Active Tectonic Setting and Paleoseismicity of the Sancak-Uzunpazar Fault Zone

Abstract

Sancak-Uzunpazar Fault Zone is N40E-trending sinistral shear zone that has a 50 km length and 5 km width between Karakocan (Elazığ) in southwest and Kaynarpınar (Bingöl) in northeast. The fault extends parallelly to East Anatolian Fault is bounded by the North Anatolian Fault to the northeast and Karakoçan Fault to the southeast. Herein, morphological features, the tectonic setting of the Sancak-Uzunpazar Fault Zone and the first paleoseismological studies on it is represented. The Sancak-Uzunpazar Fault Zone is consist of two parallel segments (called East and West) with a 1.5 km distance. Conducted field studies and aerial photogrometry show that the segments exhibit morphological features like faceted surfaces, faulted scarps, shutter ridges, and offset streams. Especially, average offsets are about 7-12 m along the eastern segment while the cumulative maximum offset reaches 1.1 km. Moreover, revealed paleoseismological data show evidence of at least two surface ruptures during Holocene. Obtained morphological data reveal that the Sancak-Uzunpazar Fault Zone may have a relatively lower slip rate when compared to other active faults in the region and the reflection of the slip rate to the morphology is more evident in the eastern segment. © 2022 Turk Deprem Arastirma Dergisi. All rights reserved.