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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2000; v. 173; p. 183-202;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2000.173.01.09
© 2000 Geological Society of London

Neotethyan Ophiolites

Geochemical Character and Tectonic Environment of Neotethyan Ophiolitic Fragments and Metabasites in the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex, Turkey

Peter A. Floyd1, M. Cemal Göncüoglu2, John A. Winchester1 & M. Kenan Yaliniz3

1 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK p.a.floyd{at}esci.keele.ac.uk
2 Department of Geological Engineering, Middle East Technical University, TR-06531 Ankara, Turkey
3 Department of Civil Engineering, Celal Bayar University, Muradiye, Manisa, Turkey

The Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex (CACC) or Kirsehir Block is part of the metamorphosed leading edge of the Tauride-Anatolide Carbonate Platform. It contains oceanic remnants derived from the Neotethys Ocean (Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan branch) which separate it from the Sakarya microcontinent. Two tectonic units are distinguished: an amphibolite facies Mesozoic ‘basement’, dominated by platform marbles, over which is thrust a younger fragmented Upper Cretaceous ophiolite sequence. Three metabasite horizons were sampled to reconstruct the development of the oceanic components: (1) fragmented Upper Cretaceous (90-85 Ma) stratiform ophiolitic members comprising gabbros, sheeted dykes, basalt lavas and pelagic sediments thrust over all other units; (2) a tectonised admixture of basite, ultramafic and felsic blocks in an ophiolitic mélange (Upper Cretaceous matrix) thrust over the basement metamorphic rocks; and (3) amphibolites concordant with ‘basement’ marbles and minor pelagics of the largely (?)Triassic Kaleboynu Formation in the lower part of the carbonate platform.

Metabasalts and metagabbros from isolated fragments of the stratiform ophiolites form geochemically coherent groups and indicate the influence of a subduction component during their development. It is considered that the suprasubduction zone ophiolites record the association of a tholeiitic arc and an adjacent back-arc basin with more mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)-like compositions.

Metabasite blocks within the tectonised ophiolitic mélange slice are MORB like, together with minor ocean island basalt (OIB) and island arc basalts, and may be tectonically related to ophiolitic units within the accretionary wedge of the Ankara Mélange.

Concordant amphibolites of the Kaleboynu Formation are largely OIB types and reflect an early ensialic rifting stage of the Tauride-Anatolide Carbonate Platform. Small ocean basins also developed at this time, as recorded by the presence of MORB and associated pelagics.

The CACC block, together with parts of the Ankara Mélange, are considered to represent oceanic lithosphere (comprising both early spreading centre and latter subduction-influenced crust) and continental carbonate platform that were subsequently ejected from an accretionary-subduction complex on collision with the Sakarya microcontinent.





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