LATE CENOZOIC EXTENSIONAL TECTONICS IN WESTERN ANATOLIA: EXHUMATION OF THE MENDERES CORE COMPLEX AND FORMATION OF RELATED BASINS

Abstract

The Aegean region (Western Anatolia, Aegean Sea and Greece) is one of the areas of the earth under the effect of extensional tectonics and includes the typical features of core complexes in this type of region. The Menderes Massif in Western Anatolia was exhumed initially as an asymmetric core complex in the Early Miocene due to extension beginning in the Oligocene and then the central Menderes Massif was further exhumed as a symmetric core complex. This article discusses the exhumation mechanisms of the Menderes Massif and development of surrounding sedimentary basins in light of new findings. The proposed model successfully explains, the location of the Oligocene Kale basin, different movement directions of the Lycian nappes in northern and southern parts of the Datca-Kale Main Breakaway Fault and the top-to- The NNE directed shearing dominantly observed in the whole Menderes Massif.