T292 From Oceanic Subduction to Inter-Continental Collision: Examples of Convergent Margin Processes in Non-Collisional and Collisional Settings

Wednesday, 25 September 2019
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Room 231ABC, North Building

MANTLE DYNAMICS AND PLATE BOUNDARY FORMATION: THE CASE OF THE NORTH ANATOLIAN FAULT

Paper number: T292-6
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Authors

Abstract

The Middle East region represents a key site within the Tethyan domain where continental break-up, collision, backarc extension and escape tectonics are kinematically linked together. This interacting plate system with a wealth of available geological and geophysical constraints offers a chance to evaluate the dynamics behind the motions and deformation of the plates.

Several prior studies analyzed the kinematics and the dynamics of the region, addressing such problems as to why Anatolia is moving westward, what is driving Arabia toward the north with respect to Africa, or why the Hellenic trench retreats so fast, and different models have been proposed. In particular, the formation of North Anatolia Fault in the Middle Miocene and its westward propagation represent still a highly debate issue.

The aim of this paper is to test different hypotheses about the driving forces of the Arabia–Anatolia–Aegean system, using numerical and analogue model.Our results show the importance of mantle flow for driving the system,Reconciling Anatolia escape with the formation of the NAF, the collision within the Bitlis, and the rapid backward acceleration of the Aegean trench.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2019AM-336384

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