Development of an Oblique Subduction Zone—Tectonic Evolution of the Tethys Suture Zone in Southeast Turkey

Abstract

The Southeast Anatolian orogen, part of the Mediterranean-Himalayan orogenic belt, may be divided into three approximately E-W-trending zones. From south to north, they are the Arabian platform, an imbricated zone, and a nappe zone. The eastern part of the Arabian platform includes a lower Paleozoic to lower Miocene sedimentary sequence and ophiolitic rocks that were obducted on the platform during Late Cretaceous time. Also, in the eastern part of the nappe zone consisting of lower and upper nappe packages, three major Paleocene-Oligocene deformational phases occurred, related to late-early Paleocene-early Eocene, late Lutetian, and late Oligocene nappe emplacements. These amalgamated nappes collided with the Arabian plate and were welded onto it at the latest stage of the orogenic evolution during late early Miocene time. The imbricated zone consists of units that were compressed and sandwiched between the nappes and the Arabian platform. In the nappe and imbricated zones, various island-arc volcanics and associated units developed related to the northward subduction of Neotethys during the Late Cretaceous to the late Oligocene. The ages of volcanic units decrease from west to east. This reflects oblique subduction of the ocean floor; its remnant presently underlies the northerly nappes.