Tektono-stratigraphic evolution of Çaldağ Laterite

The basement of Çaldağ Horst, located in the northwestern Gediz Graben is composed of Maastrichtian?Danian Bornova Complex that is represented by pelagic sediments, pillow lava basalts, exotic carbonate blocks and ultramafic rocks. Exposition and weathering of serpentinized ultramafic rocks under favourable paleogeographical and paleoclimatic conditions resulted in laterite formation at Çaldağ. After ophiolite obduction, contractional tectonics continued until the latest Eocene, bringing on Bornova Complex and Çaldağ Laterite to overthrust towards the NNE superposing the each other.Contraction related overthickening of continental crust caused an orogenic collapse in Oligocene, triggering the regional extensional tectonics within the Anatolian Micro-plate which is overriding on to the African Plate along the Aegean Arc. Continental basins formed in the study area under control of Miocene horst?graben structures. From Late Miocene to late Early Pliocene, Develi and Halitpaşa Formations deposited in a lacustrine environment where Bornova Complex and Çaldağ Laterite were forming the basement. In the latest Early Pliocene, NW?SE and E?W trending high-angle normal faults cut the basin into slices, leading the alluvial fan deposits of the Kızıldağ Formation to develop. High-angle normal faults and transpressive activities which thought to be reflections of İzmir?Balıkesir Transfer Zone keep developing in the recent active tectonics of Aegean.Although limited number of lateritic deposits identified thus far, ultramafic rocks of Turkey weathered under favourable conditions from Cretaceous till Mid-Miocene. Considering the possibly existing buried deposits similar to Çaldağ, Eocene?Oligocene?Miocene?Pliocene sediments will light the way for future laterite exploration studies.