Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gögüs, O. H. Articles by Pysklywec, R. N. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Mantle lithosphere delamination driving plateau uplift and synconvergent extension in eastern Anatolia

Ouz H. Göü^*,1 and Russell N. Pysklywec¹

¹ Department of Geology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6, Canada

Correspondence: *E-mail: gogus{at}geology.utoronto.ca.

Eastern Anatolia is the site of lithospheric thinning, plateau uplift, heating, and synconvergent extension. Using numerical geodynamic experiments, we test the hypothesis that these tectonic anomalies are all related and the consequence of delamination of the mantle lithosphere. Our findings indicate that delamination during plate convergence results in ~2-km-high plateau uplift. The removal of mantle lithosphere induces distinct regions of contraction and thickening, as well as extension and thinning of the crust. The latter occurs even within a regime of plate shortening, although it is muted with increasing plate convergence. Detachment of the delaminating slab results in minor surface topographic perturbation, but only above the delamination hinge. The plateau uplift and pattern of surface contraction and/or extension are consistent with a topographic profile at 42°E and geologically interpreted zone of synconvergent extension at eastern Anatolia.

Key Words: Eastern Anatolian plateau • delamination • lithospheric thinning • synconvergent extension

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. T. Drew, M. N. Ducea, and L. M. Schoenbohm Mafic volcanism on the Puna Plateau, NW Argentina: Implications for lithospheric composition and evolution with an emphasis on lithospheric foundering Lithosphere, October 1, 2009; 1(5): 305 - 318. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]