Neotectonics of East Anatolian Plateau (Turkey) and Lesser Caucasus: implication for transition from thrusting to strike-slip faulting

Abstract

The east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus are characterised and shaped by three major structures: (1) NW- and NE-trending dextral to sinistral active strike-slip faults, (2) N-S to NNW-trending fissures and /or Plio-Quatemary volcanoes, and (3) a 5-km thick, undeformed Plio-Quatemary continental volcanosedimentary sequence accumulated in various strike-slip basins. In contrast to the situation in the east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus, the Transcaucasus and the Great Caucasus are characterised by WNW-trending active thrust to reverse faults, folds, and 6-km thick, undeformed (except for the fault-bounded basin margins) continuous Oligocene-Quaternary molassic sequence accumulated in actively developing ramp basins. Hence, the neotectonic regime in the Great Caucasus and the Transcaucasus is compressional-contractional, and Oligocene-Quaternary in age; whereas it is compressional-extensional, and Plio-Quatemary in age in the east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus.

Middle and Upper Miocene volcano-sedimentary sequences are folded and thrust-to-reverse-faulted as a result of compressional- contractional tectonic regime accompanied by mostly calc-alkaline volcanic activity, whereas Middle Pliocene-Quaternary sequences, which rest with angular unconformity on the pre-Middle Pliocene rocks, are nearly flat-lying and dominated by strike-slip faulting accompanied by mostly alkali volcanic activity implying an inversion in tectonic regime. The strike-slip faults cut and displace dykes, reverse to thrust faults and fold axes of Late Miocene age up to maximum 7 km: hence these faults are younger than Late Miocene, i.e., these formed after Late Miocene. Therefore, the time period between late Serravalian (~ 12 Ma) continent-continent collision of Arabian and Eurasian plates and the late Early Pliocene inversion in both the tectonic regime, basin type and deformation pattern (from folding and thrusting to strike-slip faulting) is here termed as the Transitional period.

Orientation patterns of various neotectonic structures and focal mechanism solutions of recent earthquakes that occurred in the east Anatolian plateau and the Caucasus fit well with the N-S directed intracontinental convergence between the Arabian plate in the south and the Eurasian plate in the north lasting since Late Miocene or Early Pliocene in places. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

New field and seismic data about the intraplate strike-slip deformation in Van region,East Anatolian plateau,E. Turkey

The study area is the Van earthquake region. It is located in the western section of the East Anatolian–Iranian plateau outside and to the east of the Karlıova triple junction. Based on the tectonic periods, the rock units exposed in the study area are classified into two common categories. These are the Pre-Late Pliocene paleotectonic units and the Plio-Quaternary neotectonic units. The Paleotectonic units are composed of the Yüksekova Complex of Campanian–Maastrichtian age and the Kırkgeçit Formation of Oligo-Miocene age. The paleotectonic units are intensely deformed (folded, thrust to reverse faulted and converted into an imbricate stack). The neotectonic units are composed of fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary facies with volcanic interclations. It is full of soft-sedimentary structures such as deltaic structure, slump fold, sand dikes to sills and normal to reverse types of growth faults which imply to a sedimentation accompanied by both a volcanic activity and active tectonics. Originally the Paleotectonic units are overlain with an angular unconformity by the nearly flat-lying neotectonic units. This angular unconformity and the big difference in the deformational patterns of both categories of rock units indicate an inversion in tectonic regime in Late Pliocene. The new tectonic regime is the strike-slip faulting-dominated neotectonic regime. It is governed by an approximately N–S-directed compression, and composed of NW- to NE-trending strike-slip faults, N–S trending oblique-slip normal faults to fissures and the E–W trending thrust to reverse faults. Most of thrust to reverse faults are inherited from the Pre-Late Pliocene paleotectonic regime. Some of them have reactivated and led to the occurrence of large and devastative earthquakes. The last devastative seismic event is the 23 October 2011 Tabanlı (Van) earthquake of Mw = 7.2 that caused 644 deaths and moderate to heavy damage of ¼ of structures (28,532) in Van earthquake region. The source of the Tabanlı earthquake is the Everek erosional reverse fault. In addition the Tabanlı earthquake is the largest seismic event occurred till now in Turkey. It was followed by a series (over 6000) of small-sized aftershocks and severeal moderate-sized indepentent earthquakes of reverse, normal and strike-slip faulting origin. Both the field and new seismic data strongly reveal that the prominent tectonic regime in the East Anatolian plateau is the strike-slip neotectonic regime, not the tensional tectonic regime as has been reported in some previous works. The strike-slip faulting and related deformation are confined into the upper shallowing part (up to 40 km) of the crust, whilst the extensional deformations are the subcrustal processes and being taking place in a squashy zone at the depths of approximately 40–60 km.     

