Quaternary uplift of palaeoshorelines in southwestern Crete: the combined effect of extensional and compressional faulting

Robertson, J., Roberts, G. P., Ganas, A., Meschis, M., Gheorghiu, D. M. and Shanks, R. M. (2023) Quaternary uplift of palaeoshorelines in southwestern Crete: the combined effect of extensional and compressional faulting. Quaternary Science Reviews, 316, 108240. (doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108240)

Abstract

We undertake spatio-temporal analysis on sequences of Pleistocene palaeoshorelines in southwestern Crete where deformed Holocene marine notches have predominantly been suggested to be linked to coseismic uplift from the 365 CE Mw > 8 earthquake. Previous investigations into the Holocene notches have been used to infer that the dominant mechanism of uplift may be slip either on a reverse crustal fault or on the subduction interface. However, seismic reflection studies attest to the presence of numerous active offshore extensional faults whose role in the long-term deformation is unclear. The relative contributions of upper-plate extensional and compressional faults to the overall deformation can be assessed through the study of uplifted and deformed Late Quaternary palaeoshorelines. New 36Cl exposure dating on wave-cut platforms and palaeoshoreline mapping are combined with existing age controls to facilitate investigation into the deformed Late Quaternary palaeoshorelines. We observe that the Late Quaternary uplift rates increase from west (0.61 mm/yr) to east (0.83 mm/yr) over ∼20 km, a spatial uplift pattern that is inconsistent with published vertical deformation models of slip solely on the subduction interface or on a reverse crustal fault. Elastic half-space modelling suggests that an offshore extensional fault may also contribute to the uplift. We conclude that a combination of active extensional and compressional faults may be responsible for Late Quaternary uplift across southwestern Crete.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Fieldwork in Crete for JR was funded by grants from the Geological Society of London (GSL), UK, Mike Coward Fund, the British Society for Geomorphology (BSG), UK, Postgraduate Research Grant and the Tim Newling Fund, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London. AG acknowledges funding from H2020 project European Plate Observing System Sustainability Phase. Cl cosmogenic exposure dating was carried out at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) and funded via CIAF Grant 9186–0418.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Shanks, Dr Richard and Gheorghiu, Dr Delia M

Creator Roles

Gheorghiu, D. M.: Investigation
Shanks, R.: Investigation

• Authors: Robertson, J., Roberts, G. P., Ganas, A., Meschis, M., Gheorghiu, D. M., and Shanks, R. M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Quaternary Science Reviews
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0277-3791
• ISSN (Online): 1873-457X
• Published Online: 18 August 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Quaternary Science Reviews 316:108240
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license