Directory

Research Interests

My major research interests are a) oil and gas exploration in sedimentary basins; and b) structural styles formed in contractional, extensional and strike-slip terranes. Since 1986, my research involved in determining oil and gas potential of sedimentary basins in Oklahoma and in Turkey.  Over the years, my graduate students and I worked on several projects related to petroleum exploration. These projects were mostly located in the Arkoma Foreland Basin of southern Oklahoma and sedimentary basins in southeastern and central Turkey. In the Arkoma Basin our work involved determining a) structural geometry and evolution of thrust faulting through the construction of balanced structural cross-sections; and b) the role of thrust faults in gas accumulation in the Pennsylvanian reservoir rocks of the Arkoma Basin.

Current Research Projects

I have been conducting research in structural geology using a combination of field, seismic, experimental, computer-based, and theoretical approaches. Specifically, my current major research interests are a) structural geology and tectonics of foreland basins; b) geometry and origin of rock fractures; c) extensional tectonics; and d) active tectonics.

a) Oil and Gas Exploration in Foreland Basins

b) Geometry and Origin of Rock Fractures

Since 2005,  I have been conducting research on quantifying the fracture pattern in different outcrops of the Woodford shale in southern Oklahoma for a better understanding of fluid flow and permeability.

c) Extensional Tectonics

Since my Ph.D. thesis at Pennsylvania State University, I have been conducting field-oriented geologic research in extensional tectonics. My research concentrated in the southern Basin and Range of the western USA in the 1980s and 1990s. Since 1999, I have been conducting extensional tectonics research in western Turkey.

d) Active Tectonics

Extensional structural features in the Basins and Ranges in the USA and in western Turkey are active and capable of producing large earthquakes.  Therefore my work in these regions also is related to determining earthquake potential of extended terrains.

Research Articles (54)

