In the western Tauride belt of southern Turkey a north pointing cusp (Isparta Angle) occurs along the Mesozoic carbonate axis and encompasses passive continental margin sequences, rift assemblages, mantle peridotites, an ophiolite complex, and platform fragments. The contacts between these tectonostratigraphic units are commonly tectonic with the carbonate platforms forming the autochthonous basement to the west and east directed thrust sheets both in the west and the east. Rift assemblages consist of chert, pelagic limestone, mudstone, sandstone, and alkaline lavas ranging in age from Upper Triassic to Upper Cretaceous and locally include serpentinite lenses. Mantle peridotites are commonly harzburgitic, cut by numerous doleritic dikes, and underlain by a syntectonic m¿lange. The ophiolite complex occurs in the south, adjacent to and overlying the western platform (Bey Daglari), and consists mainly of peridotites and cumulate gabbros with a poorly developed dike complex and rare extrusive rocks. Platform fragments are represented by north-south trending slivers of limestones that have affinity with the western platform.

They are tectonically overlain by the rift assemblies and/or mantle rocks within the Isparta Angle. Rock types and associated structures within the Isparta Angle indicate a progressive evolution from continental rifting and passive margin development to ocean basin formation in the Tauride belt of the Neotethyan realm during Triassic to Late Cretaceous time. The pronounced asymmetry in the crustal architecture of the conjugate margins suggests that initial stages of rifting and subsequent extension were probably facilitated by crustal failure along an east dipping (in present coordinates) low-angle fault. Continued rifting and associated crustal thinning resulted in upwelling and emplacement of the mantle beneath the lower plate and in partial melting of this elevated mantle generating alkaline lavas. Further extension in the south established a spreading system along which Cretaceous oceanic crust, now represented by the Tekirova ophiolite, was created. Contractional deformation in Late Cretaceous to Late Tertiary time caused telescoping of rock units within the Isparta Angle and emplacement of thrust sheets onto the platform carbonates both in the east and the west. The opening and closure stages of the ocean basin within the Isparta Angle were diachronous while the bounding carbonate platforms were probably revolved around a pivoting pole located at or near the apex of this sharp bend in the Tauride belt. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1993