Geological and structural features of the eastern part of Niğde Massif (Eynelli-Bademdere-Dikilitaş)

In the study area located at the southern end of the Kırşehir Block, basement is made up of Paleozoic-Mesozoic-aged high-grade metamorphic rocks belonging the Niğde Massif. At the base of the Niğde Massif, there is Gümüşler formation consisting of Late Devonian-aged micaschist, migmatite, amphibolite, quartzite and calcschist. This unit is conformably overlain by the Kaleboynu formation of Carboniferous-Early Permian-aged marble, schist and quartzite. These units are unconformably overlain by Late Cretaceous-aged Aşıgediği formation which is blocky metaflysch in character. The massif assemblage is tectonically overlain by the remnant rocks of the Inner-Tauride Ocean, namely the Alihoca ophiolite. The Late Cretaceous Üçkapılı granitoid cuts all the basement units. The Paleozoic-Mesozoic rocks mentioned above are overlain with an angular unconformity by the Ulukışla group consisting of Late Paleocene-Middle Eocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The Çukurbağ formation, which consists of Oligocene terrestrial rocks, overlies pre-Oligocene rocks with an angular unconformity. The youngest rocks of the study area consist of Miocene-Quaternary aged terrestrial sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The Paleozoic-Mesozoic aged rocks belonging the massif located in the study area were subjected to poly-phase deformation, high-grade metamorphism and therefore gained a foliated fabric before the Late Cretaceous. Before Oligocene age, the Ulukışla group and the massive were folded and fractured all together due to the closure of the Inner-Tauride Ocean. During the neotectonic period, strike-slip and normal fault-related fractures have developed in the study the area. Keywords: Alihoca ophiolite, Inner-Tauride Ocean, Kavlaktepe thrust fault, Neotectonics, Niğde Massif, Cover rocks.