The neotectonics of southeast Turkey, northern Syria, and Iraq: the internal structure of the Southeast Anatolian Wedge and its relationship with recent earthquakes

The neotectonics of southeast Turkey, northern Syria, and Iraq: the internal structure of the Southeast Anatolian Wedge and its relationship with recent earthquakes

In southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, and Iraq, the Southeast Anatolian Wedge (SEAW) is recognized as lying betweenthe high altitude Bitlis Zagros Suture Zone and the Sincar Mountains on the Mesopotamian plain. This wedge narrows towards thesouth and contains several thrust and blind thrust zones merging with the basal thrust zone. These zones are determined mainly bylocations of fault-propagation folding that generally limit the Plio-Quaternary/Quaternary plains in the region. The positions of theseactive thrust/blind thrust zones and their relationships to the right and left lateral faults may be used to explain the seismic activity ofthe region.

___

  • Abdul-Wahed MK, Al-Tahhan I (2010). Preliminary outline of the seismologically active zones in Syria. Ann Geophys 53: doi:10.4401/ag-4683.
  • AFAD (2012a). Şırnak-Silopi Earthquake (Ml=5.5) Southeast Turkey: Preliminary Report. Republic of Turkey, Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management, Presidency Earthquake Department, Ankara, Turkey.
  • AFAD (2012b). Haziran Aylık deprem raporu. T.C. Başbakanlık Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığı, Deprem Dairesi Başkanlığı, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Agard P, Omrani J, Jolivet L, Whitechurch H, Vrielynck B, Spakman W, Monie P, Meyer B, Wortel R (2011). Zagros orogeny: a subduction-dominated process. Geol Mag 148: 692-725.
  • Aktaş G, Robertson AHF (1984). The Maden complex, SE Turkey: evolution of a Neotethyan active margin. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 17: 375-402.
  • Aktuğ B, Özener H, Doğru A, Sabuncu A, Turgut B, Halıcıoğlu K, Yılmaz O, Havazlı E (2016). Slip rates and seismic potential on the East Anatolian Fault System using an improved GPS velocity field. J Geodyn 94-95: 1-12.
  • Akyüz S, Zabcı C, Sançar T (2011). Preliminary report on the 23 October 2011 Van Earthquake. İstanbul, Turkey: İstanbul Technical University.
  • Allen M, Jackson J, Walker R (2004). Late Cenozoic reorganization of the Arabia-Eurasia collision and the comparison of short-term and long-term deformation rates. Tectonics 23: doi:10.1029/2003TC001530.
  • Ambraseys NN (1989). Temporary seismic quiescence: SE Turkey. Geophys J 96: 311-331.
  • Ameen MS (1991). Possible forced folding in the Taurus-Zagros Belt of northern Iraq. Geol Mag 128: 561-584.
  • Arpat E (1977). 1975 Lice depremi. Yeryuvarı ve İnsan 2/1: 15-27.
  • ASGA-UNESCO (1963). Geological map of Africa. Sheet No 3. Paris, France.
  • Berberian M (1995). Master “blind” thrust faults hidden under the Zagros folds: active basement tectonics and surface morphotectonics. Tectonophysics 241: 193-224.
  • Biddle KT, Bultman TR, Fairchild LH, Yılmaz PO (1987). An approach to structural interpretation of the southeast Turkey fold and thrust belt. Proceedings of 7th Biannual Petroleum Congress of Turkey. UCTEA Chamber of Petroleum Engineers, 78-88.
  • Brew G, Barazangi M, Al-Maleh AK, Sawaf T (2001). Tectonic and geologic evolution of Syria. GeoArabia 6: 573-616.
  • Brew G, Litak R, Barazangi M, Sawaf T (1999). Tectonic evolution of northeast Syria: regional implications and hydrocarbon prospects. GeoArabia 4: 289-318.
  • Bull WB, McFadden L (1977). Tectonic geomorphology North and South of the Garlock fault, California. In: Dohering DO, editor. Geomorphology in Arid Regions. Publ. in Geomorphology, State University of New York, Binghamton, pp. 115-138.
  • Coşkun B, Coşkun B (2000).The Dead Sea Fault and related subsurface structures, Gaziantep Basin, southeast Turkey. Geol Mag 137: 175-192.
  • Dahlen FA (1990). Critical taper model of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges. Ann Rev Earth Planet Sci 18: 55-99.
  • Dewey JF, Hempton MR, Kidd WSF, Şaroğlu F, Şengör AMC (1986). Shortening of continental lithosphere: the neotectonics of Eastern Anatolia a young collision zone. In: Coward MP, Ries AC, editors. Collision Tectonics . Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ: 19, pp. 3-36 (Robert M. Shackleton volume).
