Investigation of Active Tectonics of Edremit Gulf, Western Anatolia (Turkey), Using High-Resolution Multi-Channel Marine Seismic Data

Can Eytemi̇z,Faik Erdeniz Özel

doi:10.33714/masteb.635468

Abstract

The Edremit Gulf is situated on the upper Miocene transtensional basin in the Western Anatolia and formed by the interaction between the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) and the N-S extensional tectonic regime of the Aegean domain. Our study is aimed to investigate the structural effects of these tectonic forces in the Gulf. Thus, approximately 300km. seismic data were collected within the Gulf area using the high-resolution seismic reflection method. The results indicated that the interpretation of the data, an E-W oriented, strike-slip fault system (Edremit Bay Fault - EBF) was identified in the Gulf as a possible continuation of the Havran - Balıkesir Fault Zone which can be followed on land. Likewise, a second strike-slip fault system (Edremit - Lesbos Fault; ELF) was observed which crosses the Gulf towards Lesbos Island in the NE-SW direction. This system was interpreted as the possible continuation of the Yenice - Gönen Fault Zone which is thought to be the branch of the North Anatolian Fault.

Highlights

Edremit Gulf is a basin, located in the eastern Mediterranean, Aegean Sea, between the Biga Peninsula at the north, the Lesbos Island at the west and the Madra Mountains at the south
With the undulations at the SW of the section formed by the E-W compression, some strike-slip faults reaching up to the seabed and the Edremit – Lesvos Fault (ELF) are being observed
The Edremit Bay Fault (EBF) which is located in the central part of the section ends in Holocene sediments and does not give any surface fracture

Summary

Introduction

Edremit Gulf is a basin, located in the eastern Mediterranean, Aegean Sea, between the Biga Peninsula at the north, the Lesbos Island at the west and the Madra Mountains at the south. Strait at the west and Dikili Strait (or Lesbos Strait) at the South (Figure 1). It has been shaped by both westward progression and N-S oriented extension of the Anatolian Plate (Dewey and Şengör, 1979; Barka and Reilinger, 1997; Yılmaz, 1997; Armijo, Meyer, Hubert and Barka, 1999; Yılmaz et al, 2000; Westaway, 2003) (Figure 2). The aim of this article is to contribute to such marine studies and to connect both the land and marine tectonic structures to better understand the regional tectonism

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Conclusion