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Editorial introduction to ‘Geological Development of Anatolia and the Easternmost Mediterranean Region’

A. H. F. ROBERTSON1*, O. PARLAK2 &U.C.U¨ NLU¨ GENC¸ 2 1School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK 2Department of Geological Engineering, C¸ukurova University, 01330 Balcalı, Adana, Turkey *Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected])

The present set of 22 papers stems from the 7th of sedimentary basins during closure of several International Symposium on Eastern Mediterranean Mesozoic ocean basins and the related structural Geology that was held in Adana, Turkey, 18–22 development during Late Cretaceous to Pliocene October 2010. After its initiation in l992, in Adana time. Finally, Section 4 is devoted to aspects of this international conference has been held suc- the structural development of the region, mainly cessively in Jerusalem (Israel) in l995, Nicosia during the Pliocene–Quaternary (i.e. neotectonics) (Cyprus) in 1998, Isparta (Turkey) in 2001, Thessa- when the plate configuration was essentially as it is lonica (Greece) in 2004 and Amman (Jordan) in today. The area covered by each paper is shown in 2007. The Cyprus and Thessalonica conferences Figure 1. were followed by substantive publications, includ- The introduction by Robertson et al. covers the ing one with a focus on Cyprus (Panayides et al. southern part of Anatolia and the adjacent eastern- 2000) and another mainly concerned with the most Mediterranean region that was the main Balkan region (Robertson & Mountrakis 2006). A subject of the international conference. The main subset of the papers that were presented at the 7th focus is on Late Permian–Recent time. A review Adana meeting, together with some others, have of the Late Precambrian–Recent geological devel- been prepared and edited for the present volume. opment of the easternmost Mediterranean region is Anatolia and the surrounding region provide an published elsewhere (Robertson et al. 2012). excellent opportunity for the study of fundamental The authors discuss alternative interpretations geological processes, including rifting, seafloor of the Mesozoic–Cenozoic inter-relations of the spreading, ophiolite genesis and emplacement, col- various crustal units that make up the region. In par- lision, continental assembly and neotectonics. This ticular, they consider whether these should be inter- volume should interest a wide cross-section of inter- preted as individual microcontinents separated by national researchers, including those concerned Mesozoic small ocean basins or as parts of larger with hydrocarbons, mineral deposits and seismic continental units (i.e. microcontinents). The Ana- risk, and also postgraduate students and advanced tolides in the north are generally interpreted as undergraduates. The papers highlight the role of the metamorphosed equivalents of the Taurides, fieldwork, the multidisciplinary nature of much of although different reconstructions exist. The Anato- the current research in the region, the role of team- lides are commonly seen as the northern, leading work and the strong contribution being made by edge of the Mesozoic Tauride–Anatolide continent young scientists. that subducted and underwent high-pressure/low- Following an introductory chapter, the volume temperature (HP/LT) metamorphism during Late is divided into four sections covering different Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic time. The Anatolides aspects of the region as a whole. The area discussed are divided into two parts, namely the HP/LT- mainly lies within Turkey, Cyprus and Syria. metamorphosed Afyon–Bolkar Dag˘ zone in the Section 1 is made up of a small number of papers south, which can be closely correlated with the that are mainly concerned with the Pontide belt of Taurides, and the very HP/LT Tavs¸anlı Zone northern Turkey. Section 2 is concerned with the further north, which also shows some affinities geological development of the Tauride and Anato- with the Taurides but is less well understood. The lide belts of central and southern Anatolia, especially Kırs¸ehir Massif is interpreted as a rifted continental the Triassic–Jurassic period of rifting and pas- block that was separated from a larger Tauride con- sive margin development and the Late Cretaceous tinent to the south by a Mesozoic oceanic basin period of ophiolite genesis and emplacement. known as the Inner-Tauride Ocean. However, Section 3 is mainly concerned with the formation uncertainties remain, including the reconstruction

From:Robertson, A. H. F., Parlak,O.&U¨ nlu¨ genc¸, U. C. (eds) 2013. Geological Development of Anatolia and the Easternmost Mediterranean Region. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 372,1–7. First published online March 21, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP372.23 # The Geological Society of London 2013. Publishing disclaimer: www.geolsoc.org.uk/pub_ethics Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on September 30, 2021

2 A. H. F. ROBERTSON ET AL.

Fig. 1. Main tectonic subdivision of Anatolia and the easternmost Mediterranean region showing the approximate areas covered by each of the papers in this volume.

