Mesozoic Troughs and Crustal Structure in Anatolia
In Anatolia, zones of ultramafic masses were emplaced during the Mesozoic into the upper crustal level. Along these zones, deep-sea troughs, characterized by radiolarite-ophiolite facies, developed within the shallow Tethys sea. After some time, the troughs were filled by mafic volcanic rocks and abyssal sediments. Thus, beneath the trenches, a change from continental to oceanic crust has taken place under crustal distension of 50 to 100 km. Later the tensional phases were followed by compression. These views are at variance with the “wide Tethys” ocean model. They are supported by the similarity of the radiolarite-ophiolite zones to other structures which are ascribed to tensional movements.