Tectonic geomorphology and Plio-Quaternary structural evolution of the Tuzgölü fault zone, Turkey: Implications for deformation in the interior of the Central Anatolian Plateau

Abstract

Situated within the interior of the Central Anatolian Plateau (Turkey), the 200-km-long Tuzgölü extensional fault zone offers first-order constraints on the timing and pattern of regional deformation and uplift. In this study, we analyze the morphometrics of catchments along the Tuzgölü range-front fault and the parallel, basinward Hamzalı fault using a variety of measured morphometric indicators coupled with regional geomorphic observations and longitudinal profile analysis. In addition, we use field and remote mapping to constrain the geometry of two key marker beds, the Pliocene Kızılkaya ignimbrite and Kışladaǧ limestone, in order to investigate deformation in the footwall of the Tuzgölü fault zone. The marker beds form a broad arch along the footwall of the fault, with greatest cumulative displacement along the central part of the fault zone, suggesting early Pliocene extensional reactivation of the Tuzgölü fault with a typical fault-displacement profile. However, a change in deformation pattern is marked by transient knick­points along river channels; morphometric indicators sensitive to shorter (1−3 Ma) time scales, including river steepness, basin elongation, and mountain front sinuosity, indicate an overall southeastward increase in footwall uplift rate of the Tuzgölü fault zone, which could reflect block rotation or interaction with the Hasan Dag volcano. Basin asymmetry and basin-fault azimuth measurements indicate north-northwest tilting of footwall catchments, which may be linked to regional tilting across the Central Anatolian Plateau interior. Varying patterns of spatial and temporal deformation along the length of the Tuzgölü fault zone are likely due to the interference of crustal- and lithospheric-scale processes, such as rotation of crustal blocks, extrusion of the Anatolian microplate, crustal heating, gravitational collapse associated with plateau uplift, and mantle-driven vertical displacements.

Morphological and multivariate statistical analysis of quaternary monogenetic vents in the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (Turkey): Implications for the volcano-tectonic evolution

“…On the other hand, the western border fault zone in the region has mostly played a role in the crustal propagation of the magma to the surface (e.g., Toprak and Göncüoglu, 1993;Dirik and Göncüoglu, 1996;and this study). Additionally, the spatial changes in the kinematics of this fault zone (i.e., changes from almost pure strike-slip in the NW to a transtensional in the SE; e.g., Krystopowicz et al, 2020) possibly shaped the vent alignments in the central (clusters 2 and 3) and southwestern parts (clusters 5 and 6) of the CAVP (Fig. 7).…”

Investigating Stress Transfer Between the Tuz Gölü Fault Zone and Hasan Dağ Volcano (Turkey)

“…The segment has an average Quaternary vertical slip rate of 0.05 mm yr −1 (Kürçer and Gökten, 2012). Dextral offsets of Hasan Dağ lavas permit deducing average right-lateral slip rates of 0.58-3.35 mm yr −1 over the past 2 Ma (Krystopowicz et al, 2020). Paleoseismic and geochronological evidence (Kürçer and Gökten, 2012) of two Holocene earthquakes on the AKFS at 10 ± 0.41 ka BP and 5.450 ka±0.16 BP provide a recurrence interval of 4.55 ± 0.45 ka.…”

“…Paleoseismic and geochronological evidence (Kürçer and Gökten, 2012) of two Holocene earthquakes on the AKFS at 10 ± 0.41 ka BP and 5.450 ka±0.16 BP provide a recurrence interval of 4.55 ± 0.45 ka. Elevated footwall uplift rates towards the south-eastern end of the TGFZ may pertain to interactions between the fault zone and the Hasan Dağ magmatic system (Krystopowicz et al, 2020). Seismicity in proximity to Hasan Dağ includes hypocentral depths that are deeper ( > 10 km) than common for the region (Aydar et al, 2021), and may perhaps be indicative of a volcanogenic origin (Kürçer and Gökten, 2014).…”

Surface expressions of morphostructural features at Hasandağ stratovolcano on DEM datasets

“…Hasandağ system lies southwest to Tuzgölü fault, and the fault partially cuts the northeastern flanks of Lesser Hasandağ (Figs. 4, 5a) and is known to displace lava flows of the Lesser Hasandağ (e.g., Krystopowicz et al 2020). When zoomed in, RRIM exposes more detail on volcanic terrain (Fig.…”

“…1). Main fault systems acting on the volcanic system, such as Tuzgölü fault (e.g., Arıkan 1975;Şengör et al 1985;Dhont et al 1998;Koçyiğit 2003;Derman et al 2003;Özsayın et al 2013;Kürçer and Gökten 2014;Öztürk et al 2018;Krystopowicz et al 2020), Keçibuyduran-Melendiz fault (e.g., Toprak and Göncüoğlu 1993a;İlkışık et al 1997) and Hasandağ fault (Aydar and Gourgaud 1998) have been well-documented. Within this frame, Hasandağ is a complex, long-lived volcanic system that went through successive constructive and collapse stages.…”