New observations on the 1939 Erzincan Earthquake surface rupture on the Kelkit Valley segment of the North Anatolian Fault Zone, Turkey

The 1939 Erzincan Earthquake (M = 7.8), occurred on the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), was one of the most active strike-slip faults in the world, and created a 360-km-long surface rupture. Traces of this surface rupture are still prominently observed. In the absence of detailed mapping to resolve the fault characteristics, detailed observations have been conducted at 20 different points on the 70-km-long Kelkit Valley Segment (KVS) of the NAFZ's between Niksar and Koyulhisar. Field data defining fault character and slip amounts were found at eight points and show right-lateral slip varying between 1.8 and 4.25 m and the vertical slip varying between 0.5 and 2.0 m.The KVS developed in the most morphologically prominent and narrowest part of the NAFZ. Therefore, the chances of finding evidence of more than one historical earthquake in trenches opened to investigate palaeoseismological aspects are higher. Faults observed in foundation and channel excavations opened for energy purposes in the Reşadiye region show this clearly and evidence for up to four seismic events including the 1939 Erzincan Earthquake have been discovered. Further studies are required to discover whether right-lateral deformation on at some locations on this segment is surface ruptures associated with the 1939 earthquake or later creep.