• Sizemore, T., Wielicki, M. M., Çemen, I., Stockli, D., Heizler, M.,  and  Robinson, D., 2019 Structural evolution of central Death Valley, California, using new thermochronometry of the Badwater turtleback; Lithophere, p.  IF:3.195
• Lu, M., Lu, Y., Ikejiri, T., Hogancamp, N., Sun, Y., Wu, Q., Carroll, R.,  Çemen, I., and  Pashin, J., (In review) “Geochemical Evidence of the First Forestation in the Southernmost Euramerica from Upper Devonian (Famennian) Black Shales” Submitted to Springer Nature,  [Paper #SREP-18-02569B],
• Etzel, T.M.,  Catlos^, E. J., Ataktürk, K., Lovera, O. M., Kelly^, I. Çemen, I., E. Diniz, and, Stockli, D., (Accepted in Tectonics for publication in summer 2019); Tectonic implications of high-resolution P-T records from garnet-bearing metamorphic rocks: Southern (Çine) Menderes Massif, SW Turkey
• Mancini, E., Benson J., Tew, N., Ҫemen, I., Owen, A., 2019 Depositional Model For Lithofacies of the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation in the Conecuh Embayment, Onshore Northeastern Gulf of Mexico:  Implications for Petroleum Exploration,  GCAGS Volume 8; p. 1-27;
• Mahatsente, R., Önal, G., and Ҫemen, I., 2018; Lithospheric structure and the isostatic state of Eastern Anatolia: Insight from gravity data modelling;  Lithosphere,  L685, v. 1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/L685.1; IF:3.195
• Çemen, I., and Yilmaz, Y., 2017, Neotectonics and Earthquake Potential of the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Introduction. In I. Çemen, and Y Yilmaz (Eds.), Active Global Seismology Neotectonics and Earthquake Potential of the Eastern Mediterranean Region;  American Geophysical Union-Wiley Geophysical Monograph Series, v.225, p. 1-8.
• Mahatsente, R.,  Alemdar, S., and Çemen, I.,   2016, Effect of Slab-Tear on crustal structure in Southwestern Anatolia: Insight from Gravity Data Modeling in Neotectonics and Earthquake Potential of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Geophysical Monograph Series, V.
• Mulayim,  O., Mancini,  A. E., Çemen, I., Yilmaz, O. I., 2016,  Upper Cenomanian-Lower Campanian Derdere and Karababa formations in the Çemberlitaş oil field, southeastern Turkey: their microfacies analyses, depositional environments, and sequence stratigraphy, TUBITAK, Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 25, p. 46-63 doi:10.3906/yer-1501-7.
• Clark, J., and Çemen, I., 2015,  Terrestrial LIDAR Imaging and Analysis of Natural Fractures in Chattanooga Shale in Northeastern Alabama, Proceedings of the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, San Antonio, Texas,  URTeC: 2155101 DOI 10.15530/urtec-2015-2155101.
• Çemen, I., Helvaci, C.,  and  Ersoy, Y., 2017,  Cenozoic extensional tectonics in western and central Anatolia, Turkey: Introduction, Tectonophysics, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2017.09.004.
• Ersoy, Y., Çemen, I., Helvaci, C., and Billor, Z., 2017, Tectono-stratigraphy of the Neogene basins in Western Turkey: Implications for tectonic evolution of the Aegean Extended Region, Tectonophysics, Tectonophysics v. 635,  p. 33–58  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.09.002 .
• Çemen, I, Fuchs, J., Coffey, B., Gertson, R., and Hager,  C., 2014,  Correlating Porosity with Acoustic Impedance in Sandstone Gas Reservoirs: Examples from the Atokan Sandstones of the Arkoma Basin, Southeastern Oklahoma, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Search and Discovery Article #41255, 15 pp.
• Catlos, E., J.,  Baker, C.,  Sorensen, S. S., Jacob,  L., Çemen, I., 2011,  Linking microcracks and mineral zoning of detachment-exhumed granites to their tectonomagmatic history: Evidence from the Salihli and Turgutlu plutons in western Turkey (Menderes Massif) Journal of Structural Geology, v. 33, Is., 5 p. 951-969.
• Çemen, I., 2010,  Extensional Tectonics in the Basin and Range, the Aegean, and Western Anatolia:  Introduction,  in  Çemen, I.,   (ed.) Extensional Tectonics in the Basin and Range, the Aegean, and Western Anatolia, Tectonophysics, v. 488, p. 1-6
• Catlos, E., J.,  Baker, C.,  Sorensen, S. S., Çemen, I., and Hancer, M., 2010, Geochemistry, geochronology, and cathodoluminescence imagery of the Salihli and Turgutlu granites (central Menderes Massif, Western Turkey): Implications for Aegean tectonics, Çemen, I., ( ed.) Extensional Tectonics in the Basin and Range, the Aegean, and Western Anatolia, Tectonophysics, v. 488, p. 110-131
• Catlos, E.J., Baker, C., Çemen, I., and Ozerdem, C, 2009, Whole rock major element influences on monazite growth: examples from igneous and metamorphic rocks in the Menderes Massif, western Turkey. Mineralogia, 38, 5-18. Published in Warsaw, Poland
• Çemen, I., Catlos, E. J.,  Gogus,  O., Diniz, E., Hancer, M.,  2008, Cenozoic extensional tectonics of the Western Anatolia Extended Terrane, Turkey, proceedings of Donald D Harrington Symposium on the Geology of the Aegean,  IOP Publishing IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 2,   012009 doi:10.1088/1755-1307/2/1/012009.
