Holocene and Quaternary uplift in the central part of the southern coast of the Corinth Gulf (Greece)

Abstract

The southern coast of the Gulf of Corinth, Greece, has long been recognized as an area of rapid Quaternary uplift in a normal faulting environment, but the amplitude, dating and significance of this uplift remain a matter of debate, mainly due to the scarcity of reliable and detailed estimates of Holocene and longer-term uplift. Evidence of Holocene emergence is analysed for two sites in the most uplifted area of the southern coast of the Gulf of Corinth. At Mavra Litharia, the uppermost Holocene marine limit has been identified at +9.3 m and dated about 7100 14C years BP. Near Platanos, where the Holocene marine limit is above +12.5 m, in situ infralittoral boring shells at +11.5 m have been dated about 4800 14C years BP. Average uplift rates can be estimated between 2.9 and 3.5 mm/year at Mavra Litharia and possibly even greater (ca. >2.1–2.7 mm/year) near Platanos. The pattern of the variation of Holocene uplift along the coast seems to mimic the pattern of Late Quaternary terraces, well constrained in the eastern pattern of the Gulf (Corinth–Xylokastro area).