  • Doğan B, Karakaş A (2013). Geometry of co-seismic surface ruptures and tectonic meaning of the 23 October 2011 Mw 7.1 Van earthquake (East Anatolian Region, Turkey). J Struc Geol 46: 99-114.
  • Duman TY, Emre Ö, Olgun Ş, Özalp S (2012). 1:250.000 Scale Active Fault Map Series of Turkey, Cizre (NJ38-9) Quadrangle. Serial number: 53, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Emre Ö, Duman TY, Özalp S, Elmacı H (2011). 23 Ekim 2011 Van depremi saha gözlemleri ve kaynak faya ilişkin ön değerlendirmeler. MTA Jeoloji Etüdleri Dairesi, Yer Dinamikleri Araştırma ve Değerlendirme Koordinatörlüğü, Aktif Tektonik Araştırmaları Birimi. 20s.
  • Emre Ö, Duman TY, Özalp S, Elmacı H, Olgun Ş (2012). 1:250.000 Scale Active Fault Map Series of Turkey, Diyarbakır (NJ37-11) and Ceylanpınar (NJ37-15) Quadrangles. Serial Number: 45, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Emre Ö, Duman TY, Özalp S, Elmacı H, Olgun Ş, Şaroğlu F (2013). Active fault map of Turkey with an explanatory text 1:1,250,000 scale. Special Publication Series 30, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey. ISBN: 978- 605-5310-56-1.
  • Erdik M, Kamer Y, Demircioğlu MB, Sesetyan K (2012). Report on 2012 Van (Turkey) Earthquakes. Proceedings of International Symposium on Engineering Lessons Learned from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake March 1–4 2012, Tokyo, Japan, 1938-1949.
  • Gilmour N, Makel G (1996). 3D geometry and kinematics of the N.V. Turkse Shell thrust belt oil fields, Southeast Turkey. In: Ziegler P, Horvath F, editors. Peri-Tethys Memoir 2: Structure and Prospects of Alpine Basins and Forelands. Memoires du Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, Peri-Tethys Memoire 2, pp. 524-547.
  • Günay Y, Şenel M (2002) Geological map of Turkey. 1:500.000 scale Cizre sheet, No 18. General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Hall JK, Krasheninnikov VA, Hirsch F, Benjamini C, Flexer A (2005). Geological Framework of the Levant. Volume II: The Levantine basin and Israel. Historical Productions-Hall, Jerusalem, Israel. ISBN: 965-7297-03-6.
  • Hall R (1976). Ophiolite emplacement and the evolution of the Taurus suture zone, southeast Turkey. Geol Soc Am Bull 87: 1078-1088.
  • Hatzfeld D, Authemayou C, Van Der Beek P, Bellier O, Lave J, Oveisi B, Tatar M, Tavakoli F, Walpersdorf A, Yamini-Fard F (2010). The kinematics of the Zagros Mountains (Iran). In: Leturmy P, Robin C, editors. Tectonic and Stratigraphic Evolution of Zagros and Makran during the Mesozoic–Cenozoic. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 330: 19-42. DOI: 10.1144/SP330.3.
  • Herrmann RB, Benz H, Ammon CJ (2011). Monitoring the earthquake source process in North America. Bull Seis Soc Am 101: 2609- 2625.
  • Jackson J, McKenzie D (1984). Active tectonics of the Alpine-Himalayan Belt between western Turkey and Pakistan. Geophys J R Astr Soc Lond 77: 185-264.
  • Kaya T, Şen Ş, Mayda S, Saraç G, Metais G (2012) The easternmost record of a late Miocene mammalian fauna near Adıyaman, southeast Turkey. Abstracts of 65th Geological Congress of Turkey: 532-533.
  • Kazmin VG (2005) Part II- Syria. Tectonics. In: Krasheninnikov VA, Hall JK, Hirsch F, Benjamini C, Flexer A, editors. Geological Framework of the Levant. Volume I: Cyprus and Syria. Historical Productions-Hall, Jerusalem, Israel. ISBN: 965-7297-02-8. pp. 463-496.
  • Keller EA (1986). Investigation of active tectonics: use of surficial earth processes. In: Wallace RE, editors. Active Tectonics. Studies in Geophysics. Nat Acad Press, Washington, DC, pp. 136-147.
  • Kent WN (2010) Structures of the Kirkuk Embayment, northern Iraq: Foreland structures or Zagros Fold Belt structures? GeoArabia 15: 147-188.
  • Kent WN, Hickman RG (1997). Structural development of Jebel Abd Al Aziz, Northeast Syria. GeoArabia 2: 307-330.
