Abstract
The Crimean Mountains (CM) are regarded as part of the Alpine-Himalaya orogenic belt related to the collision of the Eurasian and African plates. Our research in the CM has allowed confirming the existence of at least two flysch formations of different ages: the Taurida Flysch Formation (Upper Triassic/Lower–? Middle Jurassic) and the Sudak Formation (uppermost Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous) in the western and eastern sectors of the CM, respectively. After the Middle Jurassic volcanism, the freshwater claystones with coal-bearing intercalations, as well as local alluvial fan conglomerates were deposited. Then, following the Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian marine transgression, three separated Tithonian/Berriasian carbonate platforms developed: Baydarska, Chatyr-Dag and Demerji/Karabi. At the turn of the Late Jurassic, the deep-water Sudak Basin (eastern sector of the CM) began to develop in the eastern periphery of the Demerji/Karabi carbonate platform. This basin, dominated by turbiditic deposition, was probably connected with the Great Caucasus sedimentary system. Finally, distal flysch sedimentation in the Sudak Basin was followed by debris-flow deposits, with huge blocks of Upper Jurassic limestones. These blocks were derived from destruction of the Karabi carbonate platform. During the Berriasian/Valanginian, the eastern sector of the CM began to subside. As a result, both carbonate platforms (western CM) and the debris flow fans of the Sudak Basin (eastern CM) were overlain by marly shales and/or distal turbidites. This type of deposition lasted until the Aptian/Albian. In the post-Albian period, the Alushta-Salgir tectonic zone was transformed into a SE-dipping thrust fault with at least 10 km amplitude of overthrusting.
Highlights
Flysch sediments, known already for more than 150 years, play an important role in the geological structure of the Crimean Mts
We suggest introducing a new term – the Taurida Flysch Formation (TFF), which is more consistent with the formal lithostratigraphic standards, recommending a geographical noun
We used the geological map 1:200,000 (Pivovarov and Derenyuk, 1984), edited by the Ukrainian Geological Survey. This map well-illustrates the main lithostratigraphic units of the Crimean Mountains (CM) (Fig. 4) and shows that the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic flysch deposits of the TFF are distributed in two areas: west of the Salgir River (Kacha Uplift) and along the sea shore, between the Sarych Cape in the west and the village of Morske in the east (Figs. 3 and 4)
Summary
Known already for more than 150 years (from Dubois de Montpereaux, 1837), play an important role in the geological structure of the Crimean Mts. These deposits were traditionally regarded as the Tauric Flysch of Late Triassic/Early Jurassic age (Muratov et al, 1969; Muratov, 1972) This age has been challenged by Popadyuk and Smirnov (1991), who concluded Early Cretaceous age. Taking into account our experience in studying the Outer Carpathians flysch, we became interested in the explanation of the controversy related to the Tauric Flysch. With this in mind, we have conducted our studies in the years 2010–2013, during the three short, but intense field work campaings. Our interest has been focused on the following main questions:
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