Determination of structural characteristics of Tuzgölü Fault Zone using gravity and magnetic methods, Central Anatolia

Abstract

The anomaly maps and amplitude and wavelength changes of the anomalies obtained from gravity and magnetic methods can provide to identify fault traces in the underground. The Tuzgölü Fault Zone (TFZ), the NW-SE striking active fault zone in central Anatolia, includes fault strands that cut the basement and basin deposits. Our magnetic and gravity analysis suggests that Tuzgölü Basin and its surroundings are characterized by distinct depression and ridge areas. Gravity anomaly data show the presence of faults at depths of sea level (0 m), -1000 m, -2000 m, -3000 m, and -4000 m. These faults are mostly normal and reverse faults, as well as the lesser amount of vertical faults (high-angle normal/reverse faults) with NW-SE, N-S, and NE-SW-striking. The normal faults are of the structural development and the deposition of the Tuzgölü Basin units, which occurred late Cretaceous-Middle Eocene and Early Miocene-Quaternary Periods. The reverse faults originated from the result of the regional-scale compressional regime during Middle Eocene-Late Oligocene/ Early Miocene based on the fault dating data from the literature. The active TFZ, including several fault strands, are relatively younger faults in the region that have initiated to develop during faulting events from after Middle Miocene or Early Pliocene.

Keywords

• geophysical method
• downward continuation
• tuzgölü basin
• fault zone
• central turkey