Late Cenozoic tectonics and stratigraphy of northwestern Anatolia: the effects of the North Anatolian Fault to the region

In northwest Anatolia, there is a mosaic of different morpho-tectonic fragments within the western part of the right-lateral strike-slip North Anatolian Fault (NAF) Zone. These were developed from compressional and extensional tectonic regimes during the paleo- and neo-tectonic periods of Turkish orogenic history. A NE-SW-trending left-lateral strike-slip fault system (Adapazari-Karasu Fault) extends through the northern part of the Sakarya River Valley and began to develop within a N–S compressional tectonic regime which involved all of northern Anatolia during Middle Eocene to early Middle Miocene times. Since the end of Middle Miocene times, this fault system forms a border between a compressional tectonic regime in the eastern area eastwards from the northern part of the Sakarya River Valley, and an extensional tectonic regime in the Marmara region to the west. The extension caused the development of basins and ridges, and the incursions of the Mediterranean Sea into the site of the future Sea of Marmara since Late Miocene times. Following the initiation in late Middle Miocene times and the eastward propagation of extension along the western part of the NAF, a block (North Anatolian Block) began to form in the northern Anatolia region since the end of Pliocene times. The Adapazari-Karasu Fault constitutes the western boundary of this block which is bounded by the NAF in the south, the Northeast Anatolian Fault in the east, and the South Black Sea Thrust Fault in the north. The northeastward movement of the North Anatolian Block caused the formation of a marine connection between the Black Sea and the Aegean/Mediterranean Sea during the Pleistocene.     

Non-marine sedimentation associated with Oligocene-Recent exhumation and uplift of the Central Taurus Mountains,S Turkey

Three related basins in southern Turkey, the Ecemiş Basin, the Karsanti Basin and the Aktoprak Basin, document the Neogene-Recent regional exhumation and surface uplift history of the Central Taurus Mountains. The regional tectonic framework was established by a Late Eocene phase of compressional deformation that ended Tethys-related marine deposition. During the Oligocene–Early Miocene non-marine sedimentation was dominantly from braided rivers flowing from the nascent Taurus Mountains and from the Niğde metamorphic massif further north. During this period erosion more or less kept pace with exhumation and the topography remained subdued, allowing a marine incursion (probably eustatically controlled) into the Karsanti Basin in the east during Early Oligocene time. Regional exhumation was possibly controlled by thermal uplift of an actively extending area located behind the subducting S-Neotethys in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. During exhumation, largely ophiolitic rocks were eroded, revealing the deformed Mesozoic Tauride carbonate platform beneath. The area was affected by a short-lived pulse of compressional deformation/transpression, probably in Mid-Miocene time, but extensional exhumation then resumed, as indicated by the presence of metamorphic-derived clasts from the adjacent Niğde Massif. Late Miocene deposition was dominated by large inward-draining lakes, consistent with regional evidence of a humid climate during this time. Strong surface uplift took place during Plio-Quaternary time. Drainage to the Mediterranean became established, allowing river valleys to incise deeply into the flanks of the Taurus Mountains. Palaeo-valleys were successively infilled with coarse alluvial sediments. This deposition was influenced by NE–SW trending extensional faults. In addition, the sedimentary evolution of the area was strongly influenced by the NNE–SSW trending Ecemiş Fault Zone, which has experienced ca. 60 km of left-lateral strike-slip since the Late Eocene. An important pulse of normal faulting/transtension in latest Miocene–early Pliocene time generated large fault scarps. These acted as sources for large Plio-Quaternary alluvial fans, which prograded across active strike-slip faults. The morphology of these fans was influenced by a combination of Quaternary climatic change, axial-fluvial downcutting and active strike-slip tectonics. In general, the Plio-Quaternary regional uplift of the Taurus Mountains may relate to underplating of material derived from the African plate during progressive collision with the Anatolian (Eurasian) plate in the vicinity of the easternmost Mediterranean Sea.     

