Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Shallow and Deep Structure of a Supradetachment Basin Based on Geological, Conventional Deep Seismic Reflection Sections and Gravity Data in the Buyuk Menderes Graben, Western Anatolia

  • Published:
Surveys in Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Buyuk Menderes Graben is a depression in the Menderes core complex of western Turkey. The region is one of the most rapidly deforming regions of continental crust in the world and has exceptionally high seismic activity. In this study, shallow and deep seismic studies were conducted at the Buyuk Menderes graben. These studies included surface geological mapping and two seismic reflection sections. Detailed modelling was performed with the seismic study. In addition to these, a moving windows power spectrum was applied to the Bouguer gravity profile data of the study area. Since no deep well is available in this area, the geological interpretation of the seismic stratigraphy is based on the correlation with the surface geology, this was combined with the major reflections and the seismic facies observed along the profiles, and, thus, four main seismic units can be distinguished in the basin fill. Structural features of the basin is driven by a complex extensional faults system, consisting of a low-angle, S-dipping Buyuk Menderes detachment and by its synthetic and antithetic splays, bordering the opposite flanks of the basin. As a result of conventional deep seismic reflection sections and gravity data, three layers were defined in the study area. The first layer occurs at a thickness of 6 km, and the second layer is between 13 and 18 km. The third layer is at ~33 km and may also emphasize Moho depth. The Buyuk Menderes graben has three clear reflectors which are base sediments, brittle-ductile transition, Moho and faults that show a half-graben floored by a detachment. The Moho depth is comparable with previous estimates. According to the results obtained, Bouguer gravity and seismic results are very much consistent with each other. It was observed that at the depths determined from seismic and gravity data, the distribution percentage of earthquake focal depths also rises.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akyol N, Zhu L, Mıtchell B, Sözbilir H, Kekovalı K (2006) Crustal structure and local seismicity in western Anatolia. Geophys J Int 166:1259–1269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ankaya O, Akçığ Z (1998) Investigation of the geodynamical properties of western Anatolia. In: 12th International petroleum congress and exhibition of Turkey, Ankara, proceedings, pp 49–62

  • Arpat E, Bingöl E (1969) The western Anatolia graben system thoughts on its development, Min. Res Expl Inst Turk Bull (in Turkish) 73:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozkurt E (2000) Origin of N–S extensional tectonic in western Anatolia (Turkey): evidence from the Büyük Menderes Graben. In: Bozkurt E, Winchester JA, Piper JDA (eds) Tectonics and magmatism in Turkey and its surrounding areas. Geological Society of London Special Publication, vol 173, pp 385–403

  • Bozkurt E (2001) Late Alpine evolution of the central Menderes Massif, western Turkey. Int J Earth Sci 89:728–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozkurt E (2003) Origin of NNE-trending basins in western Turkey. Geodinamica Acta 16:61–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozkurt E, Oberhänsli R (2001) Menderes Massif (western Turkey): structural, metamorphic and magmatic evolution—a synthesis. Int J Earth Sci 89:679–708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozkurt E, Park RG (1994) Southern Menderes Massif: an incipient metamorphic core complex in western Anatolia, Turkey. J Geol Soc Lond 151:213–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozkurt E, Sözbilir H (2004) Geology of the Gediz Graben: new field evidence and tectonic significance. Geol Mag 141:63–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozkurt E, Sözbilir H (2006) Evolution of the large-scale active Manisa Fault, Southwest Turkey: implications on fault development and regional tectonics. Geodinamica Acta 19:427–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozkurt E, Park G, Winchester JA (1993) Evidence against the core/cover interpretation of the southern sector of the Menderes Massif, west Turkey. Terra Nova 5:445–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Çemen I, Catlos EJ, Göğüs O, Özerdem C (2006) Postcollisional extensional tectonics and exhumation of the Menderes Massif in the western Anatolia extended terrane, Turkey. In: Dilek Y, Pavlides S (eds) Postcollisional tectonics and magmatism in the Mediterranean region and Asia. Geological Society of America Special Paper, vol 409, pp 463–473

