Upper Miocene–Pleistocene deformation of the Girne (Kyrenia) Range and Dar Dere (Ovgos) lineaments, northern Cyprus: role in collision and tectonic escape in the easternmost Mediterranean region

During Late Cretaceous–Mid-Eocene the Girne (Kyrenia) Range formed part of the northerly active continental margin of the southern Neotethys. Following Late Eocene–Late Miocene mainly deep-marine clastic deposition, the range was thrust southwards in a convergent (transpressional) stress regime during Late Miocene (Messinian)–earliest Pliocene time. Sinistral transpression is most evident near the front of the range in the east and in several segments, implying strain compartmentalization. The range was relatively quiescent during Early–Mid Pliocene, followed by strong c. east–west-trending uplift during Late Pliocene–Pleistocene. Further south, the east–west Dar Dere (Ovgos) lineament was active as a north-down extensional (or transtensional) fault zone during Oligocene–Mid-Miocene. Sinistral strike-slip/transpression followed during Late Miocene, followed by strike-slip at least during Late Pliocene–Pleistocene. The latest Miocene–earliest Pliocene thrusting/oblique convergence reflects closure of the southern Neotethys and tightening of the suture between the Arabian (North African) and Turkish (Eurasian) continents. Collision-related uplift of the Girne (Kyrenia) Range and the Troodos Massif further south took place from Late Pliocene time onwards. The Dar Dere (Ovgos) lineament is interpreted as a terrane boundary that was reactivated related to westward tectonic escape of Anatolia during Neogene–Recent time. The structure as a whole reflects regional diachronous continental collision.

晚白垩世至中始新世时期，吉尔内（凯里尼亚）山脉（Girne (Kyrenia) Range）隶属于南新特提斯洋的北缘活动大陆边缘。晚始新世至晚中新世期间，区域以深海碎屑沉积为主；随后在晚中新世（墨西拿期）至早上新世的挤压（走滑挤压）应力体制下，该山脉向南逆冲。左行走滑挤压现象在山脉东部前缘及多个段带中表现最为显著，指示区域存在应变分区作用。早-中上新世时期，该山脉相对沉寂；晚上新世至更新世期间，则发生了强烈的近东西向隆升。在更南侧，近东西向展布的达尔德里（奥夫戈斯）线性构造（Dar Dere (Ovgos) lineament）于渐新世至中中新世时期，作为北盘下降的伸展（或走滑伸展）断裂带活动。晚中新世时期，该构造先后经历左行走滑与挤压作用；至少在晚上新世至更新世期间，仍存在走滑活动。最晚中新世至早上新世的逆冲/斜向汇聚作用，反映了南新特提斯洋的闭合以及阿拉伯（北非）与土耳其（欧亚）大陆间缝合带的闭锁。吉尔内（凯里尼亚）山脉及南侧更远的特罗多斯地块（Troodos Massif）的碰撞相关隆升，始于上新世晚期。达尔德里（奥夫戈斯）线性构造被解释为一处地体边界，在新近纪至现代时期，因安纳托利亚地块的向西构造逃逸而被重新活化。该构造整体反映了区域性穿时大陆碰撞过程。