GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE, vol.141, no.3, pp.257-286, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
The Mersin Melange underlies the intact Mersin Ophiolite and its metamorphic sole to the south of the Mesozoic Tauride Carbonate Platform in southern Turkey The Melange varies from chaotic melange to broken formation, in which some stratigraphic continuity can be recognized. Based on study of the broken formation, four lithological associations are recognized: (1) shallow-water platform association, dominated by Upper Palaeozoic-Lower Cretaceous neritic carbonates; (2) rift-related volcanogenic- terrigenous-pelagic association, mainly Upper Triassic andesitic-acidic volcanogenic rocks, siliciclastic gravity flows, basinal carbonates and radiolarites; (3) within-plate-type basalt radiolarite-pelagic limestone association, interpreted as Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous seamounts with associated radiolarian sediments and Upper Cretaceous pelagic carbonates; (4) ophiolite-derived association, including fragments of the Upper Cretaceous Mersin Ophiolite and its metamorphic sole. Locally, the ophiolitic melange includes granite that yielded a K/Ar radiometric age of 375.7 +/- 10.5 Ma (Late Devonian). This granite appears to be subduction influenced based on 'immobile' element composition.