Ulukışla havzasının (geç kretase-eosen) jeolojik evrimi, orta anadolu, Türkiye

Abstract

The Ulukışla Basin (Central Anatolian, Turkey) developed between the Menderes-Taurides Platform and the Niğde-Kırşehir Metamorphic Massif. Evidence from the basin fill indicates that it evolved with asymmetric tectonics. An extensional phase (the Late Cretaceous-Late Paleocene) developed after subduction of the northern branch of Neotethyan Ocean. The narrow southern margin of Ulukışla Basin evolved over and in front of the Alihoca Ophiolites (remnant of the Neotethyan ocean floor) and it has been characterized with deposition of the agglomerates, limestone olistoliths, sandstones and mudstones in submarine slope to deep marine environment. At the same time, in the initially the relatively deep then shallow marine environment, broad northern part of the basin includes relatively fine-grained sandstones and mudstones overlying by reef limestone, which is interfingered with volcanic rocks. Depend on compressional phase (the Late Paleocene and Early Eocene), the basin evolved with the effect of regional tectonics; patch reefs formed over the volcanic highlands. In addition, volcanics interfingered with clastics that contain limestone and volcanic rock fragments. Basin evolution and inversion in this tectonic regime has been strongly influenced by deviations originated from overall northward motion of the African-Arabian plates. Other controls on the sedimentation and basin evolution are local tectonics, sea level changes and irregularity of basement topography.