The tectonics of central Anatolia is generally characterized by transtensional stresses resulting in the formation of “ovas” (extensional basins bounded by oblique-slip faults). Many of the faults in the region are splays of the North Anatolian Fault that bend from E-W striking near the NAF to NE-SW as they continue southwest. Further west, conjugate faults strike NW-SE. This complex fault pattern is a result of the combination of westward extrusion of the Anatolian Plate along the Eastern and Northern Anatolian Faults, and extension from rollback of the Aegean Trench.

The sinistral East Anatolian Fault Zone is the conjugate fault to the dextral North Anatolian Fault, and the two facilitate the westward movement of the Anatolian Block. The initiation of the East Anatolian Fault is debated, but many believe that is has been active since late-Miocene to late-Pliocene.

The East Anatolian Fault Zone becomes diffuse and complex where it is thought to meet with Dead Sea Fault near Pazarcik, Kahramanmaras. Estimates of movement along the EAFZ vary, but current GPS measurements yield an ~11.2 mm/year slip rate. The EAFZ has experienced rather large (> Magnitude 5.0) earthquakes.

The Central Anatolian volcanics intrude through the transtensional basins formed by the Central Anatolian Fault Zone. Their locations and NE-SW trending pattern does not seem to coincide with the E-W trending subduction zone located in the Mediterranean south of Central Anatolia, and has both orogenic and anorogenic geochemical characteristics (Lustrino and Wilson 2007). The orogenic igneous rocks generally predate the anorogenic rocks, which generally have a more asthenospheric geochemical signature.