Superimposed Basins and Their Relations to the Recent Strike-Slip Fault Zone: A Case Study of the Refahiye Superimposed Basin Adjacent to the North Anatolian Transform Fault,Northeastern Turkey

Compressional or extensional troughs occupied by at least two sedimentary fills of dissimilar age, origin, facies, internal structure, and deformation pattern are herein termed superimposed basins. The lower and older fill of such basins is inherited from the latest compressional paleotectonic regime, and therefore is highly deformed (folded to thrust faulted). In contrast, the upper fill (neotectonic fill) is nearly flat, or undeformed, resting on the erosional surface of the lower fill with an angular unconformity. Superimposed basins occur mostly in or adjacent to recently active extensional terrains and recent strike-slip fault zones cutting across suture zones.

Within the framework of neotectonics, recent geologic studies such as field geologic mapping, measured stratigraphic sections, aerial photography, and remote-sensing studies conducted in Turkey have shown that a number of well-developed and preserved superimposed basins occur along and adjacent to the North Anatolian transform fault (NATF), obliquely crossing the late Tertiary Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture zone (IAESZ). One such superimposed basin is the Refahiye, previously and erroneously interpreted to be a strike-slip basin of Pliocene age. In contrast, this study demonstrates that it is a well-preserved superimposed basin consisting of a combination of both an early-formed, early-middle Miocene piggy-back basin (the older Refahiye basin) and a newly developing strike-slip basin (the Kova basin). The Refahiye basin, located on the southern block of the Niksar-Erzincan segment of the Northern Anatolian fault master strand (NAFMS), contains two fills: (1) lower-middle Miocene latest paleotectonic fill (lower fill), and (2) Plio-Quaternary neotectonic fill (upper fill). The lower fill consists mostly of fluvial red clastics approximately 1 km thick with intercalations of gypsum lenses and shallow-marine reefal limestone of early-middle Miocene age. It is intensely folded, thrust-faulted, and not confined the present-day configuration of the Refahiye basin. The lower fill and its deformational structures, such as folds and thrust faults, are crossed and displaced dextrally by an active strike-slip fault system, the NATE In contrast, the upper fill, which rests on the erosional surface of the lower fill with an angular unconformity, consists of Plio-Quaternary terrace conglomerates, Quaternary imbricated gravels, and fine-grained Quaternary plain sediments (mostly silt and clay); these were deposited within a newly developing strike-slip basin—the Kova pull-apart basin—superimposed on the lower fill of the Refahiye basin. The upper fill is undeformed and nearly flat-lying. All these characteristics reveal that the present configuration of the Refahiye basin is a superimposed basin, herein termed the Refahiye superimposed basin.     

Insights into biaxial extensional tectonics: an examplefrom the Sandıklı Graben,West Anatolia,Turkey

West Anatolia, together with the Aegean Sea and the easternmost part of Europe, is one of the best examples of continental extensional tectonics. It is a complex area bounded by the Aegean–Cyprus Arc to the south and the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) to the north. Within this complex and enigmatic framework, the Sandıklı Graben (10 km wide, 30 km long) has formed at the eastern continuation of the Western Anatolian extensional province at the north‐northwestward edge of the Isparta Angle. Recent studies have suggested that the horst–graben structures in West Anatolia formed in two distinct extensional phases. According to this model the first phase of extension commenced in the Early–Middle Miocene and the last, which is accepted as the onset of neotectonic regime, in Early Pliocene. However, it is controversial whether two‐phase extension was separated by a short period of erosion or compression during Late Miocene–Early Pliocene. Both field observations and kinematic analysis imply that the Sandıklı Graben has existed since the Late Pliocene, with biaxial extension on its margins which does not necessarily indicate rotation of regional stress distribution in time. Although the graben formed later in the neotectonic period, the commencement of extension in the area could be Early Pliocene (c. 5 Ma) following a severe but short time of erosion at the end of Late Miocene. The onset of the extensional regime might be due to the initiation of westward motion of Anatolian Platelet along the NAFZ that could be triggered by the higher rate of subduction at the east Aegean–Cyprus Arc in the south of the Aegean Sea. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extensional neotectonic regime in West-southwest Konya,Central Anatolia,Turkey