of the Anatolides in western Anatolia and the Bitlis timing of intrusion of Variscan and Cimmerian and Pu¨tu¨rge massifs in SE Anatolia. The authors use granites and associated meta-sedimentary rocks in their preferred regional reconstructions as a basis for the easternmost Pontides. They show that one or palaeogeographical sketch maps for Permian to more crustal units rifted from Gondwana during Miocene time. the Early Palaeozoic and then drifted northwards, followed by amalgamation with Eurasia during Late Palaeozoic time. The emplacement of the gran- Section 1: Late Palaeozoic–Early Cenozoic itic rocks is believed to have been associated with of the Pontides high-temperature metamorphism of sedimentary country rocks in the roots of a magmatic arc. Juras- The Pontides exhibit a long history of mainly sic granites were intruded later, related to continu- active margin processes from Late Palaeozoic to ing northward subduction and back-arc rifting Early Cenozoic time. There is currently much inter- along the Eurasian margin. est in determining the timing of assembly of the Parlak et al. present a detailed account, sup- Pontide belt and identifying where the component ported by new geological mapping and also petro- tectonic units originally came from. Ustao¨mer graphical and geochemical evidence of the nature et al. use U–Pb dating of zircons to determine the and origin of the Mesozoic ophiolite that are Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on September 30, 2021

INTRODUCTION 3 widely exposed in the Eastern Pontides. Although the Taurides–Anatolides, including rifting, ophio- dismembered, complete ophiolite sequences can lite genesis, subduction and collision. be recognized, as explained for each of the main O¨ zbey et al. give a detailed description and ophiolitic massifs. The associated tectonostratigra- interpretation of the westernmost outcrop of the phy is also summarized including the rocks above Tavs¸anlı zone. Based on detailed mapping, they and below the ophiolites. Geochemically, all of explain the lithostratigraphy, structure and geolog- the ophiolites are of supra-subduction zone type ical development, supported by geochemical data and can be related to northward subduction of a for a range of igneous and sedimentary rocks. Tak- Mesozoic oceanic basin, generally known as the ing account of regional comparisons, they interpret I˙zmir–Ankara–Erzincan Ocean. An outstanding the Tavs¸anlı Zone as a continental fragment that issue is the age (or ages) of the ophiolites, since both rifted from Gondwana during the Triassic and Jurassic and Cretaceous ages have been reported drifted northward until it accreted to the Eurasian from ophiolitic rocks in the Pontides as a whole. margin, represented by the Sakarya continent, dur- The closure of the Mesozoic˙ Izmir–Ankara– ing the Late Cretaceous. The meta-volcanic rocks Erzincan Ocean involved subduction, collision and are seen as largely related to Triassic rifting of post-collisional magmatism. Gu¨lmez et al. discuss a continental fragment (or fragments) from the the Middle Eocene magmatic rocks of the western- Tauride–Anatolide continent. A subduction chem- most Pontide region. The authors present a large ical signature in some of the volcanic rocks is body of field, petrographical, geochemical and explained by melting of upper mantle lithosphere isotopic data for the magmatic rocks. The geo- that was chemically influenced by previous (unre- chemisty is interpreted and modelled in terms of lated) subduction in the region. magma source and crystallization processes. Pre- In contrast to the western and central Taurides, viously both subduction and post-collisional set- the eastern Taurides have received relatively little tings have been proposed to explain these rocks. attention but are highlighted in this volume. The Based on new field, petrological and geochemi- eastern Taurides are difficult to interpret owing to cal evidence, the authors favour a post-collisional an array of neotectonic strike-slip faults. A key setting involving magmatism triggered by slab area is the Gu¨ru¨n carbonate platform, centred on break-off. In this case the˙ Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan the town of Gu¨ru¨n, and adjacent relatively allo- Ocean sutured and associated slab break-off chthonous units including ophiolites and related triggered distinctive magmatism. An Early–Mid melange units. Robertson et al. provide a summary Eocene timing of closure of the˙ Izmir–Ankara– and interpretation of a large part of eastern Anatolia. Erzincan Ocean is supported by evidence from the They specifically interpret the Gu¨ru¨n carbonate Taurides (see below). platform as part