Evolution of the Palaeotethys in the Eastern Mediterranean: a multi-method approach to unravel the age, provenance and tectonic setting of the Upper Palaeozoic Konya Complex and its Mesozoic cover sequence (south-central Turkey)

ABSTRACT

Siliciclastic sediments from the Upper Palaeozoic Konya Complex and its Mesozoic cover were studied by a multi-method approach combining thin-section petrography, bulk-rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry of rutile, and U–Pb geochronology of detrital zircons. Provenance sensitive data of samples from the Upper Palaeozoic Halıcı Formation indicate sediment supply from mainly low- to medium-grade metamorphosed sedimentary rocks of felsic character, while the contribution from volcanic rocks was rare. The detrital zircon record of sediments from the Halıcı Formation documents sediment supply from different sources and excludes a similar provenance. Some samples show great similarities with Palaeozoic sandstones from the cover sequence of the Saharan Metacraton and the Arabian–Nubian Shield, while the other samples indicate a provenance that must be sought in units with a southern Eurasian affinity. The upper limit for sediment deposition in the Halıcı Formation is mostly constrained by Early Palaeozoic zircon populations; however, sediment accumulation in Pennsylvanian–Cisuralian time is more likely, contemporaneously with the Upper Palaeozoic succession on the Karaburun Peninsula (western Turkey). The provenance of sediments from the Upper Triassic Ardıçlı Formation remains enigmatic, but the source should be sought nonetheless in units close to the depositional site. In any case, detrital zircon age spectra and compositional data exclude recycling of underlying rock units (i.e. Halıcı Formation). Overall, our new provenance data reveal great similarities between the Konya Complex and comparable units (Chios, Karaburun) but also highlight distinct differences in terms of sediment composition and provenance.

KEYWORDS:

• Palaeotethys
• Turkey
• Konya Complex
• sediment provenance
• U-Pb geochronology
• whole-rock geochemistry
• rutile geochemistry

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the German Research Foundation (DFG, grant number ME 3882/3-1) and the Göttingen University start-up funding for young academics (grant to GM). We thank Gerald Hartmann for XRF analysis, Klaus Simon for ICP-MS analysis, and Andreas Kronz for providing access to the EMPA. Finally, we are grateful to Vasileios Chatzaras, Alastair H. F. Robertson and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments which helped to improve the original manuscript, and to Robert J. Stern for his careful editorial handling.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Funding

This work was supported by the German Research Foundation [ME 3882/3-1]; and the Göttingen University start-up funding for young academics [Grant to GM].