Mesozoic to recent geological history of southern Crimea and the Eastern Black Sea region

• Main Authors: A. M. Nikishin, M. Wannier, A. S. Alekseev, O. A. Almendinger, P. A. Fokin, R. R. Gabdullin, A. K. Khudoley, L. F. Kopaevich, A. V. Mityukov, E. I. Petrov, E. V. Rubtsova
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Geological Society of London 2016
• Subjects: Geology; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Shatsky ridge
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3454025.v1; https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Mesozoic_to_recent_geological_history_of_southern_Crimea_and_the_Eastern_Black_Sea_region/3454025/1

We provide a synthesis of stratigraphic data to unravel the history of the geological evolution of South Crimea in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The South Crimea Orogen consists of three major mega-sequences: (1) the Triassic–Early Jurassic; (2) the Aalenian–Bathonian; and (3) the Callovian–Eocene. The Late Triassic–Early Jurassic deposits formed in the environment of a forearc basin and a remnant basin. The Aalenian–Bathonian deposits formed above subduction extension and a volcanic belt. Three main Callovian–Eocene tectonic units can be identified in South Crimea: (1) the South Crimean Shelf Basin; (2) the Sudak Deepwater Trough; and (3) the Alchak–Kaya Shelf Basin at the northern margin of the Shatsky Ridge. The Oligocene–Quaternary deposits are considered to be syn-orogenic. A description of the anticipated stratigraphic units on the Shatsky Ridge is suggested for the Middle Jurassic, Callovian–Late Jurassic, Neocomian, Aptian–Albian, Late Cretaceous–Paleocene, Eocene and Maykopian. We propose a model for the geological history of the Eastern Black Sea Basin. Graben formed during the Late Barremian–Albian at the location of the future Eastern Black Sea Basin and a phase of volcanism occurred in the Albian. The main phase of rifting and spreading of oceanic crust took place during Cenomanian–Santonian time.