of the Tauride continent during Late Palaeozoic–Mesozoic. Ophiolites and accre- tionary melange were emplaced southwards over Section 2: Late Palaeozoic–Early Cenozoic the northern margin of this continental unit dur- of the Taurides–Anatolides ing latest Cretaceous time. However, sedimentation continued further south on the Gu¨ru¨n carbonate The mountainous region of southern Turkey is platform into the Eocene when further southward dominated by the mainly unmetamorphosed Late thrusting took place. The authors show that post- Precambrian–Cenozoic rocks of the Taurides. The Mid-Eocene strike-slip faults in the area are com- Anatolides to the north are widely interpreted as monly right-lateral. The authors infer .60 km of lithological equivalents of the Taurides that experi- northeastward (right-lateral) displacement of the enced HP/LT metamorphism during the Late Cre- Gu¨ru¨n platform and cover units during pre-Plio- taceous–Early Cenozoic closure of the Mesozoic Quaternary time (when left-lateral strike-slip dom- I˙zmir–Ankara–Erzincan Ocean. The Taurides– inated). This interpretation explains the presence of Anatolides, together, document the development Late Cretaceous ophiolite-related material (Kem- of the northern margin of Gondwana until the aliye Formation) to the south of the Gu¨ru¨n (Tauride) Triassic when one or more continental fragments platform from the Late Cretaceous onwards. split off to open several adjacent Mesozoic oce- Further south, the Eastern Tauride region anic basins. Ocean crust and ophiolites formed includes a belt of Upper Cretaceous ophiolites that within several Mesozoic ocean basins during Trias- can be restored as remnants of a huge sheet of oce- sic–Cretaceous time. This was followed by north- anic lithosphere that was emplaced southwards ward subduction and the progressive re-assembly onto the Tauride-related Bitlis and Pu¨ tu¨rge conti- of continental fragments to form the present-day nental massifs during latest Cretaceous time. Parlak Tauride–Anatolide belt during Late Cretaceous– et al. present field, petrological and geochemi- Early Cenozoic time. Several papers investigate cal data for one of the most complete ophiolite different aspects of the geological development of bodies in this belt, namely the˙ Ispendere ophiolite. Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on September 30, 2021

4 A. H. F. ROBERTSON ET AL.

Geochemical evidence indicates that the˙ Ispen- sediments as the product of contemporaneous Late dere ophiolite developed by spreading above a Cretaceous arc volcanism. Geochemical data are northward-dipping subduction zone during the given for comparable silicic volcanic rocks that Late Cretaceous and, as such, can be compared are exposed in the western part of the Kyrenia with a variety of supra-subduction zone-type ophio- Range in northern Cyprus. These rocks have been lites in the Eastern Mediterranean and elsewhere. interpreted as part of a continental margin arc. The The authors highlight several possible modern ana- likely source of the Late Cretaceous volcaniclastic logues, especially in the SW Pacific region. The sediments in western Cyprus was therefore a mag- source ocean basin was either the Southern Neo- matic arc located near, or along, the southern tethys or a related small ocean basin further north margin of the Tauride continent. (Berit ocean) in different interpretations (see intro- The Taurides are dominated by a stack of ductory chapter). thrust sheets mostly made up of unmetamorphosed The Mesozoic ocean basins within the pres- continental margin and oceanic units that were ent area of the Easternmost Mediterranean exhibit assembled during Late Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic long histories of subduction, prior to final closure. time. Mackintosh & Robertson test whether the Subduction is evidenced by arc magmatism of thrust sheets can be simply restored by assuming several different ages. The Malatya and Keban car- in-sequence, piggy-back-type thrusting as previ- bonate platform in SE Anatolia and some adjacent ously assumed. Ophiolitic rocks and related me- ophiolitic rocks are cut by Late Cretaceous granitoid lange are located near the base of the thrust stack. bodies, which have been interpreted as the result of This was previously taken to imply the existence northward subduction. of a Cretaceous ‘mini-ocean’ bounded by Tauride Subduction is also recorded by HP/LT meta- units. The authors present structural and sedi- morphism, notably of the Anatolides. Most of mentary evidence showing that the thrust sheets the known HP/LT metamorphism is of Late Cre- were emplaced in two main stages. The first dur- taceous–Paleocene age (e.g. in the Anatolides). ing the Late Cetaceous resulted from collision of Here, Karaog˘lan et al. show that, in addition, a northward-dipping subduction zone with the unusual high-pressure/high-temperature granulite- Tauride–Anatolide continent (‘soft collision’), facies metamorphic rocks occur as trails of blocks while the second resulted from the final closure within a dismembered metaophiolite (Berit meta- of the ocean to the north during the Early Eocene. ophiolite). This forms part of one of the two main The second, Eocene phase of emplacement (‘hard ophiolite belts in eastern Anatolia (same belt as the collision’) gave rise to large-scale re-thrusting of I˙spendere ophiolite; see above). In addition, the the initially emplaced thrust stack (i.e. out-of granulite-facies rocks and the structurally overly- sequence thrusting). The authors restore the thrust ing continental margin rocks (Malatya platform) sheets as a Mesozoic north-facing passive margin are cut by unmetamorphosed arc-type granitic onto which ophiolites and accretionary melange rocks. Both the high-pressure/high-temperature were emplaced (southwards) during the Late Cre- metamorphic rocks and the cross-cutting granitic taceous, followed by Early–Mid Eocene collision- rocks are radiometrically dated as Eocene. This related re-thrusting. implies an extended history of subduction, exhu- The Menderes Massif of western Anatolia, mation and arc magmatism along an active conti- which has affinities with the Tauride–Anatolide nental margin in SE Turkey. The formation of the continent, underwent collision, subduction and later granulite facies rocks requires an accentuated exhumation during Late Cretaceous–Miocene time. heat flow for which ridge subduction is a possible The timing of these events and the processes mechanism. involved continue to be debated. Here, Teyssier Despite the record of Late Cretaceous and et al. present new evidence for the structural fab- Eocene subduction-related plutonic rocks, there is rics recorded in gneissose rocks in the southern relatively little evidence of associated arc volcan- Menderes Massif. They focus on the role of deep- ism (i.e. extrusive and tuffaceous rocks) in southern crustal flow at high temperature (c. 550 8C) and Anatolia. It is, therefore, interesting that Late Cre- draw a comparison with the Tauern Widow in the taceous glass-rich volcaniclastic sediments deposi- Alps, where orogen-parallel pure-shear extension tionally overlie ophiolitic rocks in western Cyprus has produced a corrugated fabric during orogenic (Kannaviou Formation). Gilbert & Robertson collapse. A similar corrugated fabric is described focus on previously little known exposures of the from the southern part of the Menderes Massif, volcaniclastic sediments that overlie a westward which is suggested to be of Mid–Late Eocene age. extension of the well-documented South Troodos The corrugations are interpreted as the result of Transform Fault Zone. Based on field, petrographi- constriction in an orogen-parallel direction per- cal and geochemical evidence (including electron pendicular to the crustal flow direction, with some probe data), the authors interpret the volcaniclastic interesting tectonic implications. 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INTRODUCTION 5

Section 3: Late Cretaceous–Pliocene marine sedimentation resumed during the Eocene. sedimentary basins and structural The basin was then deformed and exposed, but later experienced a short-lived marine transgres- development sion during the Miocene. A two-stage development of the basin is proposed in which the early stage of The closure of the Mesozoic basins between the basin development (Late Cretaceous) was influ- Tauride–Anatolide continent and Eurasia during enced by late-stage subduction beneath Eurasia, Late Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic time paved the while the later stage (Eocene) was influenced by way for the development of a series of syn- to post- regional continental collision (and possibly by sub- collisional basins that are characterized by a wide duction of the Southern Neotethys to the south). range of deep-marine to subaerial sedimentary The timing and processes of closure of a Meso- rocks and related igneous rocks. However, subduc- zoic ocean basin (Southern Neotethys) in the east- tion of at least one of Mesozoic oceanic basin in ernmost Mediterranean region continue to be the south (Southern Neotethys) continued until debated. Today, Cyprus is located astride the plate Early–Mid Miocene time, followed by progressive boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. and diachronous collision of the Eurasian and The structural history