Late Triassic (Early to Middle Norian) radiolarians from the Antalya Nappes, Antalya, SW Turkey

Ugur Kagan Tekin,Tugrul Sukru Yurtsever

doi:10.1144/jm.22.2.147

Abstract

Abstract. The Gökdere Formation of the Alakircay Nappe (Antalya Nappes) mainly consists of cherty limestone and limestone with calciturbidite intercalations. Moderately to well-preserved radiolarians were obtained from the Gökcam section of the Gökdere Formation located to the west of Antalya City, southwestern Turkey. The radiolarians of the Gökdere Formation obtained in this study are comparable to the faunas described from the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia and the Antalya Nappes, southwestern Turkey. The age range of the radiolarians is late Early Norian to early Middle Norian based on the co-occurrence of Capnodoce serisa, Harsa siscwaiensis, Xiphosphaera fistulata and an associated fauna. Three species (Nodocapnuchosphaera altineri, Renzium whalenae and Enoplocampe(?) norica) and one subspecies (Kinyrosphaera helicata goekcamensis) are defined as new.

Highlights

The Antalya Nappes, in the Taurides of southern Turkey, include widely exposed Mesozoic radiolaria-bearing pelagic sediments
The age of the fauna obtained from the Gökdere Formation of the Gökcam section can be assigned a late Early Norian to early Middle Norian age and the radiolarian association of ‘Capnodoce serisa–Harsa siscwaiensis–Xiphosphaera fistulata’ suggested by Carter (1991) for upper Lower Norian to lower Middle Norian strata can be adopted in this study
The Gökdere Formation in the Alakircay Nappe of the Antalya Nappes is represented by limestone and cherty limestone with chert bands and calciturbidite intercalations

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The Antalya Nappes, in the Taurides of southern Turkey, include widely exposed Mesozoic radiolaria-bearing pelagic sediments. The Triassic rock units of the Alakircay Nappe include the Tesbihli, Candir and Gökdere formations (Senel, 1997a; Fig. 3A). LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE GÖKCAM SECTION The Gökcam section was measured and sampled through the Gökdere Formation of the Alakircay Nappe to the west of Antalya City (Fig. 1). + Unit 4, Cherty Limestone and Shale Alternation with Calciturbidite Intercalations: this uppermost unit is similar to unit two It is characterized by mainly thin- to medium-, occasionally thick-bedded, grey to beige-coloured limestone with dark grey chert nodules and thin-bedded green, greenish-grey shale interbeds. MATERIALS, METHODS AND REPOSITORY Twenty-three samples were collected both from chert nodules/ bands and limestone beds of the Gökdere Formation in the Gökcam section. 1. Kahlerosphaera norica Kozur & Mock, sample 00UKT130; scale bar 140 μm.

Diameter of the cortical shell

Sample Number

CONCLUSIONS