The Kibyra Fault is considered as the most significant evidence about the existence of the NE-SWs... more The Kibyra Fault is considered as the most significant evidence about the existence of the NE-SWstriking left-lateral Burdur-Fethiye Fault Zone in the south-western Anatolia in previous studies. However, recent studies show that there is a shear regime, named the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone, dominated by normal and left-lateral oblique normal faults in this region. A large number of ancient cities lie on this zone and many of them have been damaged by ancient earthquakes. One of these ancient cities is the ancient city of Kibyra. Most of previous studies suggest the Kibyra Fault depending on the damage in the city. However, the closest fault is located on the western side of the city and the earthquake damage was most likely caused by ground shaking. In this study, the existence of the supposed Kibyra Fault is discussed by integrating field studies, geological maps, trench data, digital elevation model and geomorphological analysis. In conclusion, it is understood that there is no evidence directly indicating a 35-km-long left-lateral fault in this region. The aim of this study is to examine the existence of the Kibyra Fault, take a different approach to the active fault studies and emphasise the importance of active faults for socio-economic conditions.
The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone (BFSZ) is a 75-to 90-km wide and 300-km-long transtensional left-la... more The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone (BFSZ) is a 75-to 90-km wide and 300-km-long transtensional left-lateral shear zone which is located in one of the most tectonically active regions in southwestern Turkey. A considerable number of studies suggested contradictory models of the evolution and Neogene stratigraphy of the BFSZ and in most cases, the local river and alluvial fan deposits were mapped together with the lacustrine sediments and assigned a Pliocene age. We present new field data, fault kinematic analyses, and DEM and earthquake data to characterize the tectonic controls and extent of the middle section of the BFSZ including Acıpayam, Çameli and Gölhisar basins. Our field observations revealed two distinct sedimentary sequences that unconformably overlie the pre-Neogene basement. The first sequence begins with middle-upper Miocene meandering-and braided-river sediments of the Gölhisar Formation, which transition upward into lacustrine sediments of the upper Miocene-lower Pliocene İbecik Formation. This sequence is overlain by upper Pliocene-lower Quaternary alluvial fan conglomerates, mudstones and claystones of the Dirmil Formation. The basin deposits located in the middle section of the BFSZ consist of lacustrine sediments of a late Miocene lake that likely evaporated due to the Messinian salinity crisis. Fault kinematic analysis and DEM and earthquake data indicate that the middle BFSZ can be characterized as a heterogeneous left-lateral transtensional shear zone rather than a major fault system. Our findings suggest that the middle section of the BFSZ developed under the influence of progressive counter clockwise rotation of southwestern Turkey, the Aegean graben system and the Cyprus and Hellenic arcs since the middle Miocene.
The tectonic framework of the eastern Mediterranean presented in this paper is based on an active... more The tectonic framework of the eastern Mediterranean presented in this paper is based on an active subduction and small underwater hills/mountains on the oceanic crust moving toward the north. The Hellenic Arc, the Anaximander Mountains, the Rhodes and Finike basins, the compressional southern regions of the Western Taurides, and the extensional western Anatolian graben are the main interrelated tectonic structures that are shaped by the complex tectonic regimes. There are still heated debates regarding the structural properties and tectonic evolution of the southwestern Anatolia. GPS velocities and focal mechanisms of earthquakes demonstrate the absence of a single transform fault across the Burdur-Fethiye region; however , hundreds of small faults showing normal and left-lateral oblique slip indicate the presence of a regionally extensive shear zone in southwestern Turkey, which plays an important role in the eastern Mediterranean tectonics. The 300-km-long, 75–90-km-wide NE-SW-trending Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone developed during the formation of Aegean back-arc extensional system and the thrusting of Western Taurides. Today, the left-lateral differential motion across the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone varies from 3 to 4 mm/yr in the north to 8–10 mm/yr in the south. This finding could be attributed to the fact that while the subduction of the African Plate is relatively fast beneath the western Anatolia at the Hellenic Trench, it is slow or locked beneath the Western Taurides. Therefore, the GPS vectors and their distributions on land indicate remarkable velocity differences and enable us to determine the left-lateral shear zone located between the extensional and compressional blocks. Furthermore, this active tectonic regime creates differences in topography. This study also demonstrates how deep structures, such as the continuation of the subduction transform edge propagator (STEP) fault between the Hellenic and Cyprus arcs in the continental area, can come into play as a shear zone on the brittle crust.
