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Facies and tectonic significance of two contrasting Miocene basins in south coastal Turkey
Author(s) -
Flecker R.,
Robertson A. H. F.,
Poisson A.,
Müller C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.1995.tb00691.x
Subject(s) - geology , paleontology , foreland basin , structural basin , facies , marl , carbonate platform , late miocene , tectonics , nappe , rift
Several Miocene basins are developed on a mosaic of deformed Mesozoic carbonate platforms and ophiolitic units in the Antalya region of south‐west Turkey. Two of these, the Manavgat and Köprü basins, show contrasting orientations and stratigraphies. The Manavgat basin is orientated broadly SE‐NW and contains a succession of shallow‐water reef carbonates overlain by a thick sequence of deeper‐water marls. The upper part of the succession consists of sandstones, siltstones and conglomerates, mainly deposited by gravity processes. The stratigraphy of the N‐S Köprü basin can be subdivided into a western part, which consists of coarse fan delta‐conglomerates with local patch reefs, and an eastern part with thinly bedded sandy turbidites. Tooi marks indicate north to south flow in the north of the basin, but a southeasterly direction in the area of intersection with the Manavgat basin in the south‐east. In the light of alternative regional hypotheses, it is thought that early Miocene basin initiation is related to coeval southeastward thrusting of the Mesozoic Lycian Nappes. Flexural loading is inferred to have resulted in block faulting of the foreland and this exploited pre‐existing lines of structural weakness, dating from early Mesozoic rifting. mid‐Miocene relative sea‐ level rise may relate to global eustacy, and/or regional tectonic subsidence. Finally, late Miocene renewed coarse clastic input (locally very coarse) and basin infilling reflect tectonic uplift to the north, possibly related to continuing Africa‐Eurasia convergence in the region.