• Sahai, S., and Çemen, I., 2008, Enhanced Structural Interpretation in the Arkoma Basin with Seismic Attributes, in Suneson, N. H., and Çemen, I.,  (eds.)  Stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Ouachita Mountains and Arkoma Basin, southeastern Oklahoma and west-central Arkansas: Applications to petroleum exploration: 2004 field symposium. Technical papers: Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 112B, p. 25-30.
• Catlos, E. J.,   Baker,  C.,  Sorensen, S. S., Çemen, I., and Hancer, M..,  2008, Monazite geochronology, magmatism, and extensional dynamics within the Menderes Massif, western Turkey, Donald D Harrington Symposium on the Geology of the Aegean IOP Publishing, IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 2, 012013 doi:10.1088/1755-1307/2/1/012013.
• Boardman, D. R.,  Puckette,  J., and  Çemen, I.,  2008, Middle and Late Paleozoic Organic-Rich Gas Shales of the North American Midcontinent, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Search and Discovery Article #110069
• Çemen, I., Catlos, E. J., Gogus, O., and Ozerdem C., 2006, Post-Collisional Extensional Tectonics and Exhumation of the Menderes Massif  Western Anatolia Extended Terrane, Turkey, in Dilek, Y., and  Pavlovsky eds., Post-collisional Tectonics and Magmatism in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Geological Society of America Special Paper,  n. 409, Ch. 18, p. 353-379.
• Zhu, L., Mitchell, B., Akyol N., Çemen, I., and Kekovali, K., 2006, Crustal Thickness Variation in the Aegean Region and its Implications to Extension of Continental Crust; Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 111,  B01301, doi:10.1029/2005JB003770.
• Catlos, E. J., and Çemen, I., 2006, Reply to the “Discussion Monazite ages and rapid exhumation of the Menderes Massif, western Turkey, International Journal of Earth Science, (Geol Rundsch) DOI 10.1007/s00531-006-0069-7.
• Çemen, I., Tekeli, O, Seyitoglu, G., and Isik, V., 2005, Are Turtleback fault surfaces common structural elements of highly extended terranes?  Earth-Science Reviews, v. 73, p. 139 -148.
• Catlos, E. J., and Çemen, I., 2005, Monazite ages and rapid exhumation of the Menderes Massif, western Turkey, International Journal of Earth Science, (Geol Rundsch) v.  94, p. 204-217.
• Hadaway,  S., and Çemen, I., 2005,  Tear faulting and compartmentation for gas production in southwest Hartshorne gas field, Arkoma Basin, southeast Oklahoma, Shale Shaker, January-February 2005, p. 101-111.
• Seyitoglu, G., Isik, V., and Çemen, I., 2004, Complete Tertiary exhumation history of the Menderes massif, western Turkey: an alternative working Hypothesis; Terra Nova, v. 16, p.  358-364.
• Isik, V., Seyitoglu, G., and Çemen, I., 2003, Ductile-brittle transition along the Alasehir shear zone and its structural relationship with the Simav Detachment, Menderes Massif, western Turkey, Tectonophysics, v. 374, p. 1-18.
• Gokten, E., Çemen, I.,  Varol,  B.,  Pinar,  A., and Özaksoy, V., 2002, The 17 August 1999 Golcuk (Kocaeli)-Arifiye (Adapazari) 12 November 1999 Duzce Earthquakes, NW Turkey: Their Mechanisms and  Tectonic  Significance,  in Gorur, N., Papadopoulos, G., and Okay, N., (eds.), Integration of Earth Science Research on the Turkish and Greek 1999 Earthquakes,  NATO Science Series, IV. Earth and Environmental Sciences, v. 9, p. 1-15.
• Seyitoglu, G., Tekeli, O., Çemen, I., Sen S., and Isik, V., 2002, The role of the flexural rotation/rolling hinge model in the tectonic evolution of the Alasehir graben, western Turkey. Geological Magazine, v. 139, no. 1, p. 15-26.
• Seyitoglu, G., Çemen, I., and Tekeli, O., 2002, Reply to the “Discussion on the extensional folding in the Alasehir (Gediz) Graben, western Turkey”, Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 159, p. 107-109.
• Çemen, I., Evans, J., and Sagnak, A., 2001, Eastern Continuation of the Wilburton Triangle Zone in the Red Oak Gas Field Area, Frontal Ouachitas-Arkoma Basin Transition Zone, Southeastern Oklahoma; in Johnson, K. S., and Merriam, D. F. (eds.), Petroleum systems of sedimentary basins in the southern midcontinent, 2000 symposium: Oklahoma Geological Survey, Circular, 106, p. 81-95.
• Çemen, I., Sagnak, A., and Akthar, S., 2001, Geometry of the Triangle Zone and Duplex Structure in the Wilburton Gas Field Area of the Arkoma Basin, Southeastern Oklahoma; Oklahoma Geological Survey, Circular, 104, p. 87-98.
• Çemen, I., Gokten, E.,  Varol., B., Kilic, R.,  Ozaksoy, V., Emre, C., and Pinar, A., 2000, Turkish Earthquakes Reveal Dynamics of Fracturing along a Major Strike-Slip Fault Zone;  EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 81, No. 28, p. 309 and 313.
• Seyitoglu, G.,   Çemen, I.,  and Tekeli O, 2000, Extensional folding in the Alasehir Graben, West Anatolia, Turkey,  Journal of the Geological Society of London , v. 157, p.1097-1100.