  • Keskin M (2003). Magma generation by slab steepening and breakoff beneath a subduction–accretion complex: An alternative model for collision-related volcanism in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Geophys Res Lett 30: 8046. doi:10.1029/2003GL018019.
  • Ketin İ (1983). Türkiye Jeolojisine Genel bir Bakış. İTÜ Kütüphanesi, sayı: 1259.
  • Koçyiğit A (2013). New field and seismic data about the intraplate strike-slip deformation in Van region, East Anatolian plateau, E. Turkey. J Asian Earth Sci 62: 586-605.
  • Krasheninnikov VA (2005) Part II- Syria. Stratigraphy and lithology of the sedimentary cover. In: Krasheninnikov VA, Hall JK, Hirsch F, Benjamini C, Flexer A, editors. Geological Framework of the Levant. Volume I: Cyprus and Syria. Historical Productions- Hall, Jerusalem, Israel. ISBN: 965-7297-02-8. pp. 181-416.
  • Krasheninnikov VA, Hall JK, Hirsch F, Benjamini C, Flexer A (2005). Geological Framework of the Levant. Volume I: Cyprus and Syria. Historical Productions-Hall, Jerusalem, Israel. ISBN: 965- 7297-02-8.
  • Litak RK, Barazangi M, Beauchamp W, Seber D, Brew G, Sawaf T, Al-Youssef W (1997). Mesozoic - Cenozoic evolution of the intraplate Euphrates fault system, Syria: implications for regional tectonics. J Geol Soc Lond 154: 653-666.
  • Lovelock PER (1984). A review of the tectonics of the northern Middle East region. Geol Mag 121: 577-587.
  • Mitra S (1990). Fault-propagation folds: geometry, kinematic evolution and hydrocarbon traps. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Bull 74: 921-945.
  • Oberhansli R, Candan O, Bousquet R, Rimmele G, Okay A, Gof J (2010). Alpine high pressure evolution of the eastern Bitlis complex, SE Turkey. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 340: 461-483.
  • Okay AI (2008). Geology of Turkey: a synopsis. Anschnitt 21: 19-42.
  • Okay AI, Zattin M, Cavazza W (2010). Apatite fission-track data for the Miocene Arabia-Eurasia collision. Geology 38: 35-38.
  • Özkaymak Ç, Sözbilir H, Bozkurt E, Dirik K, Topal T, Alan H., Çağlan D (2011). 23 Ekim 2011 Tabanlı-Van depreminin sismik jeomorfolojisi ve doğu Anadolu’daki aktif tektonik yapılarla olan ilişkisi. Jeol Müh Derg 35: 175-200.
  • Perinçek D, Günay Y, Kozlu H (1987). New observations on strike- slip faults in east and southeast Anatolia. Proceedings of 7th Biannual Petroleum Congress of Turkey. UCTEA Chamber of Petroleum Engineers, 89-103.
  • Reilinger R, McClusky S, Vernant P, Lawrence S, Ergintav S, Çakmak R, Özener H, Kadirov F, Guliev I, Stepanyan R et al (2006). GPS constraints on continental deformation in the Africa - Arabia- Eurasia continental collision zone and implications for the dynamics of plate interactions. J Geophys Res 111: B05411, doi: 10.1029/2005JB004051.
  • Robertson A, Boulton SJ, Taslı K, Yıldırım N, İnan N, Yıldız A, Parlak O (2016). Late Cretaceous - Miocene sedimentary development of the Arabian continental margin in SE Turkey (Adıyaman region): Implications for regional palaeogeography and the closure history of Southern Neotethys. J Asian Earth Sci 115: 571-616.
  • Rockwell TK, Keller EA, Johnson DL (1984). Tectonic geomorphology of alluvial fans and mountain fronts near Ventura, California. In: Morisawa M, Hack TJ, editors. Tectonic Geomorphology. Publ. in Geomorphology, State University of New York, Binghamton, pp. 183-207.
  • Rukieh M, Trifonov VG, Dodonov AE, Minini H, Ammar O, Ivanova TP, Zaza T, Yusef A, Al-Shara M, Jobaili Y (2005). Neotectonic map of Syria and some aspects of Late Cenozoic evolution of the northwestern boundary zone of the Arabian Plate. J Geodyn 40: 235-256.
  • Sanlav F, Tolgay M, Genca M (1963). Geology, geophysics and production history of the Garzan-Germik Field, Turkey. Proceedings of 6th World Petroleum Congress, Section I, Paper 35-PD3, 749-771.
