Heat flow in the Sea of Marmara central basin; possible implications for the tectonic evolution of the North Anatolian Fault

The Central Basin in the Sea of Marmara is a syntectonic basin related to the evolution of the North Anatolian fault. A well-dated (ca. 15.5-16 ka) homogenite sediment can be used as a marker in three-dimensional depth model calculations, allowing a precise determination of the seafloor subsidence r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geology (Boulder) 2012-01, Vol.40 (1), p.3-6
Main Authors: Grall, Céline, Henry, Pierre, Tezcan, Devrim, Mercier de Lepinay, Bernard, Bécel, Anne, Géli, Louis, Rudkiewicz, Jean-Luc, Zitter, Tiphaine, Harmegnies, François
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
applied (geophysical surveys & methods)
Asia
Basins
Cenozoic
Earth Sciences
faults
Geology
geophysical surveys
Geophysics
heat flow
Holocene
Marine
Middle East
North Anatolian Fault
Oceans
Plate tectonics
Quaternary
Sciences of the Universe
Sea of Marmara
Sea of Marmara region
Sediments
Structural geology
subsidence
surveys
syntectonic processes
tectonics
three-dimensional models
Turkey
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Summary:The Central Basin in the Sea of Marmara is a syntectonic basin related to the evolution of the North Anatolian fault. A well-dated (ca. 15.5-16 ka) homogenite sediment can be used as a marker in three-dimensional depth model calculations, allowing a precise determination of the seafloor subsidence rates during the Holocene. A steady-state model based on propagation of the rates downward through the basin fill provides a good correlation with the deeper seismic reflection imagery for the past 250 ka but indicates variation of subsidence pattern for older ages. Heat flow measured at the seafloor is affected by sedimentation blanketing effects. Heat flow and subsidence data can only be reconciled if the Central Basin depocenter migrated northward with time. According to that scenario, subsidence and deposition started earlier (ca. 5-3.5 Ma) in the southern subbasin, and an acceleration of subsidence in the northern subbasin occurred at ca. 2.5-1.5 Ma. These results allow us to propose that a southern fault system distinct from the Main Marmara fault is responsible for the southern onset of the subsidence. Changes in the fault network and slip rates are implied during the last 2.5-1.5 Ma despite no apparent change since 250 ka.
ISSN:0091-7613
1943-2682
DOI:10.1130/G32192.1