deformation since Late Miocene–Pliocene times. Many faults and intracontinental basins in this region were either formed, or have been reactivated, during this period. The eastern part of central Anatolia is dominated by a NE–SW-trending, left lateral transcurrent structure named the Central Anatolian fault zone located between Sivas in the northeast and west of Mersin in the southwest. Around the central part, it is characterized by transtensional depressions formed by left stepping and southward bending of the fault zone.Pre-Upper Miocene basement rocks of the region consist of the central Anatolian crystalline complex and a sedimentary cover of Tertiary age. These rock units were strongly deformed by N–S convergence. The entire area emerged to become the site of erosion and formed a vast plateau before the Late Miocene. A NE–SW-trending extensional basin developed on this plateau in Late Miocene–Early Pliocene times. Rock units of this basin are characterized by a thick succession of pyroclastic rocks intercalated with calcalkaline–alkaline volcanics. The volcanic sequence is unconformably overlain by Pliocene lacustrine–fluviatile deposits intercalated with ignimbrites and tuffs. Thick, coarse grained alluvial/colluvial fan deposits of marginal facies and fine grained clastics and carbonates of central facies display characteristic synsedimentary structures with volcanic intercalations. These are the main lines of evidence for development of a new transtensional Hırka–Kızılırmak basin in Pliocene times. Reactivation of the main segment of the Central Anatolian fault zone has triggered development of depressions around the left stepping and southward bending of the central part of this sinistral fault zone in the ignimbritic plateau during Late Pliocene–Quaternary time. These transtensional basins are named the Tuzla Gölü and Sultansazlığı pull-apart basins. The Sultansazlığı basin has a lazy S to rhomboidal shape and displays characteristic morphologic features including a steep and stepped western margin, large alluvial and colluvial fans, and a huge composite volcano (the Erciyes Dağı).The geometry of faulting and formation of pull-apart basins can be explained within the framework of tectonic escape of the wedge-like Anatolian block, bounded by sinistral East Anatolian fault zone and dextral North Anatolian transform fault zone. This escape may have been accomplished as lateral continental extrusion of the Anatolian Plate caused by final collision of the Arabian Plate with the Eurasian Plate.     

Mineralization Events in a Collision-Related Setting: The Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex,Turkey

Examination of mineral deposits in the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex provides broad new insights regarding their genesis. Collision and postcollision-related magmatic processes during closure of the northern branch of the Neotethyan Ocean, caused by northward subduction of the oceanic crust beneath the Sakarya Microcontinent in the Late Cretaceous-Eocene, led to the formation of several types of mineral deposits. These include: (1) skarn-type deposits (Pb-Zn, Fe, and Fe-W skarns); (2) vein-type deposits (molybdenum, fluo-rite, stibnite-cinnabar, and stibnite-cinnabar-scheelite vein deposits); (3) sedimentary diatomite, kaolinite, salt, and uranium deposits; and (4) volcanogenic perlite, pumice, and sulfur deposits. Considering their regional distribution and relationship to the geologic evolution of the region, the skarn and vein deposits constitute an important part of the metallogeny of the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex.     

Geochemistry of uranium and thorium and natural radioactivity levels of the western Anatolian plutons,Turkey

Mineralogy and Petrology - Seventy samples from major plutons (mainly granitic) of Western Anatolia (Turkey) have been analyzed by γ-ray spectrometry to determine the specific activities of...     

Paleoseismology of the Palu–Lake Hazar segment of the East Anatolian Fault Zone, Turkey

