The Subsidence Evolution of the South Caspian Basin

The basement surface of South Caspian Basin lies at a depth of 25-30km. The thickness of the crust beneath the western and central parts of the basin is as little as 8-10 km. Seismic and gravity data indicate that the basement subduction under the Eurasian plate in the Middle Caspian. The rapid subsidence phase is of compressional origin and subduction model provides comparable amplitudes of subsidence. Analysis of available geophysical data made it possible to conclude that onset subduction is the cause of rapid Pliocene-Quaternary subsidence of the crust.