Ophiolite emplacement and the evolution of the Taurus suture zone, southeastern Turkey

Research Article| July 01, 1976 Ophiolite emplacement and the evolution of the Taurus suture zone, southeastern Turkey ROBERT HALL ROBERT HALL 1Department of Geology, University College, University of London, London, WC1E 6BT, Great Britain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1976) 87 (7): 1078–1088. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<1078:OEATEO>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation ROBERT HALL; Ophiolite emplacement and the evolution of the Taurus suture zone, southeastern Turkey. GSA Bulletin 1976;; 87 (7): 1078–1088. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<1078:OEATEO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The interior of the southeastern Taurus Mountains of Turkey is occupied by an extensive area of metamorphic rocks known as the Bitlis Massif, previously regarded as pre-Permian in age. An ophiolitic mélange occurs within the Bitlis Massif, and detailed mapping has shown that the mélange can be subdivided and an internal structure recognized. It contains components of Late Cretaceous age, some of which have been metamorphosed, indicating an Alpine metamorphic event. It is proposed that the Bitlis Massif is a composite structural entity consisting of a northern area of pre-Permian metamorphic rocks and a southern zone of Alpine rocks that have undergone high-pressure—low-temperature meta-morphism.The Bitlis Massif is thrust southward over an ophiolite-flysch complex, which is also thrust southward over sedimentary rocks of the Arabian foreland. The ophiolite-flysch complex is here divided into three zones, one of which is an ophiolitic-wildflysch zone correlated with ophiolitic gravity slides occurring further west in the southeastern Taurus Mountains.In the tentative plate-tectonic model for the evolution of a section of the southeastern Taurus Mountains presented here, two episodes of ophiolite emplacement are recognized. It is suggested that the ophiolitic-wildflysch represents trench mélanges that were not subducted but were thrust out of the trench zone because of uplift associated with the final phase (Late Cretaceous) of subduction. The metamorphosed ophiolitic mélange is thought to represent successfully subducted mélange emplaced during the final phase (Miocene) of continental collision. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.