The neotectonics of southeast Turkey, northern Syria, and Iraq: the internal structure of the Southeast Anatolian Wedge and its relationship with recent earthquakes

Abstract

In southeastern Turkey, northern Syria, and Iraq, the Southeast Anatolian Wedge (SEAW) is recognized as lying betweenthe high altitude Bitlis Zagros Suture Zone and the Sincar Mountains on the Mesopotamian plain. This wedge narrows towards thesouth and contains several thrust and blind thrust zones merging with the basal thrust zone. These zones are determined mainly bylocations of fault-propagation folding that generally limit the Plio-Quaternary/Quaternary plains in the region. The positions of theseactive thrust/blind thrust zones and their relationships to the right and left lateral faults may be used to explain the seismic activity ofthe region.