No abstract

No abstract

This paper presents several types of new information including U-Pb radiometric dating of ophiolitic rocks and an intrusive granite, micropalaeontological dating of siliceous and calcareous sedimentary rocks, together with sedimentological, petrographic and structural data. The new information is synthesised with existing results from the study area and adjacent regions (Central Pontides and Lesser Caucasus) to produce a new tectonic model for the MesozoicCenozoic tectonic development of this key Tethyan suture zone.The Tethyan suture zone in NE Turkey (Ankara-Erzincan-Kars suture zone) exemplifies stages in the subduction, suturing and post-collisional deformation of a Mesozoic ocean basin that existed between the Eurasian (Pontide) and Gondwanan (Tauride) continents. Ophiolitic rocks, both as intact and as dismembered sequences, together with an intrusive granite (tonalite), formed during the Early Jurassic in a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) setting within the İzmir-Ankara-Erzincan ocean. Basalts also occur as blocks and dismembered thrust sheets within Cretaceous accretionary melange. During the Early Jurassic, these basalts erupted in both a SSZ-type setting and in an intra-plate (seamount-type) setting. The volcanic-sedimentary melange accreted in an open-ocean setting in response to Cretaceous northward subduction beneath a backstop made up of Early Jurassic forearc ophiolitic crust. The Early Jurassic SSZ basalts in the melange were later detached from the overriding Early Jurassic ophiolitic crust.Sedimentary melange (debris-flow deposits) locally includes ophiolitic extrusive rocks of boninitic composition that were metamorphosed under high-pressure low-temperature conditions. Slices of mainly Cretaceous clastic sedimentary rocks within the suture zone are interpreted as a deformed forearc basin that bordered the Eurasian active margin. The basin received a copious supply of sediments derived from Late Cretaceous arc volcanism together with input of ophiolitic detritus from accreted oceanic crust.Accretionary melange was emplaced southwards onto the leading edge of the Tauride continent (Munzur Massif) during latest Cretaceous time. Accretionary melange was also emplaced northwards over the collapsed southern edge of the Eurasian continental margin (continental backstop) during the latest Cretaceous. Sedimentation persisted into the Early Eocene in more northerly areas of the Eurasian margin.Collision of the Tauride and Eurasian continents took place progressively during latest Late Palaeocene-Early Eocene. The Jurassic SSZ ophiolites and the Cretaceous accretionary melange finally docked with the Eurasian margin. Coarse clastic sediments were shed from the uplifted Eurasian margin and infilled a narrow peripheral basin. Gravity flows accumulated in thrust-top piggyback basins above accretionary melange and dismembered ophiolites and also in a post-collisional peripheral basin above Eurasian crust. Thickening of the accretionary wedge triggered large-scale out-ofsequence thrusting and re-thrusting of cont...

New data for regionally important granulite facies metaophiolitic rocks and crosscutting granitoids rocks are presented and discussed. The high-temperature/high-pressure Berit metaophiolite is cut by unmetamorphosed Eocene (51-45 Ma) granitoid rocks. The highest metamorphic grade occurs in blocks of mafic granulites. Enveloping amphibolite facies rocks reflect retrograde metamorphism related to exhumation. Sm-Nd (pyroxene-garnet-amphibole -whole rock) isochron ages of 52-50 Ma for the granulite facies rocks are interpreted to represent the time of cooling of the granulite facies rocks. The over-riding Malatya metamorphic unit to the north is also intruded by Eocene granitoid rocks. The granulite facies metamorphism of the metaophiolitic rocks is inferred to have formed in the roots of an Eocene magmatic arc, with accentuated heat flow being provided by subduction of a spreading ridge, or rupture of the subducting slab. The high-temperature/high-pressure metamorphism was followed by exhumation, as indicated by field structural relations and the evidence of retrograde metamorphism. The Eocene arc magmatism can best be explained by northward subduction of the Southern Neotethys, which persisted after the time of latest Cretaceous regional ophiolite emplacement until the collision of the Eurasian (Anatolian) and Arabian continents during the Early-Mid Miocene. Subsequent Plio-Quaternary leftlateral strike-slip strongly affected the area.Supplementary material: Four supplementary tables giving the whole rock geochemistry of the granitoids, mineral geochemistry of the granulite facies rocks, LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U -Pb data belonging to granitoids and Sm-Nd data belonging to granulite facies rocks and two documents giving the detailed analytical procedures and detailed petrography of the granitoids are available at www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18588

No abstract