Relations between general tectonic features and the main earthquake regions of Turkey

Abstract

The geological structure and the tectonic evolution of Turkey, which is part of the Alpine belt, took mainly place during the Cenozoic Era. At that time, the Central Anatolia, the Taurus Mountains and the Southeastern Anatolia were developed. On the other hand the evolution of the northern and northwestern regions, which are called Pontids, took place during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic Eras. The following structural elements in the tectonics of Turkey can be distinguished : 1. Metamorphic - crystalline massifs, 2. Folded Paleozoic mountain chains, 3. Folded mountains of Mesozoic and Tertiary age, 4. Major faults and overthrusts, 5. Grabens and depressions, 6. Active faults and main earthquake zones. Let's describe these structural forms briefly: