Tectonic implications of fluvial incision and pediment deformation at the northern margin of the Central Anatolian Plateau based on multiple cosmogenic nuclides

Author(s)

Cengiz Yildirim, Taylor F. Schildgen, Helmut Echtler, Daniel Melnick, Bodo Bookhagen, Attila Ciner, Samuel Niedermann, Silke Merchel, Martin Martschini, Peter Steier, Manfred R. Strecker

Abstract

We document Quaternary fluvial incision driven by fault-controlled surface deformation in the inverted intermontane Gökırmak Basin in the Central Pontide mountains along the northern margin of the Central Anatolian Plateau. In-situ-produced 10Be, 21Ne, and 36Cl concentrations from gravel-covered fluvial terraces and pediment surfaces along the trunk stream of the basin (the Gökırmak River) yield model exposure ages ranging from 7 ± 1 ka to 346 ± 45 ka and average fluvial incision rates over the past ~350 ka of 0.28 ± 0.01 mm a-1. Similarities between river incision rates and coastal uplift rates at the Black Sea coast suggest that regional uplift is responsible for the river incision. Model exposure ages of deformed pediment surfaces along tributaries of the trunk stream range from 60 ± 5 ka to 110 ± 10 ka, demonstrating that the thrust faults responsible for pediment deformation were active after those times and were likely active earlier as well as explaining the topographic relief of the region. Together, our data demonstrate cumulative incision that is linked to active internal shortening and uplift of ~0.3 mm a-1 in the Central Pontide orogenic wedge, which may ultimately contribute to the lateral growth of the northern Anatolian Plateau.

Organisation(s)

Isotope Physics

External organisation(s)

Istanbul Technical University, Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum, Universität Potsdam, University of California, Santa Barbara, Hacettepe University

Journal

Tectonics

Volume

32

Pages

1107-1120

No. of pages

14

ISSN

0278-7407

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1002/tect.20066

Publication date

09-2013

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

1030 Physics, Astronomy, 105106 Geodynamics

Keywords

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/e9cf1259-1be8-4a0c-96d5-df9308bcc7d0