ABSTRACT

In the Central Anatolia, the style of neotectonic regime governing the region has been a controversial issue. A tectonic study was carried out in order to contribute to this issue and better understand the neotectonic stress distribution and style of deformation in the west-southwest of the Konya region. From Middle Miocene to Recent time, Konya region was part of the Central Anatolia extensional province. The present-day topography in the west-southwestern part of Konya is characterized by alternating elongate grabens and horsts trending E-W and NW-SE. The grabens were developed upon low-grade metamorphic rocks of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic ages and ophiolite slabs of possibly Late Cretaceous age. The evolutionary history of grabens is episodic as evidenced by two graben infills; older and younger graben infills separated by an angular unconformity. The older infill consists of fluviolacustrine sequence intercalated with calc-alkaline lavas and pyroclastic rocks. This infill is folded; thrust faulted and Middle Miocene-Early Pliocene in age. The younger and undeformed basin fill comprises mainly of Plio-Quaternary conglomerates, sandstone-mudstone alternations of alluvial fan and recent basin floor deposits. Three major tectonic phases were differentiated based on the detailed mapping, morphological features and kinematic analysis. Approximately N-S trending extension began in the Middle Miocene-Early Pliocene in the region with the formation of E-W and NW-SE-trending grabens. Following NE-SW-directed compression which deformed the older basin fill deposits by folding and thrusting, a second period of ENE-WSW-trending extension began in the late Pliocene and continued to the present. The west-southwestern margin of the Konya depression is bounded by the Konya Fault Zone. It is an oblique-slip normal fault with a minor dextral strike-slip component and exhibits well-preserved fault slickensides and slickenlines. Recent seismicity and fault-related morphological features reveal that the Konya Fault Zone is an active neotectonic structure.     

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.     

Complex basin evolution in the Gökova Gulf region: implications on the Late Cenozoic tectonics of southwest Turkey

Southwestern Turkey experienced a transition from crustal shortening to extension during Late Cenozoic, and evidence of this was recorded in four distinct basin types in the Mu?la–Gökova Gulf region. During the Oligocene–Early Miocene, the upper slices of the southerly moving Lycian Nappes turned into north-dipping normal faults due to the acceleration of gravity. The Kale–Tavas Basin developed as a piggyback basin along the fault plane on hanging wall blocks of these normal faults. During Middle Miocene, a shift had occurred from local extension to N–S compression/transpression, during which sediments in the Eskihisar–T?naz Basins were deposited in pull-apart regions of the Menderes Massif cover units, where nappe slices were already eroded. During the Late Miocene–Pliocene, a hiatus occurred from previous compressional/transpressional tectonism along intermountain basins and Yata?an Basin fills were deposited on Menderes Massif, Lycian Nappes, and on top of Oligo–Miocene sediments. Plio-Quaternary marked the activation of N–S extension and the development of the E–W-trending Mu?la–Gökova Grabens, co-genetic equivalents of which are common throughout western Anatolia. Thus, the tectonic evolution of the western Anotolia during late Cenozoic was shifting from compressional to extensional with a relaxation period, suggesting a non-uniform evolution.     

塔里木盆地西部鸟山-古董山地区断裂构造分析

鸟山-古董山地区位于塔里木盆地西部, 巴楚隆起与麦盖提斜坡之间, 鸟山、玛南、玛扎塔格、古董山和罗斯塔格构造带在此交汇, 附近还发育与之密切相关的沙陇断裂, 十分引人注目。鸟山-古董山地区的主干断裂形成于晚白垩世, 包括鸟山、罗斯塔格和玛扎塔格晚白垩世冲断构造带和玛南晚白垩世走滑断裂带, 玛南断裂是玛扎塔格构造带与鸟山和罗斯塔格构造带之间的调节断层。该期构造变形受控于南羌塘和拉萨地块与亚洲大陆之间的碰撞造山作用。鸟山-古董山地区的断裂构造于中新世末基本定型。因帕米尔突刺楔入于塔里木和卡拉库姆之间, 在塔西南地区形成一系列走滑断裂, 包括玛扎塔格-罗斯塔格中新世末走滑断裂, 古董山断裂是其派生断层。晚白垩世是研究区构造和圈闭的关键形成期, 上新世晚期-全新世早期以古近系底部膏盐层为主滑脱面的滑脱-冲断构造保护早期形成的圈闭和油气藏。鸟山和玛扎塔格构造带是研究区最有利的油气勘探区带, 玛南构造带是重要的油气运移通道。     

