Structural inversion of back-arc basins–The Neogene Adjara-Trialeti fold-and-thrust belt (SW Georgia) as a far-field effect of the Arabia-Eurasia collision

Abstract The 350 km-long Adjara-Trialeti fold-and-thrust belt of southwestern Georgia is the result structural inversion a continental back-arc basin developed in Paleogene on upper (Eurasian) plate northward subducting northern branch Neotethys. Low-temperature thermochronological data [fission-track and (U-Th)/He analyses apatite] from sedimentary plutonic rocks provide robust constraints tectonic evolution orogenic belt. Fission-track central ages range Middle Eocene to Miocene (46–15 Ma); helium are clustered Late Miocene-Pliocene (10–3 Ma). Time-temperature paths obtained integrating thermochronologic, stratigraphic, radiometric show that volcanosedimentary fill underwent progressive burial heating prior final cooling/exhumation late Miocene-Pliocene. These new was inverted as starting at 14–10 Ma, tune with widespread Middle-to-Late shortening exhumation across wide areas East, eastern Pontides NE Turkey Lesser Caucasus Armenia NW Azerbaijan, Talysh Alborz ranges Iran. Such supraregional tectonism interpreted far-field effect Arabia-Eurasia collision along Bitlis suture ca. 400 km south study area.