[S-CG44] Evolution and movement of the crustal surface and application of geo- and thermochronology

[SCG44-P03] Low-temperature geochronology and tectonic geomorphology of the Uludag Metamorphic Core Complex, northwest Turkiye

*Murat Taner Tamer¹, Korhan Esat², Gurol Seyitoglu² (1.China Earthquake Administration, 2.Ankara University)

Keywords:Geochronology, Core Complex

The Aegean region is host to several extensional core complexes, including the Menderes, Cycladic, Rhodope, Kazdag, Cataldag, and Uludag complexes. This study focuses on the Uludag Metamorphic Core Complex, located in northwestern Turkey, and examines its low-temperature geochronology and tectonic geomorphology to develop a more nuanced understanding of its implications for Aegean extensional tectonics, contributing to a broader scientific corpus. The complex is comprised of metamorphic rocks of varying grades, with the high-grade and low-grade rocks exhibiting a top-to-north and northeastern normal sense of shear along the Bursa Detachment. This study presents two significant findings. First, the apatite U-Th/He ages of the complex, which are presented here for the first time. Second, the study presents a novel thermal history model of the complex. Utilizing a combination of Apatite fission track dating and apatite AHe dating techniques, we have successfully determined exhumation ages ranging from approximately 12 to 21 million years ago. This indicates a rapid cooling history within the region. In addition, our tectonic geomorphological analyses provide compelling evidence of ongoing tectonic uplift influenced by the Bursa Detachment Fault and the highly pronounced Sogukpinar normal fault. Consequently, it can be inferred that the exhumation and uplift of the Uludag Metamorphic Core Complex are a component of asymmetrical core complex formation in western Anatolia. The Thrace basin in the north can be regarded as a supradetachment basin, thereby enhancing our comprehension of the extensional tectonics of the Aegean region.