GEODINAMICA ACTA, vol.30, no.1, pp.306-323, 2018 (SCI-Expanded)
Cenozoic convergence, collision and subsequent subduction between African and Eurasian plates are accommodating in overriding Eurasian plate both forming the Aegean extension and the North & East Anatolian fault zones. To understand the kinematic evolution of upper crust, here we provide new paleostress data from the Havran-Balikesir Fault Zone located at the interaction area between the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) and west Anatolian extensional structures. Paleostress reconstructions of fault-slip data reveal that three distinct deformation phases have been experienced in the region. Phase 1 is represented by left-lateral strike-slip faulting with reverse component in the pre-Pliocene period. The Phase 2 is characterized by approximately N-S trending contraction and associated E-W trending extension in Plio-Quaternary, which is spatiotemporally linked to the initiation of NAFZ through the area. The youngest deformation, Phase 3 is attributed to NE-SW trending extension and NW-SE-trending contraction commenced by the Quaternary transpressional tectonics in Southern Marmara Region. These results show that the main contraction axes have been experienced a spectacular anticlockwise rotation (from NW-SE to E-W), which is associated with; (i) the propagation geometry of the NAFZ into the region (ii) slab roll-back and retreat and tearing process on the Aegean subduction system, and (iii) the existence of inherited structures of the Izmir-Balikesir Transfer Zone.