• Gökten, E.,  Varol, B., Çemen, I., Kılıç, R., Ateş, A, Kayabalı, K., Koçbay, A., Candansayar, E., Orhan, A., and Erkmen, C., 2000, Geological factors controlling  damages occurred during the 17 August 1999 Golcuk-Arifiye Earthquake,  (in Turkish with English Abstract); Proceedings of the Third Annual meeting of the Active Tectonics of Turkey Research Group,
• Çemen, I., Goncuoglu, C., Dirik, K., 1999, Structural Evolution of the Tuzgolu Basin in Central Anatolia, Turkey;  Journal of Geology, v. 107,  no. 6,  p. 693-706.
• Çemen, I., Wright, L. A., and Prave T., 1999,  Stratigraphy and tectonic implications of the latest Oligocene and Early Miocene sedimentary succession, southernmost Funeral Mountains, Death Valley, region, California; in Wright, L. A., and Troxel, B.W., eds.,  Cenozoic Basins of the Death Valley region: Geological Society of America Special Paper,  no. 333,  p. 65-86.
• Wright, L. A., Green, R. C., Çemen, I., Johnson, F. C., and Prave, T. R., 1999, Tectono-stratigraphic development of the Miocene-Pliocene Furnace Creek Basin and related features, Death Valley region, California; in Wright, L. A., and Troxel, B.W., eds., Cenozoic Basins of the Death Valley region: Geological Society of America Special Paper,  no. 333,  p. 87-114.
• Çemen, I., 1999, Tectono-stratigraphic relationship between the Cenozoic sedimentary successions of the southern Funeral Mountains, Furnace Creek Basin, Eagle Mountain, and the northern end of the Resting Spring Range, in Janet, L., Slate (ed.) Proceedings of Conference on Status of Geologic Research and Mapping, Death Valley National Park, U.S.G.S. Open-File Report, 99-153, p. 56-59.
• Pybas, K., Çemen, I., and Al-Shaieb, Z., 1995, The Collings Ranch Conglomerate of the Oklahoma Arbuckles: Its Origin and Tectonic Significance; Oklahoma Geological Survey, Circular, 97, p. 132 – 143.
• Stafford, C., Çemen, I., and Al-Shaieb, Z., 1995,  Structural control of the Reagan and Mill Creek faults on the sedimentary environments of the Deese Conglomerate, Arbuckle Mountains, Oklahoma; Oklahoma Geological Survey, Circular, no. 97, p.  283 – 287.
• Perincek, D., and Çemen, I., 1993, Late Cretaceous – Paleogene structural evolution of the structural highs of southeastern Anatolia; Proceedings of the Ozan Sungurlu International Symposium, p. 386 – 403.     
• Çemen, I.,  Goncuoglu, M. C., Kozlu, H., Perincek, D., and Dirik,K., 1992, Indentation in southeastern Anatolia and its effect in central Anatolia; Proceedings of, First International Symposium of Eastern  Mediterranean Geology, p. 324 – 326.
• Çemen, I., and  Wright, L. A., 1990, Effect of Cenozoic extension on Mesozoic thrust surfaces in the central and southern Funeral Mountains, Death Valley, California; in Wernicke, Brian, (ed.) Basin and Range Extensional Tectonics near the  Latitude of Las Vegas, Nevada, Geological Society of America Memoir, No. 176, Ch. 14, p. 305 – 316.
• Çemen, I., 1990,  Tectonic framework of two extensional terrains,  Death Valley, western North America and  western Anatolia: A review;  The Second International Earth Sciences Congress of the Aegean Region Proceedings,  p. 146 – 147.
• Çemen, I., Perincek, D., Ediger, V., and Akca, L., 1990, The Bozova strike-slip fault of southeastern Turkey:  An example of a reactivated thrust fault (in Turkish with English Abstract); Proceedings of the 8^th Petroleum Congress of Turkey, p. 169 – 179.
• Perincek, D., and Çemen, I., 1990, The structural relationship between the East Anatolian and Dead  Sea  fault zones in southeastern  Turkey;  Tectonophysics,  v. 172,  p.331 – 340.
• Çemen, I., 1989, Near-surface expression of the eastern part of the San Cayetano fault:  A potentially active thrust fault in the California Transverse Ranges; Journal of Geophysical Research- Solid Earth and Planets, v. 94, no. B7, p. 9665 – 9677.
• Çemen, I., and Wright, L. A., 1988,  Stratigraphy and chronology of  the Artist Drive Formation, Furnace Creek basin, Death  Valley, California; in Geology of the Death  Valley region J. L. Gregory and E. J. Baldwin, (eds.) South Coast Geological Society Annual Publications,  No.16, p. 77 – 87.
• Çemen, I., and Perincek, D., 1987, Extensional origin of the Hatay – Karasu Graben; Proceeding of the 20th Anniversary Symposium at Hacettepe Univ., Ankara, p. 14-17.
• Çemen, I., Wright, L. A., Drake, R., and Johnson, F. C., 1985, Cenozoic sedimentation and sequence of deformational events  at southern end of Furnace Creek strike-slip fault zone, Death Valley region, California: in Biddle, K. T., and Christie-Blick, N., (eds.) Strike-slip Deformation and Basin Formation; Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists  Special Publication, no. 37, p. 127 – 141.
• Çemen, I., Drake, R., and Wright, L.A., 1982, Stratigraphy and chronology of the Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic units at the southeastern end of the Funeral Mountains, Death Valley region, California: in Cooper, J.D., Troxel, B.W., and Wright, L.A., eds., Geology of selected areas in the San   Bernardino Mountains, Western Mojave Desert and Southern Great Basin, California, Geological Society of America, Cordilleran Section Meeting, Special Publication No. 9, p 77 – 86.

