Bivergent extension in orogenic belts: The Menderes massif (southwestern Turkey)

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1995 Bivergent extension in orogenic belts: The Menderes massif (southwestern Turkey) Ralf Hetzel; Ralf Hetzel 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Cees W. Passchier; Cees W. Passchier 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Uwe Ring; Uwe Ring 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Özcan O. Dora Özcan O. Dora 2Department of Geological Engineering, Dokuz Eylül University, 35100 Bornova/Izmir, Turkey Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Ralf Hetzel 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Cees W. Passchier 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Uwe Ring 1Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany Özcan O. Dora 2Department of Geological Engineering, Dokuz Eylül University, 35100 Bornova/Izmir, Turkey Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1995) 23 (5): 455–458. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0455:BEIOBT>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Ralf Hetzel, Cees W. Passchier, Uwe Ring, Özcan O. Dora; Bivergent extension in orogenic belts: The Menderes massif (southwestern Turkey). Geology 1995;; 23 (5): 455–458. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0455:BEIOBT>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The central Menderes massif is characterized by an overall dome-shaped foliation pattern and a north-northeast–trending stretching lineation. The asymmetry of shear bands and quartz c-axis fabrics on either side of the structural dome demonstrate a top to the north-northeast shear sense in the northern part and a top to the south-southwest shear sense in the southern part of the submassif, i.e., a bivergent downdip movement. This suggests a symmetric collapse of the Alpine Menderes orogenic belt along two extensional shear zones. Conjugate shear bands and symmetric quartz c-axis fabrics in the east-trending transition zone demonstrate a coaxial deformation between the two extension domains. Bivergent extension in the Menderes massif is in contrast to asymmetric extension in the Aegean Sea. Here, the still-active Hellenic subduction zone evolved from an advancing plate boundary associated with crustal thickening into a retreating plate boundary in Oligocene-Miocene time. Southward rollback of the subducting plate during continuous northward subduction allowed asymmetric top to the north-northeast extension in the back-arc region during the exhumation of the Cycladic core complexes. In western Turkey, the arrival of the thick continental crust of the Menderes massif halted subduction and probably caused the symmetric collapse of the massif because the high potential energy of the thickened crust was no longer supported by subduction. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.