  • Şaroğlu F, Emre Ö (1987). General characteristics and geological setting of the Karacadağ volcanics in the southeast Anatolian autochthonous. Proceedings of 7th Biannual Petroleum Congress of Turkey. UCTEA Chamber of Petroleum Engineers, 384-391.
  • Şaroğlu F, Emre Ö, Kuşçu İ (1992). Active Fault Map of Turkey. MTA Publication.
  • Şaroğlu F, Güner Y (1981). Doğu Anadolu’nun jeomorfolojik gelişimine etki eden öğeler: Jeomorfoloji, tektonik, volkanizma ilişkileri. Türk Jeol Kur Bült 24: 39-50.
  • Sawaf T, Al-Saad D, Gebran A, Barazangi M, Best JA, Chaimov TA (1993). Stratigraphy and structure of eastern Syria across the Euphrates depression. Tectonophysics 220: 267-281.
  • Schmidt GC (1964). A review of Permian and Mesozoic formations exposed near the Turkey/Iraq border at Harbol. Bull Min Res Exp 62: 103-119.
  • Şenel M, Ercan T (2002). Geological map of Turkey. 1:500.000 scale Van sheet, No 12. General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Şengör AMC (1980). Türkiye’nin neotektoniğinin esasları [Fundamentals of the neotectonics of Turkey], Publication of Geological Society of Turkey.
  • Şengör AMC, Görür N, Şaroğlu F (1985). Strike-slip deformation basin formation and sedimentation: Strike-slip faulting and related basin formation in zones of tectonic escape: Turkey as a case study. In: Biddle KT, Christie-Blick N, editors. Strike-slip Faulting and Basin Formation . Soc Econ Paleontol Min Spec Publ 37: pp. 227-264.
  • Şengör AMC, Kidd WSF (1979). Post-collisional tectonics of the Turkish-Iranian Plateau and a comparison with Tibet. Tectonophysics 55: 361-376.
  • Şengör AMC, Özeren S, Genç T, Zor E (2003). East Anatolian high plateau as a mantle-supported, north-south shortened domal structure. Geophys Res Lett 30: 24, 8045, doi:10.1029/2003GL017858.
  • Şengör AMC, Özeren MS, Keskin M, Sakınç M, Özbakır AD, Kayan İ (2008). Eastern Turkish high plateau as a small Turkic- type orogen: Implications for post-collisional crust-forming processes in Turkic-type orogens. Earth-Sci Rev 90: 1-48.
  • Şengör AMC, Yılmaz Y (1981). Tethyan evolution of Turkey: A plate tectonic approach. Tectonophysics 75: 181-241.
  • Sungurlu O (1974). Geology of the northern part of petroleum district-VI. Proceedings of 2nd Petroleum Congress of Turkey. Assoc Turkish Petrol Geol: 85-107.
  • Suppe J (1983). Geometry and kinematics of fault-bend folding. Am J Sci 283: 684-721.
  • Suppe J, Medwedeff DA (1990). Geometry and kinematics of fault- propagation folding. Eclogae Geol Helv 83: 409-454.
  • Tarhan N (2002) Geological map of Turkey. 1:500.000 scale Erzurum sheet, No 11. General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Turhan N, Balcı V, Günay Y (2002). Geological map of Turkey. 1:500.000 scale Diyarbakır sheet, No 17. General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Türkoğlu E, Unsworth M, Çağlar İ, Tuncer V, Avşar Ü (2008). Lithospheric structure of the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone in eastern Anatolia: magnetotelluric evidence for widespread weakening by fluids? Geology 36: 619-622.
  • Ulu Ü (2002) Geological map of Turkey. 1:500.000 scale Hatay sheet, No 16. General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Yiğitbaş E, Yılmaz Y (1996). New evidence and solution to the Maden complex controversy of the Southeast Anatolian orogenic belt (Turkey). Geol Rundsc 85: 250-263.
  • Yıldırım A, Karadoğan S (2005). The geomorphology of Dicle valley between Raman - Gercüş anticlines. Ulusal Coğrafya Kongresi, Türk Coğrafya Kurumu - İstanbul Üniversitesi: 421-432.
  • Yıldırım A, Karadoğan S (2011). Morphometric and morphotectonic analysis of southern Raman Mountain (Dicle valley). Dicle Ün Ziya Gökalp Eğitim Fak Derg 16: 154-166.
  • Yılmaz Y (1993). New evidence and model on the evolution of the southeast Anatolian orogen. Geol Soc Am Bull 105: 251-271.
  • Zahradnik J, Sokos E (2011). Multiple-point source solution of the Mw 7.2 Van earthquake, October 23, 2011, Eastern Turkey. Report submitted to EMSC on November 1, 2011