The East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) is among the most important active continental transform fault zones in the world as testified by major historical and minor instrumental seismicity. The first paleoseismological exploratory trenching study on the EAFZ was done on the Palu–Lake Hazar segment (PLHS), which is one of the six segments forming the fault zone, in order to determine its past activity and to assess its earthquake hazard.The results of trenching indicate that the latest surface rupturing earthquakes on this segment may be the Ms=7.1+ 1874 and Ms=6.7 1875 events, and there were other destructive earthquakes prior to these events. The recurrence interval for a surface rupturing large (M>7) earthquake is estimated as minimum 100±35 and maximum 360 years. Estimates for the maximum possible paleoearthquake magnitude are (Mw) 7.1–7.7 for the Palu–Lake Hazar segment based on empirical magnitude fault rupture relations.An alluvial fan dated 14,475–15,255 cal years BP as well as another similar age fan with an abandoned stream channel on it are offset in a left-lateral sense 175 and 160.5 m, respectively, indicating an average slip rate of 11 mm/year. Because 127 years have elapsed since the last surface rupturing event, this slip rate suggests that 1.4 m of left-lateral strain has accumulated along the segment, ignoring possible creep effects, folding and other inelastic deformation. A 2.5 Ma age for the start of left-lateral movement on the segment, and in turn the EAFZ, is consistent with a slip rate of 11 mm/year and a previously reported 27 km total left-lateral offset. The cumulative 5–6 mm/year vertical slip rate near Lake Hazar suggests a possible age of 148–178 ka for the lake. Our trenching results indicate also that a significant fraction of the slip across the EAFZ zone is likely to be accommodated seismically. The present seismic quiescence compared with the past activity (paleoseismic and historic) indicate that the EAFZ may be “locked” and accumulating elastic strain energy but could move in the near future.     

Stress modeling to determine the through-going active fault geometry of the Western North Anatolian Fault,Turkey

The North Anatolian Fault (NAF) is a 1200 km long dextral strike-slip fault which is part of an east-west trending dextral shear zone (NAF system) between the Anatolian and Eurasian plates. The North Anatolian shear zone widens to the west, complicating potential earthquake rupture paths and highlighting the importance of understanding the geometry of active fault systems. In the central portion of the NAF system, just west of the town of Bolu, the NAF bifurcates into the northern and southern strands, which converge, then diverge to border the Marmara Sea. At their convergence east of the Marmara Sea, these two faults are linked through the Mudurnu Valley. The westward continuation of these two fault traces is marked by further complexities in potential active fault geometry, particularly in the Marmara Sea for the northern strand, and towards the Biga Peninsula for the southern strand. Potential active fault geometries for both strands of the NAF are evaluated by comparing stress models of various fault geometries in these regions to a record of focal mechanisms and inferred paleostress from a lineament analysis. For the Marmara region, the best-fit active fault geometry consists of the northern and southern bounding faults of the Marmara basin, as the model representing this geometry better replicated primary stress orientations seen in focal mechanism data and stress field interpretations. In the Biga Peninsula region, the active geometry of the southern strand has the southern fault merging with the northern fault through a linking fault in a narrow topographic valley. This geometry was selected over the other two as it best replicated the maximum horizontal stresses determined from focal mechanism data and a lineament analysis.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of intrusive and extrusive ophiolitic plagiogranites, Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex, Turkey

Plagiogranites associated with the Sarikaraman ophiolite of the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex, Turkey, closely resemble other plagiogranites from supra-subduction zone-type ophiolites of Neotethys. The ophiolite is remarkable in displaying a higher proportion of the plagiogranite suite (ca. 10% by volume) than is usually associated with such bodies. The Sarikaraman plagiogranites are represented by intrusive sheets and netvein trondhjemites largely developed at the top of the upper gabbros and as multiphase dykes within the sheeted dyke complex. The plagiogranite dykes are considered to feed extrusive silicified rhyolites associated with the basaltic lavas in the volcanic section of the ophiolite. Field relations suggest that the trondhjemites were probably generated from the roof section of a dynamic and evolving gabbroic magma chamber. Both the deep-seated trondhjemites and the volcanic rhyolites constitute the Sarikaraman plagiogranite suite. Geochemically there is complete overlap between the intrusive trondhjemites and extrusive rhyolites, which are characterised by (MORB-normalized) low HFS element contents with small negative Nb---Ta anomalies and variably enhanced LIL element abundances. Unlike other plagiogranites, however, the Sarikaraman suite is not characterized by consistently low K₂O contents; a feature that reflects the variable mobilization of the LIL elements under lower greenschist facies conditions. The REE are uniformly enriched relative to the basic components of the complex, but have similar normalized patterns exhibiting mild light REE depletion. In terms of their origin, the initial or most primitive plagiogranite melts could have been generated by either fractional crystallization (70–85% of clinopyroxene-feldspar ± amphibole) or partial melting (5–15% batch melting) of a gabbroic ‘source material’, although only the first process can produce most of the range of the plagiogranite compositions. As a group the plagiogranites exhibit some degree of internal variation which can be generated by further fractionation largely dominated by feldspar with minor apatite and amphibole.     