of this plate boundary can African plates in the easternmost Mediterranean be well documented in Cyprus because of uplift region. during the Pleistocene. However, what constitutes The largest cluster of Late Mesozoic–Early Cen- collision? Is it the first contact of opposing (typi- ozoic basins, known as the central Anatolian basins, cally thinned) conjugate margins beneath the deep straddles central Anatolia to the west and south of sea; the first collision of more or less full-thickness the Kırs¸ehir continental unit. Here, Nairn et al. continental crust, or emergence from the sea to report on an integrated study of several of the produce non-marine clastic sediments? Bearing on Central Anatolian basins which are located to the this problem, McCay & Robertson present a west of the Kırs¸ehir Massif. The main focus is on large body of structural data from the Kyrenia the Late Cretaceous–Middle Eocene Kırıkkale, (Girne) Range in the north of Cyprus that was C¸ankırı, Tuz Go¨lu¨ and Haymana basins. Based measured in sedimentary rocks of Miocene to Pleis- mainly on new sedimentological, micropalaeontolo- tocene age. The Range experienced three main gical and igneous geochemical data, the authors tectonic phases after the Late Cretaceous: first, Mid- infer the geological development of these basins Eocene thrusting; second, Late Miocene–earliest as a whole. The Kırıkkale and Tuz Go¨lu¨ basins Pliocene thrusting and folding; and third, Pleisto- developed on oceanic crust during the Late Cretac- cene uplift. A relatively small number of faults with eous. In contrast, the adjacent Haymana basin rep- measurable kinematic data (slickensides) were resents a forearc basin that was constructed on observed to cut Pleistocene sediments. Many of accretionary melange and the Pontide continental the faults have clearly been reactivated. The struc- margin to the north. The combined information is tural data are consistent with a combination of used to develop a new tectonic model that revolves northward convergence and left-lateral strike-slip; around the later stages of closure of two Mesozoic that is overall sinistral transpression (which is oceans in the region, namely the˙ Izmir–Ankara– strongly compartmentalized). The fault patterns Erzincan ocean in the north and the Inner Tauride also indicate that the Ovgos (Dar dere) Fault linea- ocean further south. The authors’ preferred inter- ment to the south of the Kyrenia Range is kinemati- pretation is that oceanic crust remained in the cally linked to the Kyrenia Range, especially its region until Late Palaeocene–Early Eocene, ruling southern margin. The structures are interpreted to out tectonic models that invoke latest Cretaceous reflect deformation along the northern margin of final continental collision. the Southern Neotethys during later-stage subduc- The equivalent sedimentary basins to the east of tion and diachronous continental collision. the Kırs¸ehir Massif have received much less atten- The African plate and the Anatolian microplate tion. One of these, the Darende Basin is discussed are today separated by a broad zone of left-lateral by Booth et al. The authors present a detailed shear, which extends from Cyprus to the Levant account of the basin based on mapping, sedimen- continental margin and beyond. Several tectonic tary logging, sedimentological and structural data lineaments can be traced onshore into Syria and and geochemical data for Eocene extrusive igneous southern Turkey. The southernmost of these is the rocks. The authors explain how the basin devel- El-Kabir Lineament in northern Syria. This key oped from the Maastrichtian–Late Eocene, follow- crustal lineament is discussed by Hardenberg & ing the emplacement of accretionary melange and Robertson, utilizing a combination of sedimentary ophiolitic rocks onto the Tauride carbonate plat- and structural data from the onshore El-Kabir form. In contrast to some of the other basins, Paleo- Basin and shallow seismic reflection data from the cene sedimentation is effectively absent. However, offshore. 