Late Cenozoic Basin Architecture in Central Turkey: Geodynamic Implications

Abstract:

The Lake Tuz basin is the largest intracontinental basin in Turkey and has hydrocarbon and industrial mineral reserves. Thus, there are several studies particularly intended for the pre-Neogene geology of the basin. However, there is not any detailed study related to the geological units of Neogene and Quaternary periods. This study aims to exhibit facies features of these units within spatial and temporal distributions according to field studies. In the other hand, the region has modelled through stratigraphically by computing more than 250 borehole data within 3D GeoScientific Information System. In light of obtained model, basement topographies of Neogene and Quaternary units has revealed. The model indicate high amounts of sedimentation during the Mio-Pliocene with a southward increasing thickness of a freshwater lake basin while it is a shallow saline lake basin today that regressed towards the north during the Plio-Quaternary. The combination of these results with regional geological and geophysical data (i.e. gravity and crustal thickness) allows geodynamic implications for central Turkey. The spatio-temporal variations of Late Cenozoic units reflect the main effect of endogenic forces that were caused due to lithospheric slab break-off and following asthenospheric upwelling under central Turkey.