  • Çifci NB, Bozkurt E (2009) Structural evolution of the Gediz Graben, SW Turkey: temporal and spatial variation of the graben basin, Basin Res (in press). doi:10.1111/j.1365-2117.2009.00438

  • Cohen HA, Dart CJ, Akyüz HS, Barka A (1995) Syn-rift sedimentation and structural development of the Gediz and Büyük Menderes Graben, western Turkey. J Geol Soc Lond 152:629–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demircioğlu D, Ecevitoğlu B, Seyitoğlu G (2010) Evidence of a rolling hinge mechanism in the seismic records of the hydrocarbon-bearing Alaşehir graben, western Turkey. Petrol Geosci 16(2):155–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolmaz MN, Hisarlı ZM, Ustaömer T, Orbay N (2005) Curie point depths based on spectrum analysis of aeromagnetic data, West Anatolian extensional province, Turkey. Pure Appl Geophys 162:571–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emre T, Sözbilir H (1997) Field evidence for metamrphic core complex, detachment faulting and accomodation faults in the Gediz and Büyük Menderes grabens (western Turkey). IESCA Proc 1:73–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdoğan B, Güngör T (2004) The problem of core-cover boundary of the Menderes Massif and an emplacement mechanism for regionally extensive gneissic granites, western Anatolia (Turkey). Turk J Earth Sci 13:15–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Ersoy EY, Helvacı C, Sözbilir H, Erkül F, Bozkurt E (2008) A geochemical approach to neogene–quaternary volcanic activity of western Anatolia: an example of episodic bimodal volcanism within the Selendi Basin, Turkey. Chem Geol 255:265–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ersoy EY, Helvacı C, Sözbilir H (2010) Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the NE–SW trending superimposed Selendi basin: implications for late Cenozoic crustal extension in western Anatolia, Turkey. Tectonophysics (in press)

  • Eyidoğan H, Jackson JA (1985) A seismological study of normal faulting in the Demirci, Alaşehir and Gediz earthquake of 1969–1970 in western Turkey: implications for the nature and geometry of deformation in the continental crust. Geophys J R Astr Soc 81:569–607

    Google Scholar 

  • Gessner K, Ring U, Passchier CW, Güngör T (2001) How to resist subduction: evidence for large-scale out-of-sequence thrusting during Eocene collision in western Turkey. J Geol Soc Lond 158:769–784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gürer A, Pinçe A, Gürer ÖF, İlkışık OM (2002) Resistivity distribution in the Gediz Graben and its implications for crustal structure. Turk J Earth Sci 11:15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Gürer OF, Sarica-Filoreau N, Ozburan M (2009) Progressive development of the Buyuk Menderes Graben based on new data, western Turkey. Geol Mag 146:652–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Işık V, Tekeli O (2001) Late orogenic crustal extension in the northern Menderes Massif (western Turkey): evidence for metamorphic core complex formation. Int J Earth Sci 89:757–765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson JA (1987) Active continental deformation and regional metamorphism. Phil Trans R Soc Lond A 321:47–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koçyiğit A, Yusufoğlu H, Bozkurt E (1999) Evidence from the Gediz graben for episodic two-stage extension in western Turkey. J Geol Soc Lond 156:605–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lips ALW, Cassard D, Sözbilir H, Yılmaz H, Wijbrans J (2001) Multistage exhumation of the Menderes Massif, western Anatolia (Turkey). Int J Earth Sci 89:781–792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makris J (1978) The crust and upper mantle of the Aegean region from deep seismic sounding. Tectonophysics 46:269–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meisner R (1986) The continental crust: a geophysical approach, vol 34. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Okay A (2001) Stratigraphic and metamorphic inversions in the central Menderes Massif: a new structural model. Int J Earth Sci 89:709–727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özer S, Sözbilir H (2003) Presence and tectonic significance of Cretaceous rudist species in the so-called Permo-Carboniferous Göktepe Formation, central Menderes metamorphic masif, western Turkey. Int J Earth Sci 92:97–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pamukçu O, Yurdakul A (2008) Isostatic compensation in western Anatolia with estimate of the effective elastic thickness. Turk J Earth Sci 17:545–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Pourteau A, Candan O, Oberhänsli R (2010) High-pressure metasediments in central Turkey: constraints on the Neotethyan closure history. Tectonics 29. doi:10.1029/2009TC002650

