Rift tectonics of the Polis extensional graben, N. W. Cyprus, and associated traps

Conference · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:5627970

Ward, L C ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Edinburgh (Scotland)

The Polis extensional graben, northwest Cyprus, is located west of the Troodos ophiolite massif and east of the Akamas Peninsula. It outcrops 35 km onland before trending offshore into the Cilician basin. From field studies, geophysical and seismic data, and NASA shuttle photos, the graben is seen to be asymmetric in cross section, trending north-northwest-south-southeast, and is of Miocene-Holocene age. The graben is delineated by planar and listric normal faults (oriented 160{degree}/340{degree}) which dip toward the axis of the graben and have dip-slip motion from slickenside studies. The Polis graben evolved at the end of late Miocene time in response to passive rifting, as evidenced by extensional boudinage, horizontal stylolites, and multiple unconformities in older pre-upper Miocene formations. Rifting occurred in multiple phases which commenced in the north and propagated southward. These produced subsidence, preserving pre-graben traps from erosion. The graben is transected by major transverse faults which segment it into separate structural domains that control differential tilt and subsidence of blocks in the axis of the graben. Lithofacies analysis shows pre-graben traps include reefs and deposits formed in response to gravity and mass-flow events. Graben-fill sequences consist of coarse clastics at the base, deposited in braided-stream and alluvial-fan environments, superseded by deep-water facies, due to the Pliocene transgression, which include graded sands, turbidites, and mass-flow deposits and fan deltas. Traps are structured and tilted to produce roll-over anticlines and monoclinal folds.

• OSTI ID: 5627970
• Report Number(s): CONF-8809346--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Journal Volume: 72:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
ANTICLINES
CENOZOIC ERA
CYPRUS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MIDDLE EAST
MINERAL RESOURCES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RESOURCES
RIFT ZONES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SURVEYS
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD