Detrital zircon geochronology and related evidence from clastic sediments in the Kyrenia Range, N Cyprus: Implications for the Mesozoic-Cenozoic erosional history and tectonics of southern Anatolia

Triassic to Pleistocene sandstones of the Kyrenia Range, N Cyprus provide an exceptional repository erosional history Anatolia. The Range features several different tectonic hypotheses concerning Eastern Mediterranean region, which are tested here using a combination new and recently published detrital zircon geochronology , trace-element data hafnium isotopic data. Minimum ages refine formations in Range. also insights into sediment provenance including far-removed sources Upper Paleozoic zircons, within-plate versus subduction-related (e.g., rift; oceanic/continental arc/ophiolite) Neogene collision-related magmatism . Facies paleocurrent indicate major switch clastic input from generally southwards westwards during Oligocene was mainly controlled by collision Arabian promontory with Anatolia, leaving S Neotethys as isolated deep-water basin. U-Pb age profiles prominent Late Neoproterozoic population, together Carboniferous, Permian Cretaceous Miocene-aged clusters. Pan-African Grenvillian-aged zircons were ultimately derived Cadomian continental basement. Basement that rifted Gondwana later became detritus within Anatolia north. Devonian-Carboniferous originally supplied active margin southern Eurasia (Pontides) or northern (Afyon zone Anatolides). proposed explanation is sequentially recycled, first Carboniferous-earliest turbidites (within Afyon east), Mid-Upper alluvium Taurides south), finally Triassic-Paleogene sediments now preserved arc granitoids, oceanic and/or ophiolitic rocks related metamorphic north Paleogene represent late-stage SE Turkey. During Oligocene, southward supply westward represents dominant Neotethyan suture Miocene post-collisional volcanics Paleoriver drainage systems central/southeast largely existed response surface uplift, turn strongly influencing Miocene-Pleistocene sub-basins adjacent combined data, assembled geological evidence, used discuss three contrasting for early Mesozoic-Eocene setting Range: (1) locally, easternmost (i.e., preferred interpretation); (2) far south, on African passive margin, (3) north, along (or near) Eurasian margin. Overall, present study exemplifies diversity complexity developing orogen, implications some other regions. • Detrital analyses E collision. support development Neotethys.