Closing-up structures, alternatives to pull-apart basins; the effect of bends in the North Anatolian Fault, Turkey

Fault blocks passing bends or stepovers in a fault zone must adapt their margins to the uneven fault trace. Two cases of adaption are distinguished for extensional bends or stepovers (transtension): (1) The fault margins close up behind a single bend ('knickpoint') of a strike-slip fault and a 'closing-up structure' (new term) arises or (2) fault-block margins are extended behind a releasing bend (double bend) or stepover parallel to the displacement and a pull-apart basin originates. The dosing up described here is accomplished by acute-angled synthetic strike-slip faults that dissect the straight fault in front of a knickpoint to form a zig-zag block boundary behind it. Crustal extension is also involved in the closing-up structure, but in a different way from typical pull-apart basins.
The closing-up structure illustrated was developed behind an extensional knickpoint in the North Anatolian Fault west of Lake Abant, NW Turkey, where the process of closing up continues to this day. The kinematic model of this closing-up structure is supported by displacements and ruptures observed during the 1967 Mudurnu valley earthquake and the 1957 Abant earthquake.     

Seismo-Tectonic Characteristics of the North Anatolian Fault Zone Between Akyazi and Duzce (Bolu,Turkey)

The active North Anatolian fault zone (NAFZ) presents very complex seismotectonic activity. The occurrence of the Abant earthquake in 1957 (Ms = 7.1) and the Mudurnu earthquake in 1967 (Ms = 6.8) are only two examples of several seismic events associated with intense tectonic activity of the NAFZ. Statistical analyses of earthquakes in an area extending between 30° 30′ to 31° 30' E Long. and 40° 15′ to 41° 00′ N Lat. reveal that epicenters generally were shallow. However, a few deep epicenters also were located, some of which reached a depth of 30 km. The epicenters were found to concentrate in a zone lying between the Duzce and Akyazi Plain to the north of Almacik Mountain and in the Adapazari Plain. The Northern Anatolian fault displays an en echelon character in the area, except for the eastern part, where it extends as a single segment. The en echelon character of the NAFZ is interpreted as a structure distributing the potential energy and consequently reducing the intensity of earthquakes, giving rise to micro-earthquakes of magnitudes less than 4.2.     

Liquefaction during the June 27, 1998 Adana-Ceyhan (Turkey) Earthquake

On June 27, 1998, a moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck the alluvial plains of Cukurova in the Adana-Ceyhan region of Turkey. The earthquake resulted in 145 deaths, about a thousand injuries and significant damage to more than ten thousand structures. The coincidence of the projected location of the release of energy along the earthquake fault with a very vulnerable geological surface formation (the thick alluvial deposits of Ceyhan River containing loose sand layers) resulted in liquefied sediments of substantial thickness and extensive areal distribution. Liquefaction associated ground deformations such as lateral spreading, flow failures, ground fissures and subsidence, sand boils, and slope failures were observed. This paper presents and analyses the geotechnical aspects of this earthquake with the main emphasis on the observed liquefaction and associated ground deformations, together with the earthquake characteristics. The observed liquefaction mechanisms provide valuable information on the seismic response of the alluvial soils covering most of the Cukurova plains, an area of industrial and agricultural importance with more than 2 million inhabitants. The observations from this earthquake also provide us with an opportunity to further improve our understanding of the observed phenomena and their effects that can be expected during other future earthquake events around the world.