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6 A. H. F. ROBERTSON ET AL. especially from a well-exposed coastal area near kinematically linked fault array. Here, Duman & Latakia city. Additional sedimentary and structural Emre present the results of comprehensive mapp- data are presented and interpreted for the northern ing of the left-lateral East Anatolian transform fault and southern flanks of the El-Kabir Basin and its zone that extends across SE Anatolia to the eastern- interior. The El-Kabir lineament is interpreted as a most Mediterranean Sea. The East Anatolian trans- long-lived zone of crustal weakness that was repeat- form fault marks the southern boundary of the edly reactivated. The lineament is interpreted as Anatolian microplate that is escaping towards the having been active in a compressional/strike-slip Aegean, bounded to the north by the right-lateral (transpressional) mode during the Eocene, followed North Anatolia Fault. The authors provide detailed by opening of the El-Kabir Basin in a sinistral trans- field maps of the various segments making up the tensional setting during the Miocene. The onshore East Anatolian transform fault zone, which are basin was uplifted regionally during and after the discussed individually, followed by a comparison Late Pliocene while offshore the lineament contin- that highlights the processes involved and addition- ued to be active as a subsiding basin. ally identifies several areas of apparently high The Late Cenozoic–Recent time period in seismic risk. central Anatolia was characterized by a variety of A number of important questions remain about post-collisional and strike-slip settings. In contrast, the East Anatolian transform zone, one of which the Southern Neotethys remained partially open concerns the linkage of the Dead Sea Transform until the Mid-Miocene in SE Anatolia, as noted Fault, northwards with the Karasu rift in southern above. In addition, the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Turkey. Here, Boulton presents the results of a remained, with evidence of oceanic crust or highly mainly structural study of the southern part of the stretched continental crust beneath it that can be Karasu Rift that is interpreted as an extensional interpreted as a remnant of the Southern Neote- and transtensional lineament. Most of the faults thys and its margins. The northern margin of the that could be measured in the field are extensional. easternmost Mediterranean Basin is characterized Three extensional events are recognized; the first by several onshore/offshore sedimentary basins is considered to relate to pre-Middle Miocene of which the largest and best documented is the collisional-related flexural uplift; the second to Adana Basin. strike-slip faulting (probably Late Miocene); and The sediments in the uppermost part of the the third to propagation of either the Dead Sea Adana Basin were previously mapped as Late Fault or the East Anatolian transform fault into the Miocene (Messinian) to Pliocene in age. Here, Karasu rift area. Cipollari et al. present a detailed micropalaeontolo- Another key area is the junction of the Cyprus gical analysis of well-studied sections, mainly uti- arc with the Aegean arc further west, an area lizing ostracods, calcareous nannoplankton and where processes of westward tectonic escape and both benthic and planktic foraminifera, supplemen- extension related to rollback of oceanic crust were ted by 87Sr/86Sr age determinations. This allows a potentially active. Here, O¨ ver et al. analyse fault differentiation of latest Miocene Lago Mare facies data from Late Miocene–Quaternary sediments of v. earliest Pliocene (Zanclean) facies. Two infra- the Es¸en C¸ ay basin near the onshore junction of the Messinian stratigraphical discontinuities and a Zan- two arcs. The fault inversion procedure revealed clean flooding surface are recognized. The earliest both extension and strike–slip (characterized by a transgressive sea appears to have been slightly NW–SE trending s3 axis). The results suggest reduced in salinity owing to mixing with the pre- that a NW–SE trending s3 dominated during Mio- existing brackish Lago-Mare. The new data, includ- Pliocene time, followed by a change to a dominantly ing palaeowater-depth estimates (epibathyal and NE–SW trending s3 during Quaternary to Recent bathyal) are used to refine understanding of the time. The authors favour a setting of overall south- changing palaeoenvironments and to estimate the ward slab rollback for the development of the subsequent rate of uplift of the Adana Basin. Neogene–Pleistocene sedimentary basins and rela- ted structures. The southern part of Cyprus lies just north of the Section 4: Late Miocene–Recent major tectonic lineament that extends eastwards Neotectonics to link with the Levant (Arabian) margin, as noted above. There are two contrasting interpretations of Neotectonic faulting in Anatolia and the surround- the geological history of this lineament. These ing region is critically important in view of the involve either dominantly strike-slip since the Late risk of earthquakes related to fault displacement. Cretaceous or generally northwards subduction Neotectonic faulting has mostly been studied on beneath Cyprus during this time period. a relatively local basis. However, considerable In one interpretation, Harrison et al. infer that insights can be gained by study of an entire subduction in the easternmost Mediterranean had Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on September 30, 2021

