LATE QUATERNARY RAPID UPLIFT DEDUCED FROM MARINE TERRACES IN EASTERN PONTIDES, TURKEY
Numerous studies in the Eastern Pontides from the 1800’s to the present day have conducted research on Quaternary marine terraces. However, the chronology of these terraces, which can be traced in a narrow area due to either morphological problems or human affects has been confined to limited ESR (Electron Spin Resonance) dating. In this paper, we aimed to decipher Quaternary tectonic deformations within the coast of the Eastern Pontides by using uplifted marine terraces and quartz-SAR optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) in order to address the age of the marine terraces in the region.
According to results of the field study and laboratory data, our findings indicate: (i) age data for the terraces was obtained at 8.3 ± 2.5 ka, 42 ± 1.8 ka and 78.3 ± 6.1 ka, respectively; (ii) the apparent vertical movement ranges from 1.0 mm/yr to 0.59 mm/yr during the Quaternary-Holocene time interval because of local tectonic process linked with active deformations caused by the Eurasian plate in the north and the Arabic platforms in the South; (iii) the sedimentation rate of these terraces ranges from 3 cm/1000 yr to 25 cm/1000 yr.