Reconstructing the sedimentary evolution of the miocene Aksu Basin based on fan delta development (Eastern mediterranean-Turkey)

The Aksu Basin in southern Turkey is dominantly represented by an alluvial fan and five fan deltas (FDs) developed along the tectonically controlled margins of the basin during the Miocene. Four alternating compressional and tensional tectonic phases have influenced the basin since its formation. Strong tectonic movements caused high sedimentation rates and progradation of large debrisflow and mass-flow dominated FDs. Here we describe two FDs (the Karadağ and Kargı FDs) in detail. The Karadağ FD began to develop under the control of a compressional regime and continued the evolution under a tensional regime. The same tensional regime caused the separation of the Karadağ FD from its source and the deposition of the Kargı FD into the newly formed accommodation area. The alternating tectonic regimes and sea-level oscillations in the Aksu Basin gave rise to the development of coral colonies on the shallow delta fronts, forming patch reefs despite the large amounts of conglomerates supplied by fan deltaic processes.