  • Purvis M, Robertson AHF (2005) Miocene sedimentary evolution of the NE–SW-trending Selendi and Gördes Basins, western Turkey: implications for extensional processes. Sediment Geol 174:31–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rimmelé G, Jolivet L, Oberhänsli R, Goffé B (2003) Deformation history of the high-pressure Lycian Nappes and implications for the tectonic evolution of SW Turkey. Tectonics 22:1007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rıng U, Gessner K, Gungor T, Passchıer CW (1999) The Menderes Massif of western Turkey and the Cycladic Massif in the Aegean–do they really correlate? J Geol Soc Lond 156:3–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarı C, Şalk M (2006) Sediment thicknesses of the western Anatolia graben structures determined by 2D and 3D analysis using gravity data. J Asian Earth Sci 26:39–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuiling RD (1962) On petrology, age and structure of the Menderes migmatite complex (SW Turkey). Bull Inst Miner Res Explor Turk 58:71–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen S, Seyitoglu G (2009) Magnetostratigraphy of early-middle Miocene deposits from E–W trending Alasehir and Büyük Menderes grabens in western Turkey, and its tectonic implications. In: van Hinsbergen DJJ, Edwards MA, Govers R (eds) Collision and collapse at the Africa–Arabia–Eurasia subduction zone. Geological Society of London Special Publication, vol 311, pp 321–342

  • Sengör AMC, Yilmaz Y (1981) Tethyan evolution of Turkey: a plate tectonic approach. Tectonophysics 75:181–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Şengör AMC, Satır M, Akkök R (1984) Timing of tectonic events in the Menderes Massif, western Anatolia: implications or tectonic evolution and evidence for Pan-African basement in Turkey. Tectonics 3:693–707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Şengör AMC, Görür N, Şaroğlu F (1985) Strike-slip faulting and related basin formation in zones of tectonic escape: Turkey as a case study. In: Bıddle K, Christie-Blick N (eds) Strike-slip deformation, basin formation and sedimentation. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publications, vol 37, pp 227–264

  • Seyitoğlu G (1997) Late Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary development of the Selendi and Uşak-Güre basins: a contribution to the discussion on the development of east-west and north trending basins in western Turkey. Geol Mag 134:163–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seyitoğlu G, Scott BC (1992) Late Cenozoic volcanic evolution of the northeastern Aegean region. J Volcan Geotherm Res 54:157–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seyitoğlu G, Tekeli O, Çemen İ, Şen Ş, Işık V (2002) The role of the flexural rotation/rolling hinge model in the tectonic evolution of the Alaşehir graben, western Turkey. Geol Mag 139:15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Sözbilir H (2001) Extensional tectonics and the geometry of related macroscopic structures: Field evidence from the Gediz detachment, western Turkey. Turk J Earth Sci 10:51–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Sözbilir (2005) Oligo—Miocene extension in the Lycian Orogen: evidence from the Lycian molasse basin, SW Turkey. Geodinamica Acta 18:255–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Sözbilir H, Emre T (1991) Neogene stratigraphy and structure of the northern rim of the Büyük Menderes graben. Int Earth Sci Cong Aegean Reg Proc 2:314–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Spector A, Grant FS (1970) Statistical models for interpreting aeromagnetic data. Geophysics 35:242–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Taymaz T (1993) The source parameters of Çubukdağ (western Turkey) earthquake of 11 October 1986. Geophys J Int 113:260–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taymaz T (1996) S–P wave travel-time residuals from earthquakes and lateral ınhomogeneity in the Upper Mantle Beneath the Aegean and the Hellenic trench near Crete. Geophys J Int Oxford 127:545–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taymaz T, Price S (1992) The 1971 May 12 Burdur earthquake sequence, SW Turkey: a synthesis of seismological and geological observations. Geophys J Int 108:589–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taymaz T, Jackson JA, Westaway R (1990) Earthquake Mechanisms in the Hellenic Trench near Crete. Geophys J Int 102:695–731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taymaz T, Jackson JA, McKenzie D (1991) Active tectonics of the north and central Aegean Sea. Geophys J Int 106:433–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taymaz T, Wright TJ, Yolsal S, Tan O, Fielding E, Seyitoğlu G (2007) Source characteristics of the 6 June 2000 Orta-Çankırı (central Turkey) earthquake: a synthesis of seismological, geological and geodetic (InSAR) observations, and internal deformation of the Anatolian plate. In: Taymaz T, Yılmaz Y, Dilek Y (eds) The geodynamics of the Aegean and Anatolia. Geological Society London Special Publications, vol 291, pp 259–290

