Abstract: Tectono-Sedimentary Evolution of the Middle Pontides from Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous, Turkey

AYDIN MUSTAFA, DEMIR OSMAN, SAHINTURK OMER, SERDAR HUSEYIN and OZCELIK YAKUP

A sedimentary unit with a thickness of more than 8500 meters from Triassic to Tertiary exists in the study area. In the region, horsts and grabens were formed by tensional movements at the beginning of the Lower Cretaceous. Red micrites covered all the older formations unconformably during the Turonian. There is no erosional surface and no hiatus between the Lower Cretaceous and Turonian successions. But an unconformable relation has developed between them, owing to a rapid extension and sudden subsidence during the Turonian, indicating the onset of the opening of Black Sea. This tectonic framework from Upper Jurassic to Turonian is similar to the Russian seashore area, located at the northern part of the Black Sea. Tensional regime has turned into compressional regime during the Uppermost Campanian. Normal faults between the horsts and grabens were reactivated as reverse faults and thrusts. Compressional regime continued until the Miocene and some of the faults have gained lateral displacements during this era. The presence of horsts and the grabens of the early Lower Cretaceous have been proven by eight exploration wells.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90942©1997 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Vienna, Austria