Active tectonics of the Turkish-Iranian Plateau

Copley, Alex and Jackson, J. A. (2006) Active tectonics of the Turkish-Iranian Plateau. Tectonics, 25 (6). TC6006. DOI 10.1029/2005TC001906

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Abstract

This paper examines how active faulting in the Turkey-Iran-Caucasus region accommodates the Arabia-Eurasia collision and the velocity field observed by GPS. The overall shortening across the zone is, in general, spatially separated (“partitioned”) into right-lateral strike slip in the Turkish-Iranian Plateau and thrusting in the Greater Caucasus. A band of counterclockwise rotating NW-SE right-lateral strike-slip faults accommodates a NW-SE gradient in NE directed velocity (relative to Eurasia) between the Black and Caspian seas. A NNW-SSE band of previously unrecognized oblique normal faults is present on the Turkey-Iran border. We estimate the offsets on faults from geomorphological features and show that these offsets can be achieved in 5 ± 2 Ma at present rates. This implies a reorganization of deformation in the collision zone at that time, after the initial collision at ∼12 Ma, probably in response to mantle-induced dynamic uplift.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2007 AREP 2006 P IA53
Subjects:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Divisions:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Journal or Publication Title:	Tectonics
Volume:	25
Page Range:	TC6006
Identification Number:	10.1029/2005TC001906
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2009 13:02
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 10:06
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/220

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