Active tectonics and kinematic analysis of Banaz fault (Usak)

The westward escape of the Anatolian Plate along the North Anatolian and East Anatolian Fault Zones is the main factor for the formation of many neotectonic structures in Western Anatolia. Akşehir Simav Fault System is one of the neotectonic structures and the most prominent seismogenic zones in Western Anatolia formed by many NW-SE-trending fault segments. The Banaz Fault is an active fault segment within the Akşehir – Simav Fault System with a length of approximately 32 kilometers. The maximum earthquake magnitude that the Banaz Fault can produce is calculated as 6.82. While the Banaz Fault has a linear geometry and dipping to the northeast between Baltalı and Yeşilyurt, it presents an arc geometry that curves to the east between Yeşilyurt and Kızılhisar. According to the field data collected in the study area, paleostress analyses of the kinematic measurements collected from the fault planes along the northern section, which is about 15 km between Baltalı and Yeşilyurt (along the Comburt valley),show that general strike of the fault is in between N60°-70°W and the fault underwent approximately NW-SE directed compression and NE-SW extension as a right lateral strike-slip fault. However, thesis studies indicate the existence of NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE trending multidirectional extensional stress regime on the 17 km long eastward section of the Banaz Fault between Yeşilyurt and Kızılhisar villages where the fault strike in between N-S and N60°E. The results also suggest that the The fault splays in this part worked as an oblique/dip slip normal faults during Quaternary period.