Geology of the northern side of the Gulf of Edremit and its tectonic significance for the development of the Aegean grabens

This paper describes the Neogene evolution of northwestern Anatolia based on geological data collected in the course of a new mapping program. The geological history of the region, as recorded by the Neogene sedimentary and magmatic rocks that overlie the Paleozoic–Triassic basement, began after a lake invasion during the Early Miocene period with the deposition of shale-dominated successions. They were accompanied by calc-alkaline intermediate lavas and pyroclastic rocks ejected through NNE trending fractures and faults. The Lower–Middle Miocene successions were deformed under a compressional regime at the end of the Middle Miocene. The deposition of the overlying Upper Miocene–Lower Pliocene successions was restricted to within NE–SW trending graben basins. The graben bounding faults are oblique with a major strike-slip displacement, formed under approximately the N–S extension. The morphological irregularities formed during the Miocene graben formations were obliterated during a severe erosional phase to the end of the deposition of this lacustrine succession. The present E–W graben system as exemplified from the well-developed Edremit graben, postdates the erosional phase, which has formed during the Plio-Quaternary period.     

Neotectonic Characteristics of Central Anatolia

The Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex and its Tertiary cover have been highly dissected by neotectonic structures. The period of neotectonic activity is dominated by three main fault systems in Central Anatolia—the Tuzgolu fault zone, the Ecemis fault zone, and the Yozgat-Akdagmadeni-Bogazliyan fault system. The Tuzgolu fault zone, trending in a NW-SE direction, is located WSW of the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex (CACC). This fault zone consists of parallel to subparallel, normal, and oblique right-lateral strike-slip faults displaying a step-like half-graben and horst-graben pattern. It controls the eastern margin of Tuzgolu, fault-parallel depressions, and the western margin of the Central Anatolian volcanic province. The Ecemis fault zone is located east of the CACC and is characterized by NE-SW-trending, left-lateral strike-slip faults controlling the eastern margin of the Central Anatolian volcanic province. The Yozgat-Akdagmadeni-Bogazliyan region is dominated by NW-SE- and NE-SW-trending conjugate faults. These three fault systems control the widely distributed Plio-Quaternary depressions, calc-alkaline-alkaline volcanic activity, and deposition of talus, alluvial fan, travertine, and terrace deposits. Alignment of hot springs, cinder cones, drainage offsets, and linear valleys are the characteristic features of strike-slip fault patterns observed in the region. Both morphotectonic features and recent earthquakes strongly suggest that most of the segments of these fault zones are stilt active.     

Neotectonics of Turkey – a synthesis

Turkey forms one of the most actively deforming regions in the world and has a long history of devastating earthquakes. The better understanding of its neotectonic features and active tectonics would provide insight, not only for the country but also for the entire Eastern Mediterranean region. Active tectonics of Turkey is the manifestation of collisional intracontinental convergence- and tectonic escape-related deformation since the Early Pliocene (∼5 Ma). Three major structures govern the neotectonics of Turkey; they are dextral North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), sinistral East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) and the Aegean–Cyprean Arc. Also, sinistral Dead Sea Fault Zone has an important role. The Anatolian wedge between the NAFZ and EAFZ moves westward away from the eastern Anatolia, the collision zone between the Arabian and the Eurasian plates. Ongoing deformation along, and mutual interaction among them has resulted in four distinct neotectonic provinces, namely the East Anatolian contractional, the North Anatolian, the Central Anatolian ‘Ova’ and the West Anatolian extensional provinces. Each province is characterized by its unique structural elements, and forms an excellent laboratory to study active strike-slip, normal and reverse faulting and the associated basin formation.     

