Investigation of the linear structures of the Menderes Massif (Western Anatolia) using the moving average differences ‘mad’ boundary analysis method

Abstract

The Menderes Massif, located at Western Anatolia, Turkey, is a wide area that is under an extensional regime, resulting in the area having large grabens along with many faults and being geothermally rich. Due to having a large number of linear structures, the Menderes Massif has been a popular area for boundary analysis studies using gravity and magnetic prospecting. Since both prospecting methods result in potential field anomalies that are directly related to the positions of the anomaly sources, boundary analyses prove useful to mark the location of linear subsurface features. In this study, we have examined the Menderes Massif with a different boundary analysis approach that we call moving average differences. We have briefly introduced the method via synthetic gravity anomalies and carried out a tests to show that the algorithm is effective. Next, we have applied the moving average differences method to the actual Bouguer gravity data from the Menderes Massif and interpreted the results, briefly. Finally, we have compared our results with the already-known faults and two other boundary analysis studies' results from the area. The moving average differences results revealed new lineaments spread all around the Menderes Massif, which are possibly contacts/faults that are yet to be mapped. Our results also indicate that the moving average differences algorithm we have implemented provides useful information about the lineaments within the gravity anomalies, sufficient for it to be acknowledged as a boundary analysis method.