Books and Special Volumes Edited (4)

• Çemen, I., and Yilmaz, Y., 2017,  Neotectonics and Earthquake Potential of the Eastern Mediterranean  Region,  American Geophysical Union-Wiley Geophysical Monograph Series, v. 225, 295 pp.  DOI: 10.1002/9781118944998
• Çemen, I., Helvaci, C., and Ersoy, Y., 2014, Cenozoic Extensional Tectonics in Western Anatolia, Turkey,  Tectonophysics v. 635, 64 pp. 
• Çemen, I., (Ed.,) 2010, Extensional tectonics in the Basin and Range the Aegean, and Western Anatolia; Tectonophysics v. 488, 326 pp.
• Suneson, N. H., Çemen, I., and Slatt, R., 2009,  Stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Ouachita Mountains and Arkoma Basin, southeastern Oklahoma and west-central Arkansas: Applications to petroleum exploration: 2004 field symposium. Technical papers: Oklahoma Geological Survey Circular 112B, 163 pp.

Field Guidebooks (2)

• Çemen, I., Ersoy, Yalcin, Helvaci, C., Karaoglu, O., Oner Z., 2013, Late Cenozoic Extensional Tectonics in Central and northern Menderes Massif, Western Turkey, International Earth Science Colloquium on the Aegean Region (IESCA-2012) Pre-Meeting Field Trip Guide, 71 pp.
• Suneson, N. H., Çemen, I., Kerr, D. S.,  Roberts,  M.T., Slatt, R. M.,  and Stone, C.G.,  2005 Stratigraphic and Structural Evolution of the Ouachita Mountains and Arkoma Basin, Southeastern Oklahoma and West-Central Arkansas: Applications to Petroleum Exploration; Oklahoma Geological Survey Guidebook 34, 128 pp.

Field Guidebook Articles (5)

• Çemen, I., Ataman, A., Puckette,  J., and Boardman, D.,  2014, Outcrop Scale Fracture Analysis of Woodford Shale in Arbuckle Mountains, Oklahoma. AAPG Mid-Continent Section, Ardmore field trip guidebook; Exploring the Arbuckles: Outcrops to Resources, p. 6-7
• Çemen, I., and McPhail, K. 2005, Structural Geology of Arkoma Basin-Ouachita Mountains transition Zone; in Suneson, N. H., Çemen, I., Kerr, D. S.,  Roberts,  M.T., Slatt, R. M.,  and Stone, C.G.,  (eds.) Stratigraphic and Structural Evolution of the Ouachita Mountains and Arkoma Basin: Applications to Petroleum Exploration; Oklahoma Geological Survey Guidebook  34, p.  53-57.
• Suneson, N. H., Çemen, I., Sagnak, A., and Akthar, S., 2005, Wapanucka Limestone and structure of the Arkoma Basin-Ouachita transition zone; in Suneson, N. H., Çemen, I., Kerr, D. S., Roberts, M.T., Slatt, R. M., and Stone, C.G., (eds.) Stratigraphic and Structural Evolution of the Ouachita Mountains and Arkoma Basin: Applications to Petroleum Exploration; Oklahoma Geological Survey Guidebook 34, p. 108-113.
• Suneson, N. H., Çemen, I., Mehdi, S., and Evans J., 2005, Facies changes in Spiro Sandstone and Frontal-Belt Structure; in Suneson, N. H., Çemen, I., Kerr, D. S.,  Roberts,  M.T., Slatt, R. M.,  and Stone, C.G.,  (eds.) Stratigraphic and Structural Evolution of the Ouachita Mountains and Arkoma Basin: Applications to Petroleum Exploration; Oklahoma Geological Survey Guidebook 34,   p.  79-84.
• Çemen, I., Al-Shaieb, Z., Feller, R., and Akthar, S., 1994, Preliminary interpretation of a seismic profile and the Spiro reservoir pressure data in the vicinity of the Wilburton Gas field; in Suneson, N. H., and Hemish, L. A., (eds.), Geology and Resources of the Eastern Ouachita Frontal Belt and Southeastern Arkoma Basin, Oklahoma:  Oklahoma Geological Survey Guidebook 29, p. 249 – 251.