  • Ünay E, Göktaş F, Hakyemez HY, Avşar M, Şan Ö (1995) Dating the sediments exposed at the northern part of the Büyük Menderes Graben (Turkey) on the basis of Arvicolidae (Rodentia, Mammalia). Geol Bull Turk 38:2

    Google Scholar 

  • van Hinsbergen DJJ (2010) A key extensional metamorphic complex reviewed and restored: the Menderes Massif of western Turkey. Earth Sci Rev 102:60–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Hinsbergen DJJ, Dekkers MJ, Bozkurt E, Koopman M (2010a) Exhumation with a twist: paleomagnetic constraints on the evolution of the Menderes metamorphic core complex (western Turkey). Tectonics 29:TC3009. doi:10.1029/2009TC002596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Hinsbergen DJJ, Kaymakci N, Spakman W, Torsvik TH (2010b) Reconciling the geological history of western Turkey with plate circuits and mantle tomography. Earth Planet Sci Lett 297:674–686

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yılmaz Y, Genç C, Gürer F, Bozcu M, Yılmaz K, Karacık Z, Altunkaynak Ş, Elmas A (2000) When did the western Anatolian grabens begin to develop? In: Bozkurt E, Winchester JA, Piper JDA (eds) Tectonics and magmatism in Turkey and the surrounding area. Geological Society London Special Publications, vol 173, pp 131–162

  • Yılmaztürk A, Bayrak Y, Çakır Ö (1999) Crustal seismicity in and around Turkey. Nat Hazards 18:253–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu L, Mitchell BJ, Akyol N, Çemen İ, Kekovali K (2006) Crustal thickness variations in the Aegean Region and its implications for the extension of continental crust. J Geophys Res 111. doi:10.1029/2005JB003770

Download references

Acknowledgments

We greatly appreciate the support at various stages in the project of the Turkish Oil Company (TPAO) for data and the Department of Geological Sciences at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for processing the data. Günay Çifçi was supported by The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the Regional Geophysics Lab at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during data processing. The language editing was done by Elsevier Language Editing Service. We would like to express our special thanks to D.J.J. van Hinsbergen whose comments and criticisms have greatly improved the earlier version of the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylül University, 35340, Inciraltı, Izmir, Turkey

    G. Çifçi

  2. Engineering Faculty, Department of Geophysics, Dokuz Eylül University, Buca Tınaztepe Campus, Buca, Izmir, Turkey

    O. Pamukçu

  3. Department of Geological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1046 Derring Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    C. Çoruh

  4. Turkish Petroleum Co., Exploration Group, 06520, Ankara, Turkey

    S. Çopur

  5. Engineering Faculty, Department of Geology, Dokuz Eylül University, Buca Tınaztepe Campus, Buca, Izmir, Turkey

    H. Sözbilir

Authors
  1. G. Çifçi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. Pamukçu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Çoruh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Çopur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Sözbilir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Çifçi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Çifçi, G., Pamukçu, O., Çoruh, C. et al. Shallow and Deep Structure of a Supradetachment Basin Based on Geological, Conventional Deep Seismic Reflection Sections and Gravity Data in the Buyuk Menderes Graben, Western Anatolia. Surv Geophys 32, 271–290 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-010-9109-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-010-9109-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation