A new chronostratigraphy (40Ar-39Ar and U-Pb dating) for the middle section of the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone, SW Turkey (eastern Mediterranean)

Abstract

Southwestern Turkey is a tectonically active region where extensional, strike-slip, and compressional tectonics cooccur. The Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone is located in the middle of this complex area. Understanding the tectonic evolution of this region is crucial, but the controversial Neogene chronostratigraphy does not allow robust synthesis because of poor age control. The middle section of the Burdur-Fethiye Shear Zone includes three basins: the Acipayam, Cameli, and Golhisar basins. All these basins represent restricted portions of ancient larger carbonate lakes. The lacustrine sediments are locally covered or cut by lamproites with sparse intercalations of tuff levels. New 40 Ar- 39 Ar biotite and U-Pb zircon radiometric ages from volcanics and a tuff layer in this study demonstrate that the previously suggested Pliocene ages for these sediments are incorrect and that these Neogene sediments are middle Miocene in age.