Çameli and Gölhisar basins are located on the middle of the Burdur-Fethiye Fault Zone (BFFZ) that... more Çameli and Gölhisar basins are located on the middle of the Burdur-Fethiye Fault Zone (BFFZ) that is tectonically very active region in the southwestern Anatolia. This region is characterized by high concentration of young sediments. BFFZ is an active fault system that is located between the eastern Aegean extensional province, the Hellenic Arc and the Isparta Angle. This tectonic line is about 310 km long from north to south, while its width ranges from 15 km in the west of Afyon-Çay in the north to 90 km between Patara and Dalaman-İztuzu in the south. The width of the study area is approximately 40 km. It is characterized by the dominance of Middle Miocene-Quaternary NE-SW-trending faults and basins. There are three main sedimentary units whose ages range from Mesozoic to Holocene . The sequence of Jurassic-Cretaceous aged The large-scale NW-SE normal and left lateral normal oblique faults are dominant in the study area. The small-scale faults in the İbecik and Gölhisar formations...
There are different views about the age range of the Neogene rocks at the same locations along Bu... more There are different views about the age range of the Neogene rocks at the same locations along Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone (BFSZ), in SW Turkey. In most of the recent studies, lacustrine limestones, claystones and marls were dated as Pliocene. Besides, meander and braided river conglomerates and sandstones, and also alluvial fan conglomerates, mudstones and claystones were locally mapped together with these lacustrine sediments under the same formation name. Actually, two distinct sedimentary sequences are observed on the region. The first sequence starts at the base with alluvial fan, meander river and braided river sediments of Gölhisar Formation and passes laterally and vertically to lacustrine sediments ofİbecik Formation.İbecik Formation is represented by claystone, marl and limestone in all of the basins on BFSZ. The first sequence is unconformably overlain by the second sequence. The second sequence includes alluvial fan conglomerates, mudstones and claystones of Dirmil Formation. When considering the supposed age range of these sediments, the timing of the tectonic evolution of the region cause problems. During our studies on the BFSZ, we observed that this age range (Pliocene) is not acceptable. The lacustrine sediments, which consist mainly of white, whitish yellow, yellow and beige limestone, claystone, marl and fine-grained sandstone, crop out around Egirdir, Acıgöl, Burdur, Tefenni, Acıpayam, Çameli, Gölhisar and Eşen basins along BFSZ. These sediments are locally cut by the volcanic rocks. Therefore, these volcanic rocks are very important for dating these lacustrine units. Paton (1992) dated the lamproites around Acıpayam at 5.13±0.6, 6.28±0.48, 6.16±0.25 and 6±1.54 Ma (Tortonian-Lower Pliocene). These lamproites cut conglomerates and limestones at around 1300 to 1600 meter elevations. Alçiçek (2001) dated Perrisodactyla-Equidae Hipparion cf. Primigeniup sp. in the clayey limestones (İbecik Fm) as Vallesian. Also, the gypsum and anhydrite levels at the upper part of this lacustrine sequence indicate an aridity period. These levels are most probably related to Messinian salinity crisis. Taking into account all of these results, the lowermost parts of the lacustrine sequence are Tortonian in age; the gypsum and anhydrite levels are Messinian in age; and the claystones with calishe at the upper part of the sequence are Lower Pliocene in age. Consequently, the tectonic evolution of the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone started in Middle-Late Miocene. Alluvial fan and river sediments (Gölhisar Fm) had deposited before and during Tortonien and now they have a thickness exceeding 1000 m under theİbecik Formtion.İbecik Formation has an age range between Tortonian and Lower Pliocene. The Plio-Quaternary sediments (Dirmil Formation) and equivalent units are generally located in front of the faults along the BFSZ and they point out a new sedimentation and tectonic period.