INTRODUCTION 7 ended by latest Cretaceous time, followed by strike- v. Kinnaird et al. for this relatively recent time slip displacement, with the uplift of the Troodos period. Massif in the south of Cyprus being related to trans- Post-collisional faulting (and localized folding) pression along a restraining bend. An accurate continued to affect the Arabian foreland after sutur- chronology for the timing of the uplift events ing of the Southern Neotethys by Mid-Miocene (regional and local) is important in any tectonic time. Geomorphological, sedimentary and struc- model. Here, the authors focus on the later Quatern- tural evidence can be combined to indicate crustal ary tectonic and sedimentary development of a key movement during this post-collisional time period. area in SE Cyrus where processes and products can Trifonov et al. report on segments of the Euphra- be well demonstrated. In particular, new 14C and tes River valley in northern Syria which expose luminescence dating is provided for Late Pleisto- fluvial sediments that provide a sensitive indicator cene shallow-marine sediments. Deposition took of fault activity. Comparisons of the heights of place during successive marine isotopic stages and fluvial terraces and dated lavas flows across the indicate rapid uplift at least during the last c. 36– river valley indicate that faulting influenced the 40 ka. The relative altitude of several older (Holo- course of the Euphrates during Pliocene to Quatern- cene) marine deposits is also suggestive of rapid ary time. uplift, which is inferred to have taken place on an In summary, the present set of papers illustrates island-wide basis. the diversity of processes involved in the on-going In another interpretation, northward subduction construction of the Anatolian continent and the in the easternmost Mediterranean region continued easternmost Mediterranean region. Future progress into the Cenozoic, potentially until the Late Plio- will depend on posing and testing hypotheses of cene. This model is supported by Kinnaird & crustal development. This will require targeted Robertson, who utilize the Neogene sedimentary field-based research, much of it multidisciplinary, record and numerous fault measurements through- in the context of a well-developed chronology. out the southern part of the island to infer the evolution of the stress regime through time. The We particularly thank Dr S¸aziye Bozdag˘ for acting as sec- Miocene basins of the southern part of Cyprus retary to the 7th Symposium of Eastern Mediterranean document a compressional setting during the Early geology. We also thank those who helped by reviewing Miocene, followed by extension during Late papers for this volume. The manuscript benefited from a Miocene–Pliocene time. Somewhat different set- review of Randell Stephenson. The editors would also tings are inferred for the basin in western Cyprus like to thank the GSL staff and Hannah Sime for her patient project management of this volume. (Polis basin) compared with the Mesaoria basin to the north of the Troodos massif. Optically stimu- lated luminescence (OSL) profiling of faults and folds, combined with other available information, References suggests that strike-slip was active in southeastern Panayides, I., Xenophontos,C.&Malpas, J. (eds) and south-central Cyprus during the Late Pleisto- 2000. Proceedings. Third International Conference cene, while west-verging folding and related fault- on the Geology of the Eastern Mediterranean. Geo- ing affected SW Cyprus during the same time logical Survey Department, Nicosia, Cyprus. interval. Regional uplift was focused on the Troo- Robertson,A.H.F.&Mountrakis, D. (eds) 2006. Tec- dos massif during Late Pliocene–Pleistocene time tonic Development of the Eastern Mediterranean and this can be largely explained by the collision Region. Geological Society, London, Special Publi- of the Eratosthenes Seamount with a subduction cations, 260. Robertson, A. H. F., Parlak,O.&Ustao¨mer, T. 2012. zone to the south of Cyprus. In the authors’ inter- Overview of the Palaeozoic-Neogene evolution pretation, collision was followed by a switch to of Neotethys in the Eastern Mediterranean region left-lateral strike slip (‘tectonic escape’) during the (southern Turkey, Cyprus, Syria). Petroleum Geo- Late Pliocene–Recent. There is thus little differ- science, 18, 381–404, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/ ence between the interpretations of Harrison et al. petgeo2011-091