Geology of the Bozdag area, central Menderes massif, SW Turkey: Pan-African basement and Alpine deformation

The Menderes massif consists of a Precambrian Core Series that preserves ev idence for a polymetamorphic history and a Paleozoic/Mesozoic Cover Series that experienced only the Alpine tectonometamorphic evolution. Structural, petrographic, and geochronologic investigations in the central Menderes mas sif demonstrate that (a) part of the metamorphic and structural evolution o f the Precambrian basement is older than the undeformed 551+/-1.4-Ma-old Bi rgi metagranite, and (b) inferred Alpine fabrics overprinting the Cover Ser ies largely have the same attitudes as the old structures in the much older Core Series. The inferred Alpine fabrics include both contractional and ex tensional structures. Contraction under greenschist to amphibolite facies c onditions resulted in the imbrication of the Core and Cover Series and gene rated an inverted metamorphic sequence by north-directed thrusting. During Alpine extension, most of the south-dipping thrust faults were reactivated as extensional shear zones under decreasing greenschist facies conditions.