The Kibyra Fault is considered as the most significant evidence about the existence of the NE-SWs... more The Kibyra Fault is considered as the most significant evidence about the existence of the NE-SWstriking left-lateral Burdur-Fethiye Fault Zone in the south-western Anatolia in previous studies. However, recent studies show that there is a shear regime, named the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone, dominated by normal and left-lateral oblique normal faults in this region. A large number of ancient cities lie on this zone and many of them have been damaged by ancient earthquakes. One of these ancient cities is the ancient city of Kibyra. Most of previous studies suggest the Kibyra Fault depending on the damage in the city. However, the closest fault is located on the western side of the city and the earthquake damage was most likely caused by ground shaking. In this study, the existence of the supposed Kibyra Fault is discussed by integrating field studies, geological maps, trench data, digital elevation model and geomorphological analysis. In conclusion, it is understood that there is no evidence directly indicating a 35-km-long left-lateral fault in this region. The aim of this study is to examine the existence of the Kibyra Fault, take a different approach to the active fault studies and emphasise the importance of active faults for socio-economic conditions.
The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone (BFSZ) is a 75-to 90-km wide and 300-km-long transtensional left-la... more The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone (BFSZ) is a 75-to 90-km wide and 300-km-long transtensional left-lateral shear zone which is located in one of the most tectonically active regions in southwestern Turkey. A considerable number of studies suggested contradictory models of the evolution and Neogene stratigraphy of the BFSZ and in most cases, the local river and alluvial fan deposits were mapped together with the lacustrine sediments and assigned a Pliocene age. We present new field data, fault kinematic analyses, and DEM and earthquake data to characterize the tectonic controls and extent of the middle section of the BFSZ including Acıpayam, Çameli and Gölhisar basins. Our field observations revealed two distinct sedimentary sequences that unconformably overlie the pre-Neogene basement. The first sequence begins with middle-upper Miocene meandering-and braided-river sediments of the Gölhisar Formation, which transition upward into lacustrine sediments of the upper Miocene-lower Pliocene İbecik Formation. This sequence is overlain by upper Pliocene-lower Quaternary alluvial fan conglomerates, mudstones and claystones of the Dirmil Formation. The basin deposits located in the middle section of the BFSZ consist of lacustrine sediments of a late Miocene lake that likely evaporated due to the Messinian salinity crisis. Fault kinematic analysis and DEM and earthquake data indicate that the middle BFSZ can be characterized as a heterogeneous left-lateral transtensional shear zone rather than a major fault system. Our findings suggest that the middle section of the BFSZ developed under the influence of progressive counter clockwise rotation of southwestern Turkey, the Aegean graben system and the Cyprus and Hellenic arcs since the middle Miocene.
The tectonic framework of the eastern Mediterranean presented in this paper is based on an active... more The tectonic framework of the eastern Mediterranean presented in this paper is based on an active subduction and small underwater hills/mountains on the oceanic crust moving toward the north. The Hellenic Arc, the Anaximander Mountains, the Rhodes and Finike basins, the compressional southern regions of the Western Taurides, and the extensional western Anatolian graben are the main interrelated tectonic structures that are shaped by the complex tectonic regimes. There are still heated debates regarding the structural properties and tectonic evolution of the southwestern Anatolia. GPS velocities and focal mechanisms of earthquakes demonstrate the absence of a single transform fault across the Burdur-Fethiye region; however , hundreds of small faults showing normal and left-lateral oblique slip indicate the presence of a regionally extensive shear zone in southwestern Turkey, which plays an important role in the eastern Mediterranean tectonics. The 300-km-long, 75–90-km-wide NE-SW-trending Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone developed during the formation of Aegean back-arc extensional system and the thrusting of Western Taurides. Today, the left-lateral differential motion across the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone varies from 3 to 4 mm/yr in the north to 8–10 mm/yr in the south. This finding could be attributed to the fact that while the subduction of the African Plate is relatively fast beneath the western Anatolia at the Hellenic Trench, it is slow or locked beneath the Western Taurides. Therefore, the GPS vectors and their distributions on land indicate remarkable velocity differences and enable us to determine the left-lateral shear zone located between the extensional and compressional blocks. Furthermore, this active tectonic regime creates differences in topography. This study also demonstrates how deep structures, such as the continuation of the subduction transform edge propagator (STEP) fault between the Hellenic and Cyprus arcs in the continental area, can come into play as a shear zone on the brittle crust.
