Paleozoic stratigraphy of the Geyik Dagi unit in the Eastern Taurides (Turkey): New age data and implications for Gondwanan evolution

The stratigraphy of the Geyik Dagi Unit of the Eastern Taurides has been revised on the basis, of new field observations from this critical tectono-stratigraphic unit. The Emirgazi Formation. of Precambrian age. is shown to occur throughout the whole Tauride Belt. The Cal Tepe Formation probably reaches the Upper Cambrian. The Carnbrian -Ordovician boundary is close to the base of the Seydisehir Formation: the latter includes mixed carbonate-siliciclastic tempestites. Its upper part may be of late Middle Ordovician age. The stratigraphic gap between the Seydisehir and Sort Tepe Formations is the result of a thermal event, as recorded in man), other places in the peri-Gondwanan terranes of Europe. The graptolite-bearing black shales of the Puscu Tepe Shale Formation of early Silurian age, overlying the, glacier-related sediments of the Halit Yaylasi Formation is a typical unit in most of the peri-Gondwanan terranes in S Europe and N Africa. The "Orthoceras Limestones" of the overlying Yukan Yayla Formation are of latest Llandovery to earliest Wenlock and post-middle. Ludlow age. The Lower Devonian basal quartzites of the Ayi Tepesi Formation are interpreted as overlying an unconformity, which may coincide with the stepwise, detachment of-some small microcontinenis from Gondwana accompanying the opening of Palcotethys. The conformably overlying Safak Tepe Formation yielded Eifelian-Givetian conodonts and is overlain by the Gumusali Formation of Frasnian-Famennian age. The Devonian-Carboniferous boundary is located within the black shales of the Ziyarettepe Formation. The deposition of these black shales seems to be related to an anoxic event. Although the available geological data in the Taurides are still too fragmentary to provide a comprehensive picture, the new findings may facilitate the con-elation of the Eastern Tauride stratigraphic units with corresponding strata in the Central and Western Taurides and improve the understanding of Early to middle Paleozoic events in NE peri-Gondwana