An example of secondary fault activity along the north Anatolian Fault on the NE Marmara Sea Shelf, NW Turkey

Tur H.

EARTH PLANETS AND SPACE, vol.59, no.6, pp.541-552, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 59 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/bf03352716
  • Journal Name: EARTH PLANETS AND SPACE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.541-552
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Seismic data on the NE Marmara Sea Shelf indicate that a NNE-SSW-oriented buried basin and ridge system

exist on the sub-marine extension of the Paleozoic Rocks delimited by the northern segment of the North

Anatolian Fault (NS-NAF), while seismic and multi-beam bathymetric data imply that four NW-SE-oriented

strike-slip faults also exist on the shelf area. Seismic data indicate that NW-SE-oriented strike-slip faults are the

youngest structures that dissect the basin-ridge system. One of the NW-SE-oriented faults (F1) is aligned with

a rupture of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) cutting the northern slope of the C¸ ınarcık Basin. This observation

indicates that these faults have similar characteristics with the NS-NAF along the Marmara Sea. Therefore, they

may have a secondary relation to the NAF since the principle deformation zone of the NAF follows the Marmara

Trough in that region. The seismic energy recorded on these secondary faults is much less than that on the NAF

in the Marmara Sea. These faults may, however, produce a large earthquake in the long term.

Key words: Marmara Sea Shelf, North Anatolian Fault (NAF), secondary fault activity.

Seismic data on the NE Marmara Sea Shelf indicate that a NNE-SSW-oriented buried basin and ridge system exist on the sub-marine extension of the Paleozoic Rocks delimited by the northern segment of the North Anatolian Fault (NS-NAF), while seismic and multi-beam bathymetric data imply that four NW-SE-oriented strike-slip faults also exist on the shelf area. Seismic data indicate that NW-SE-oriented strike-slip faults are the youngest structures that dissect the basin-ridge system. One of the NW-SE-oriented faults (F1) is aligned with a rupture of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) cutting the northern slope of the Cinarcik Basin. This observation indicates that these faults have similar characteristics with the NS-NAF along the Marmara Sea. Therefore, they may have a secondary relation to the NAF since the principle deformation zone of the NAF follows the Marmara Trough in that region. The seismic energy recorded on these secondary faults is much less than that on the NAF in the Marmara Sea. These faults may, however, produce a large earthquake in the long term.