Abstract
Interpretation of ~ 1750 km of multi-channel seismic reflection profiles shows that the region of Anaximander Mountains (sensu lato) experienced a protracted Miocene contractional tectonic phase characterised by a nearly E-W trending and S-verging fold-thrust belt. This tectonic phase culminated during the latest Miocene and was replaced in the early-mid Pliocene by a tectonic regime dominated by transpression and rotation. We postulate that during the Pliocene-Quaternary the Anaximander Mountain (sensu stricto) and the Anaximenes Mountain developed as the result of reactivation and uplift and rotation of a linked, thick-skinned pre-Messinian imbricate thrust fan. In both regions, the development of back thrusts accentuated the morphology of these submarine mountains. At this time, the Anaximenes Mountain experienced a progressive counterclockwise rotation, while the Anaxagoras Mountain and the Florence Rise experienced a clockwise rotation creating the present present-day arrowhead-shaped morphology of the Anaximander Mountains (sensu lato). The Si{dotless}rri{dotless} Erinç Plateau represents a former Miocene fold-thrust belt that is transected during the Pliocene-Quaternary by a major transpressional fault system, which created a series of closely-spaced high-angle faults that cut the seafloor, creating a corrugated topography. A major transfer fault is developed between the Anaximander Mountain (sensu stricto) and the Si{dotless}rri{dotless} Erinç Plateau which displays ~ 2 km of contractional stratigraphic separation and as much as 40 km of sinistral strike-slip. The Finike Basin evolved during the Pliocene-Quaternary as the result of accelerated subsidence, caused by the lithospheric loading of the western Tauride Mountains.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 24-47 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Marine Geology |
| Volume | 258 |
| Issue number | 1-4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2009 |
Funding
We thank the officers and crew of the RV Koca Piri Reis of the Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylül University, for their assistance in data acquisition, in particular the Chief Engineer Ömer Çubuk, without him we could not have acquired the seismic reflection data. We acknowledge research and ship-time funds from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to Hall and Aksu, travel funds from the Dean of Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a special grant from the VP Research, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Seismic data were processed at Memorial University of Newfoundland, using the ProMAX software donated by Landmark Graphics. Assistance with data processing was provided by Sharon Deemer, Deanne Duff, Grant Lethbridge, Michelle Martin, Roger Walters and Julie Halliday. We thank Tom Calon for his valuable discussions on the structural and tectonic evolution of the study area.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Dean of Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland | |
| Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland |
Keywords
- Anaxagoras Mountains
- Anaximander
- Anaximenes
- basin evolution
- eastern Mediterranean
- Finike Basin
- Florence Rise
- tectonics