Insights from the Talysh of Azerbaijan into the Paleogene evolution of the South Caspian region

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2005 Insights from the Talysh of Azerbaijan into the Paleogene evolution of the South Caspian region Stephen J. Vincent; Stephen J. Vincent 1CASP, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, 181a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark B. Allen; Mark B. Allen 1CASP, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, 181a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Arif D. Ismail-Zadeh; Arif D. Ismail-Zadeh 2Geology Institute of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, 29A H. Javid Ave., Baku, Az1143, Azerbaijan Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Rachel Flecker; Rachel Flecker 3CASP, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, 181a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kenneth A. Foland; Kenneth A. Foland 4Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael D. Simmons Michael D. Simmons 5CASP, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, 181a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2005) 117 (11-12): 1513–1533. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25690.1 Article history received: 27 Jul 2004 rev-recd: 15 Mar 2005 accepted: 24 Mar 2005 first online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Stephen J. Vincent, Mark B. Allen, Arif D. Ismail-Zadeh, Rachel Flecker, Kenneth A. Foland, Michael D. Simmons; Insights from the Talysh of Azerbaijan into the Paleogene evolution of the South Caspian region. GSA Bulletin 2005;; 117 (11-12): 1513–1533. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25690.1 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 age and mode of formation of the South Caspian Basin are disputed. An ∼10-km-thick, predominantly middle Eocene clastic and volcanic succession is exposed in the Talysh mountains of Azerbaijan at its western margin. Here, high-K alkali basalts pass laterally to the east and southeast into volcanogenic sandstone-dominated turbidity current and debris-flow deposits. These southeasterly directed depositional systems accumulated in water depths generally greater than 200 m and fed directly into the western South Caspian Basin. New Ar-Ar ages cluster around 39 Ma, with an upper, 1400-m-thick volcanic interval being deposited in 2.2 ± 0.2 m.y. We interpret that this rapid deposition and magmatism records a major back-arc extensional/transtensional event in the Talysh, north of the north-dipping Neotethyan subduction zone. This event is recognized across much of southwest Asia and may indicate a period of significant basin formation within the adjacent South Caspian Basin. A transition into Upper Eocene–Lower Oligocene strata, dominated by fine-grained turbidity current and hemipelagic sediments with slope instability features, is interpreted to mark the end of rifting and volcanism in the Talysh and the start of the Arabia-Eurasia collision. Overlying Oligocene coarse clastic rocks are interpreted as the erosional products of localized topography created by the further propagation of compressional deformation into the Talysh region. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.