Late Palaeozoic-Neogene sedimentary and tectonic development of the Tauride continent and adjacent Tethyan ocean basins in eastern Turkey: New data and integrated interpretation

Late Palaeozoic extensional volcanism along the northern margin of Gondwana in southern Turkey: implications for Palaeotethyan development

“…The Karaböğürtlen Formation includes large-scale debris-flow deposits ('olistostromes') including the unit sampled. The formation is interpreted as part of a regional-scale flexurally-controlled foredeep, related to Late Cretaceous ophiolite emplacement (Robertson et al 2013(Robertson et al , 2021a. The analysed meta-basalt clast was probably derived by reworking of basaltic flows within the Late Cretaceous succession.…”

“…In the second alternative, the Binboğa metamorphics between the Tauride autochthon (Geyik Dağ) to the south and the unmetamorphosed Munzur platform to the north. The field relations indicate that the Binboğa (Malatya) metamorphics are to the south of, and structurally beneath, the Munzur platform, with the ophiolites/accretionary melanges above (Perinçek and Kozlu 1984;Robertson et al 2006Robertson et al , 2013Robertson et al , 2021aAlan et al 2007;Bedi et al 2009;Bedi and Yusufoğlu 2018). Conceivably, the present structural organisation was achieved by thrusting of the Binboğa/ Malatya metamorphic crust southwards over the Tauride carbonate platform (Munzur limestones) during the latest Cretaceous, followed by re-thrusting to position the Munzur platform above the Binboğa/Malatya metamorphics.…”

“…Prior to neotectonic left-lateral fault displacement, these three outcrops formed parts of a regional-scale metamorphic unit (Malatya-Keban platform) (MTA 2011). The overall succession has some similarities with the Afyon zone (Anatolides) to the west, for example the presence of up-to low high-pressure metamorphism (Bedi et al 2009;Bedi and Yusufoğlu 2018;Robertson et al 2021a). However, there are some significant differences with the Afyon zone, notably the presence of Late Cretaceous granitic rocks, only in the Malatya-Keban platform including the Binboğa metamorphics (Parlak 2006;Rızaoğlu et al 2009;Karaoğlan et al 2016).…”

“…This unit is known as the Karaböğürtlen Formation, with its type area in the western Taurides (Muğla region) (MTA 2011). The Karaböğürtlen Formation is inferred to be of Late Cretaceous age, mainly based on occurrences of rudist bivalves (Bedi et al 2009;Robertson et al 2021a). The Karaböğürtlen Formation commonly includes thin-to medium-bedded greenish to brownish, foliated, porphyritic metabasic igneous rocks between schists and calcschists.…”

“…Conceivably, the present structural organisation was achieved by thrusting of the Binboğa/ Malatya metamorphic crust southwards over the Tauride carbonate platform (Munzur limestones) during the latest Cretaceous, followed by re-thrusting to position the Munzur platform above the Binboğa/Malatya metamorphics. Some re-thrusting did indeed take place during the Eocene and/ or Miocene (Perinçek and Kozlu 1984;Bedi et al 2009;Robertson et al 2013Robertson et al , 2021a, but this seems unlikely to have completely reorganised the stacking order of the major tectonic units in the eastern Taurides. On the other hand, the Binboğa/Malatya crust was intruded by granitic rocks (Baskil granitoids), dated radiometrically as 88-82 Ma (Santonian-Campanian) (Parlak 2006;Rızaoğlu et al 2009;Karaoğlan et al 2016).…”