The Santorini-Amorgos Shear Zone: Evidence for Dextral Transtension in the South Aegean Back-Arc Region, Greece

Bathymetric and seismic data provide insights into the geomorphological configuration, stratigraphy, structure, evolution of area between Santorini, Amorgos, Astypalea, Anafi islands. Santorini-Amorgos Shear Zone (SASZ) is a NE-SW striking feature that includes seven basins, two shallow ridges, hosts volcanic centers Santorini Kolumbo. The SASZ initiated in Early Pliocene as single, W-E oriented basin. A major reorganization geodynamic regime led to (i) reorientation older faults initiation ones, (ii) disruption single basin localized subsidence uplift, (iii) creation four basins out former one (Anafi, Amorgos South, North, Kinairos basins), (iv) rifting northern southern margins Anydros, Astypalea South (v) uplift ridges. Dextral shearing oblique are accommodated by striking, dextral strike-slip roughly normal, transfer faults. It suggested here enhanced direction may be dominant deformation mechanism Aegean since Quaternary associated with interaction North Anatolian Fault slab roll-back.