Nature and onset age of neotectonic regime in the northern core of Isparta Angle,SW Turkey

The Isparta Angle (IA) is a reverse Λ-shaped morphotectonic structure located to the north of Antalya Gulf in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It resulted from the northward curvature of the originally E–W-trending Tauride orogenic belt owing to the nappe emplacements and related clockwise and anti-clockwise rotations in a time period of Early Paleocene to Early Pliocene. The IA is included in the southwest Anatolian tensional neotectonic domain and characterized by a series of grabens and horsts bounded by active normal faults of dissimilar length and trend. The evolutionary history of the graben-horst system is episodic. It is evidenced by two graben fills. These are older and modern (younger) graben fills separated by an intervening angular unconformity. The modern graben fill is nearly flat-lying (non-deformed) whereas older graben fill was deformed into a series of anticlines and synclines with ENE-trending curvi-linear axes by a short-term compressive tectonic regime operated in NNW–SSE direction during Late Pliocene. The diagnostic structures taking a part in the development of grabens and shaping the northern section of the IA are the margin-boundary normal faults. They occur in numerous single and several fault zones displaying a basin ward facing step-like land shape. Most of fault segments, particularly the master faults, are active and have a capacity of creating destructive earthquakes with a magnitude (up to Mw?=?7.0). This is evidenced by both the historical and instrumental period earthquakes. Both the focal mechanism solution of earthquakes and the stereographic plots of slip-plane data, measured on the active margin-boundary faults of various grabens comprising the IA, on the Schmidt lower hemisphere net obviously reveal that the IA is under the influence of the tensional neotectonic regime, not a compressive tectonic regime, i.e. the sinistral strike-slip shearing along the Pliny arc has not propagated yet onshore, and its commencement age is Early Quaternary.     

The Thakkhola–Mustang graben in Nepal and the late Cenozoic extension in the Higher Himalayas

The Thakkhola–Mustang graben is located at the northern side of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges in North Central Nepal. The structural pattern is mainly characterised by the N020–040° Thakkhola Fault system responsible for the development of the half-graben. A detailed study of the substrate and the sedimentary fill in several outcrops indicates polyphased faulting:-pre-sedimentation faulting (Miocene), with a mainly NNW–SSE to N–S compressional stress expressed in the substratum by N020–040° and N180–N010° sinistral and N130–140° dextral conjugate strike-slip faults;-syn-sedimentation faulting (Pliocene–Pleistocene), characterised by a W–E to WNW–ESE extensional stress and tectonic subsidence of the half-graben during the Tetang period (Pliocene probably), followed by a doming of the Tetang deposits and a short period of erosion (cf. Pliocene planation surface and unconformity between the Tetang and Thakkhola Formations); the Thakkhola period (Pleistocene) is characterized by a W–E to WNW–ESE extensional stress and a major subsidence of the half graben;-post-sedimentation recurrent extensional faulting and N–S and NE–SW normal faults in the late Quaternary terrace formations.Geodynamic interpretation of the faulting is discussed in relation to the following:

• 1.the geographic situation of the Thakkhola–Mustang half-graben in the southern part of Tibet and its setting in the Tethyan series above the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS);
• 2.the geodynamic conditions of the convergence between India and Eurasia and the dextral east–west shearing between the High Himalayas and south Tibet;
• 3.the possible relations between the sinistral Thakkhola and the dextral Karakorum strike-slip faults in a N–S compressional stress regime during the Miocene.

     

Analyses of fault mechanisms and expansion of southwestern Anatolia since the late Miocene

Neotectonic field studies and detailed analyses of Neogene and Quaternary fault mechanisms in southwestern Anatolia enable us to recognize a succession of compressional and extensional events, and to characterize the direction of corresponding regional stresses. The three most important compressive phases occurred during the Miocene, and a much smaller one near the Plio-Quaternary boundary. The last one or two interrupted a widespread extension of much greater duration and amplitude. The whole tectonic evolution resembles that of the Aegean. The large extension by normal faulting is consistent with a minimum stress along a NNE-SSW average direction. It appears that this direction was N-S during the Pliocene and changed to NE-SW sometime during the Quaternary. This dominant NNE-SSW extension, which began during late Miocene or earliest Pliocene, was related to the development of the southwestern Anatolian graben system.     

