STRATIGRAPHY AND STURUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF PONTID/ANATOLID SUTURE ZONE IN NE ANATOLIA (BETWEEN OLTU-NARMAN)

Abstract

The rock units formed in Late Cretaceous to recent, outcrop in the investigated area. The oldest rock unit of the suture zone is a flysch (Alıcık formatıon) of Upper Cretaceous (Santonıan-Maastrichtıan) age containing volcanic intercalations. Ophiolitic melange tectonically set on the flysch. The initial emplacement of the ophioli- tic melange sheets in this area occur between Late Cretaceous and pre early Eocene. Lower-Midlle Eocene aged, fine grained continental to shallow marine sediments (Dağdibi formatıon) cover all the units with an angular unconformity. On these sediments, Upper Eocene basic (basalt, basaltic andesite, tuff) volcanics (Karataş formatıon) are observed. Oligocene aged continental molasse sediments (Narman group) which lie on the older units with an angular unconformity are; continental clastics, volcanic products and gypsum at the top displaying a thinning and fining upward motif of sequence. Pliocene-Pleistocene aged conglomerates represent river environments, cover all the units with an angular unconformity. Recent deposits are slope debris and alluvium. All the rocks exposed in the investigated area which take place Pontid /Anatolid suture zone and developed under the control of collisional tectonic processes of these two continents. In Upper Cretaceous age, the flysch is formed in a trench developed along a nortward dipping subductıon zone.. Ophiolitic melange which limits the suture zone at the south, is formed by slicing of oceanic crust and mixing of these slices with trench sediments by means of a tectono-sedimentary system.The collosion of Pontid/Anatolid continents (happened) after Late Cretaceous and before Early Eocene. Lower-Mıddle Eocene (Ipresian-Lutetian) aged continental, to shallow marine deposits were formed in an asimetric forearc molassic basin which developed along the suture zone. Oligocene aged continental deposits were developed together with volcanics in continental intermountain molassic environment limited by post-orogenic overthrusts along the suture zone. In Pliocene-Pleistocene age, fault controlled alluvial fans and coarse grained deposits in river environments were formed.

Keywords

• Pontid /Anatolid, Stratigrafi, Yapısal evrim