TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE BÜYÜKECELI (IÇEL) AREA IN THE CENTRAL TAURIDES, SOUTHERN TURKEY

This investigation was carried out around Silifke, Anamur and Gülnar areas in the Central Taurides where two tectonic units, which tectonically correspond each other and form a basement to Neogene sequence, were distinguished. These tectonic units metamorphically, stratigraphically, lithologically and structurally demonstrate different basin origin. These are "Geyikdagi Unit" and "Görbiyesdagi Unit" that is the first time recognized within this study. While the Görbiyesdagi Unit is represented by Upper Cretaceous Sipahili formation, the Geyikdagi Unit is divided into two tectonic slices as being Ovacik Tectonic Slice (OTS) and Araca Tectonic Slices (ATS). In the OTS the following formations crop out; Middle-Upper Cambrian Isikli, Upper Cambrian-Lower Ordovician Ovacik, Lower Silurian Egripinar and Hirmanli, Upper Silurian-Lower Devonian Karayar, Lower Devonian Sigircik, Middle Devonian Büyükeceli, Upper Devonian Akdere, Upper Permian Kirtildagi, and Middle-Upper Triassic Kusyuvasitepe formations. In the ATS the following formations are observed; Infra-Cambrian Emirgazi, Upper Devonian Akdere, Lower Carboniferous Korucuk, Upper Permian Kirtildagi, Upper Triassic Murtçukuru, Lower Jurassic Yanisli, Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Tokmar, Upper Cretaceous-Upper Paleocene Hayvandagi. Moreover, Ophiolitic Mélange was tectonically emplaced in the region during Late Cretaceous. The Görbiyesdagi and the Geyikdagi units are unconformably overlain by Lower Miocene aged Tepeköy and Çavuslar formations, which are assumed to be cover deposits, and Middle Miocene aged Mut formation. Quaternary deposits overlie the older units with angular unconformity. The OTS was thrusted onto the ATS during the Early Alpine orogenesis which was active at the Late Triassic. The northerly Görbiyesdagi unit was thrusted on the southerly Geyikdagi unit during the Middle Alpine orogenesis which was active at the Early Paleocene-Early Eocene. As a result of the structural data obtained whithin this study, approximately northwest-southeast trending compressional tectonic regime, which caused formation of NE-SW trending fold-thrust axis and reverse faults, affected the area.