Alaşehir type - rolling hinge mechanism in the northern margin of Büyük Menderes Graben: Evidence from seismic reflection and recent thermochronological data

Abstract

Isotopic and thermochronological data were recently obtained from the footwall of the Büyük Menderes detachment range from 29.0 ± 1.9 Ma (ZFT) to 1.6 ± 0.2 Ma (Ap U-Th/He) and they can be grouped in three different time intervals. These results are well explained by the Alaşehir type-rolling hinge mechanism, which suggests active rotated initial normal fault during successive normal fault development of the graben formation. This paper suggests that the Alaşehir type-rolling hinge mechanism is applicable to the Büyük Menderes graben by using field observations, published isotopic / thermochronological and subsurface data. It also contributes to the long-lasting discussion about the activation problem on the lowangle normal faults.