PALEOMAGNETISM OF QUATERNARY VOLCANISM OF THE MOUNT NEMRUT

Abstract

As a result of the convergence between the Arabian plate and the Anatolian block, a continent-continent collision occurred in the region along the Bitlis Zargos sutur zone. Following the collision, volcanic activity began in the Late Miocene and produced volcanic material throughout the region and reach to the Caucasus. Collision-related volcanism in eastern Anatolia covered almost two-thirds of the area and formed volcanic products up to 1 km thick. In order to determine the tectonic evolution of Mount Nemrut and its around, paleomagnetic core samples were collected from a total of 11 sites from Pleistocene - Holocene time interval aged volcanic rocks. Paleomagnetic laboratory studies were carried out in KANTEK Paleomagnetism Laboratory, and also rock magnetism studies were carried out in Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Yılmaz İspir Paleomagnetism Laboratory. When the mean magnetization directions obtained from Mount Nemrut and its surrounding Holocene and Upper Pleistocene aged locations are examined, it is seen that there is an average of 7.3° clockwise rotation. It is also observed that the angle of inclination is 60°. These results obtained, considering the ?95 circle (7.7°), it is observed that there is no tectonic rotation within the sensitivity limits of paleomagnetism in the region. At the same time, it can be interpreted that Mount Nemrut has not been exposed to a latitudinal movement since the Quaternary, but volcanics is still at the latitude where it was formed.