Geology of the northern side of the Gulf of Edremit and its tectonic significance for the development of the Aegean grabens

Abstract

This paper describes the Neogene evolution of north-Western Anatolia based on geological data collected in the course of a new mapping program. The geological history of the region, as recorded by the Neogene sedimentary and magmatic rocks that overlie the Paleozoic-Triassic basement, began after a lake invasion during the Early Miocene period with the deposition of shale-dominated successions. They were accompanied by calc-alkaline intermediate lavas and pyroclastic rocks ejected through NNE trending fractures and faults. The Lower-Middle Miocene successions were deformed under a compressional regime at the end of the Middle Miocene. The deposition of the overlying Upper Miocene-Lower Pliocene successions was restricted to within NE-SW trending graben basins. The graben bounding faults are oblique with a major strike-slip displacement, formed under approximately the N-S extension. The morphological irregularities formed during the Miocene graben formations were obliterated during a severe erosional phase to the end of the deposition of this lacustrine succession. The present E–W graben system as exemplified from the well-developed Edremit graben, postdates the erosional phase, which has formed during the Plio-Quaternary period. © 2001 Éditions Scientifiques et médicates Elsevier SAS     

Late Cenozoic polyphase deformation and basin development,Kütahya region,western Turkey

The Neogene–Quaternary succession in the Kütahya region is of importance in the neotectonic evolution of western Anatolia because the strata contain clear evidence of compression and extension. During the early-middle Miocene, N–S compression/transpression as well as NE–SW- and NW–SE-oriented oblique conjugate faults formed. NE–SW-oriented horsts and grabens developed, controlled by the dominant NE–SW faults. The Seyitömer and Sabuncup?nar grabens were filled primarily by terrestrial clastic sedimentary and volcanic rocks. At the end of the middle Miocene, the graben fill was locally folded and reverse faulted, reflecting reactivation of compression. Between the late Miocene and the middle Pliocene, the region underwent erosion and lacustrine sediments accumulated in topographic lows. Between the middle and late Pliocene, compression in the region was again reactivated and basal units were thrust over the pre-upper Pliocene units. The late Plio-Quaternary marked the onset of N–S extension and development of the NW–SE-oriented Kütahya Graben, co-genetic equivalents of which are common throughout western Anatolia. This study indicates that tectonic evolution of western Anatolia involved multiple stages of contraction and extension.     

Neotectonics of Turkey – a synthesis

Abstract

Turkey forms one of the most actively deforming regions in the world and has a long history of devastating earthquakes. The belter understanding of its neotectonic features and active tectonics would provide insight, not only for the country but also for the entire Eastern Mediterranean region. Active tectonics of Turkey is the manifestation of collisional intracontinental convergence- and tectonic escape-related deformation since the Early Pliocene (~5 Ma). Three major structures govern the neotectonics of Turkey; they are dextral North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), sinistral East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) and the Aegean–Cyprean Arc. Also, sinistral Dead Sea Fault Zone has an important role. The Anatolian wedge between the NAFZ and EAFZ moves westward away from the eastern Anatolia, the collision zone between the Arabian and the Eurasian plates. Ongoing deformation along, and mutual interaction among them has resulted in four distinct neotectonic provinces, namely the East Anatolian contractional, the North Anatolian, the Central Anatolian ‘Ova’ and the West Anatolian extensional provinces. Each province is characterized by its unique structural elements, and forms an excellent laboratory to study active strike-slip, normal and reverse faulting and the associated basin formation. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

Continental accretion and incremental deformation in the thermochronologic evolution of the Lesser Caucasus

Apatite fission-track analysis and thermochronologic statistical modeling of Precambrian-Oligocenc plutonic and metamorphic rocks from the Lesser Caucasus resolve two discrete cooling episodes.Cooling occurred during incremental crustal shortening due to obduction and continental accretion along the margins of the northern branch of the Neotethys.(1) The thermochronometric record of a Late Cretaceous(Turonian-Maastrichtian) cooling/exhumation event,coeval to widespread ophiolite obduction,is still present only in a relatively small area of the upper plate of the Amasia-Sevan-Akera(ASA) suture zone,i.e.the suture marking the final closure of the northern Neotethys during the Paleogene.Such area has not been affected by significant later exhumation.(2) Rapid cooling/exhumation occurred in the Early-Middle Miocene in both the lower and upper plates of the ASA suture zone,obscuring previous thermochronologic signatures over most of the study area.Miocene contractional reactivation of the ASA suture zone occurred contemporaneously with the main phase of shortening and exhumation along the Bitlis suture zone marking the closure of the southern branch of the Neotethys and the ensuing ArabiaEurasia collision.Miocene collisional stress from the Bitlis suture zone was transmitted northward across the Anatolian hinterland,which was left relatively undeformed,and focused along preexisting structural discontinuities such as the eastern Pontides and the ASA suture zone.