Çameli and Gölhisar basins are located on the middle of the Burdur-Fethiye Fault Zone (BFFZ) that... more Çameli and Gölhisar basins are located on the middle of the Burdur-Fethiye Fault Zone (BFFZ) that is tectonically very active region in the southwestern Anatolia. This region is characterized by high concentration of young sediments. BFFZ is an active fault system that is located between the eastern Aegean extensional province, the Hellenic Arc and the Isparta Angle. This tectonic line is about 310 km long from north to south, while its width ranges from 15 km in the west of Afyon-Çay in the north to 90 km between Patara and Dalaman-İztuzu in the south. The width of the study area is approximately 40 km. It is characterized by the dominance of Middle Miocene-Quaternary NE-SW-trending faults and basins. There are three main sedimentary units whose ages range from Mesozoic to Holocene . The sequence of Jurassic-Cretaceous aged The large-scale NW-SE normal and left lateral normal oblique faults are dominant in the study area. The small-scale faults in the İbecik and Gölhisar formations...
There are different views about the age range of the Neogene rocks at the same locations along Bu... more There are different views about the age range of the Neogene rocks at the same locations along Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone (BFSZ), in SW Turkey. In most of the recent studies, lacustrine limestones, claystones and marls were dated as Pliocene. Besides, meander and braided river conglomerates and sandstones, and also alluvial fan conglomerates, mudstones and claystones were locally mapped together with these lacustrine sediments under the same formation name. Actually, two distinct sedimentary sequences are observed on the region. The first sequence starts at the base with alluvial fan, meander river and braided river sediments of Gölhisar Formation and passes laterally and vertically to lacustrine sediments ofİbecik Formation.İbecik Formation is represented by claystone, marl and limestone in all of the basins on BFSZ. The first sequence is unconformably overlain by the second sequence. The second sequence includes alluvial fan conglomerates, mudstones and claystones of Dirmil Formation. When considering the supposed age range of these sediments, the timing of the tectonic evolution of the region cause problems. During our studies on the BFSZ, we observed that this age range (Pliocene) is not acceptable. The lacustrine sediments, which consist mainly of white, whitish yellow, yellow and beige limestone, claystone, marl and fine-grained sandstone, crop out around Egirdir, Acıgöl, Burdur, Tefenni, Acıpayam, Çameli, Gölhisar and Eşen basins along BFSZ. These sediments are locally cut by the volcanic rocks. Therefore, these volcanic rocks are very important for dating these lacustrine units. Paton (1992) dated the lamproites around Acıpayam at 5.13±0.6, 6.28±0.48, 6.16±0.25 and 6±1.54 Ma (Tortonian-Lower Pliocene). These lamproites cut conglomerates and limestones at around 1300 to 1600 meter elevations. Alçiçek (2001) dated Perrisodactyla-Equidae Hipparion cf. Primigeniup sp. in the clayey limestones (İbecik Fm) as Vallesian. Also, the gypsum and anhydrite levels at the upper part of this lacustrine sequence indicate an aridity period. These levels are most probably related to Messinian salinity crisis. Taking into account all of these results, the lowermost parts of the lacustrine sequence are Tortonian in age; the gypsum and anhydrite levels are Messinian in age; and the claystones with calishe at the upper part of the sequence are Lower Pliocene in age. Consequently, the tectonic evolution of the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone started in Middle-Late Miocene. Alluvial fan and river sediments (Gölhisar Fm) had deposited before and during Tortonien and now they have a thickness exceeding 1000 m under theİbecik Formtion.İbecik Formation has an age range between Tortonian and Lower Pliocene. The Plio-Quaternary sediments (Dirmil Formation) and equivalent units are generally located in front of the faults along the BFSZ and they point out a new sedimentation and tectonic period.
Uploads
Papers by irem elitez