The Cilicia-Adana basin complex, Eastern Mediterranean: Neogene evolution of an active fore-arc basin in an obliquely convergent margin

Detailed interpretation of multi-channel seismic reflection profiles showed that the deposition of the Miocene successions in the Cilicia-Adana basin complex occurred within a foredeep, south of the arcuate Tauride fold-thrust belt. The Misis-Kyrenia fault zone defined the northemmost of a number of smaller thrust culminations developed within this foredeep. Fluvio-deltaic successions suggest that the Adana and Inner Cilicia basins became emergent during the Tortonian, when the western portion of the piggy-back basin retained a marine connection. The entire region became emergent during the Messinian salinity crisis, and up to 1000 in of evaporites were deposited in the Cilicia and southern Adana basins. Stratigraphic and structural relationships demonstrated that the late Plio-Quaternary Cilicia-Adana basin complex evolved as an asymmetric piggy-back basin on the hanging wall of the large south-verging Misis-Kyrenia thrust culmination