Reconciling the stratigraphy and depositional history of the Lycian orogen-top basins, SW Anatolia

Terrestrial fossil records from the SWAnatolian basins are crucial both for regional correlations and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. By reassessing biostratigraphic constraints and incorporating new fossil data, we calibrated and reconstructed the late Neogene andQuaternary palaeoenvironments within a regional palaeogeographical framework. The culmination of the Taurides inSWAnatolia was followed by a regional crustal extension from the late Tortonian onwards that created a broad array of NE-trending orogen-top basins with synchronic associations of alluvial fan, fluvial and lacustrine deposits. The terrestrial basins are superimposed on the upper Burdigalian marine units with a c. 7 myr of hiatus that corresponds to a shift from regional shortening to extension. The initial infill of these basins is documented by a transition from marginal alluvial fans and axial fluvial systems into central shallow-perennial lakes coinciding with a climatic shift from warm/humid to arid conditions. The basal alluvial fan deposits abound in fossil macro-mammals of an early Turolian (MN11–12; late Tortonian) age. The Pliocene epoch in the region was punctuated by subhumid/humid conditions resulting in a rise of local base levels and expansion of lakes as evidenced by marsh-swamp deposits containing diverse fossilmammal assemblages indicating late Ruscinian (lateMN15; late Zanclean) ageWe are grateful for the support of the international bilateral project between The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and The Russian Scientific Foundation (RFBR) with grant a number of 111Y192. M.C.A. is grateful to the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA) for a GEBIP (Young Scientist Award) grant. T.K. and S.M. are grateful to the Ege University Scientific Research Center for the TTM/002/2016 and TTM/001/2016 projects. M.C.A., H.A., S.M. and M.B. have obtained Martin and Temmick Fellowships at Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden). F.A.D. is supported by a Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Scientific Research Grant. T.A.N. is supported by an Alexander-von-Humboldt Scholarship. L.H.O. received support from TUBITAK under the 2221 program for visiting scientists

The Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone: A component of upper plate extension of the subduction transform edge propagator fault linking Hellenic and Cyprus Arcs, Eastern Mediterranean

The Hellenic and Cyprus Arcs, that mark the convergent boundary of the African and Aegean-Anatolian plates, are offset along a subduction transform edge propagator ('STEP') fault running NE-SW along the Pliny and Strabo Trenches. The continuation of the fault to the northeast through the Rhodes Basin and into SW Anatolia is assessed. Seismic reflection profiles show that the structural architecture of the northern sector of the Rhodes Basin includes a large crustal-scale fold-thrust belt which is overprinted by numerous faults with small extensional stratigraphic separations. A protracted episode of convergence in the Miocene resulted in the development of a prominent NE-SW-striking and NW-verging fold-thrust belt in the Rhodes Basin. The absence of evaporites in the Rhodes Basin and several seaward prograded vertically stacked Quaternary delta successions resting at 2500-3500 m water depth collectively suggest that the Rhodes Basin must have remained above the depositional base of marine evaporite environment during the Messinian and that the region must have subsided very rapidly during the Pliocene-Quaternary. During the Pliocene-Quaternary, a NE-SW-trending belt developed across the Rhodes Basin: while the structural framework of this belt was characterised by reactivated thrusts in the central portion of the basin, a prominent zone of NE-SW-striking and NW- and SE-dipping faults with extensional separations developed in the northern portion of the basin. Two seismic profiles running parallel to the present-day coastline provide the much needed linkage between the Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone onland and the reactivated thrusts in central Rhodes Basin, and show that the Pliocene-Quaternary zone of high-angle faults with extensional separations clearly link with the similarly trending and dipping strike-slip faults onland in the Esen Valley, thus providing the continuity between the Pliny-Strabo Trenches in the southwest and the Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone in the northeast. Mapping of many faults in parts of the Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone shows evidence for sinistral strike-slip but total displacement across the fault zone is at maximum a few tens of kilometres. The STEP fault thus appears to have diminishing displacement associated with it as it propagates upwards into the upper plate from its originating tear in the subducting plate. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Relative Tectonic Activity Assessment of the Cameli Basin, Western Anatolia, Using Geomorphic Indices

Western Anatolia is one of the world's most seismically active regions. A nearly N-S-oriented extension caused the formation of E-W- and NE-SW-trending major grabens, creating the potential for earthquakes with magnitudes5. The fault segments of the NE-trending Cameli Basin were evaluated using geomorphic indices, common tools for assessment of relative tectonic activity in such areas. Quantitative measurement of geomorphic indices including mountain-front sinuosity (Smf; 1.35-2.39), valley floor width-to-height ratios (Vf; 0.080.37), and hypsometric integral (HI; 0.31-1.05) suggest relatively higher tectonic activity along western and southern part of the basin. Hypsometric curves for all segments of the faults mostly exhibit concave or straight profiles, signifying existence of young mountain fronts in the Cameli Basin. These calculations indicate that the Cameli Basin is tectonically active and, southern/south-western areas of this depression have earthquake potential, consistent with epicentres of recent earthquakes, occurred along some fault segments. Possible reason of this activity seems to be related to the E-W-trending corridor lying between the Gulf of Gokova and south-eastern part of the Cameli Basin, represented by active normal faults. These findings should be valid beyond the Cameli Basin for similar situations along the Isparta Angle's western margin.WoSScopu

Surface runoff and carbonates-based definition of protection zones for Egirdir Lake in western Turkey

Freshwater of Isparta and Egirdir is supplied from the Egirdir Lake, which is the second largest freshwater lake of the Lakes District in Western Turkey. The Egirdir Lake has been studied within the framework of the Basin Protection Plan Special Provisions of the Egirdir Lake. The impact of runoff is taken into account in determining protection zones of the surface water reservoirs in Turkey. An approach that emphasizes the impact of groundwater flow in addition to the surface runoff has been adopted in this study. Water in Lake Egirdir is often classified as the Class II water according to terrestrial water resources quality criteria in Water Pollution Control Regulation of Turkey. The geological and hydrogeological studies reveal a significant amount of groundwater recharge into the Egirdir Lake through carbonate rocks and alluvial deposits outcropping in the basin, which is why Egirdir Lake still has a less contaminated water quality in spite of heavy pollutants. For this purpose, groundwater flow is prominently used in defining protection zones and surface runoff as well. The inner protection zone, which is defined as the 50-day travel time, and the outer protection zone, defined as the 400-day travel time, were estimated by infiltrometer and pumping tests in alluvium. Pumping tests results were used for the determination of hydraulic conductivities and groundwater levels for the determination of hydraulic gradients. Protection zones in karstic areas are based on the vulnerability map and large karstic springs