Early Silurian sea-level changes in southern Turkey: Lower Telychian conodont data from the Kemer area, western Taurides

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract - A rich conodont fauna of the Pterospathodus eopennatus Zone (lower Telychian), the oldest Silurian fauna from the southern Taurides, was recovered from the middle Sapandere Formation of the upper Antalya Nappe at Kemer, western Taurides, Turkey. It is similar to European warm-water conodont faunas of the same age. This suggests the formation was initiated by a pre-Telychian (?Aeronian) transgression. The Ashgill of the same area contains Perigondwana cold-water fossils, whereas early Llandovery glaciomarine deposits to the southeast contain exotic dropstones, such as micaschists and orthogneisses. The warming after the end Ordovician-earliest Silurian glaciation caused a rapid global sea-level rise resulting in deposition of black shales during the Aeronian, followed by a drop in sea-level in the late Telychian of southern Turkey.