PALEOMAGNETISM OF THE PLIOCENE VOLCANICS NORTH OF THE LAKE VAN

In Eastern Anatolia, there is a common volcanism due to the collision from the Neogene to the Quaternary and the distribution of rocks related to this volcanism are observed. In previous studies, many geodynamic models were proposed about both tectonic evolution of the region and formation & origin of these volcanics. This study was carried out to investigate the tectonic deformations paleomagnetically and contribute to development of tectonism in the region. For this purpose, paleomagnetic samples were collected in 82 Pliocene sites from north of Lake Van. These paleomagnetic samples are products of different volcanic centers Etrusk, Mountain and plateau basalts. To support the paleomagnetic data and determine the different magnetic properties of the rocks, rock magnetic studies such as Isothermal Remanent Magnetization, High Temperature Susceptibility and Anisotrophy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) have also been carried out. It is obtained that, Magnetite are the responsible mineral for the magnetisation in the majority of the rocks, in the remaining rocks, responsible minerals are magnetite + hematite from IRM studies. Curie temperatures and alteration of the rocks during heating were identified from the high temperature susceptibility studies. In the AMS studies, the paleo-flow directions of the volcanic rocks and their volcanic centers were revealed to the north of Lake Van. According to our paleomagnetic results, Erci？ Fault / Fault Zone in the north of Lake Van is the main element shaping the general tectonic settings of the region. Paleomagnetic data reveal that the area to the north of the fault zone does not comprise any rotation whereas the south of the fault zone was rotated counter clockwise