Identification of Quaternary thrusts, folds and faults in a low seismicity area: examples in the Southern Alps (France)

In low seismicity areas, folds, faults and striated pebbles in recent alluvial deposits can demonstrate the Quaternary activity of tectonic structures and can reveal their kinematics. In the Digne nappe (Southern Alps), an out-of-sequence thrust occurred in the late Quaternary in response to WSW-trending compression. The presence of late Quaternary compressional deformation in the Valavoire thrust could have resulted from the activity of the underlying Durance flexure with a maximum Pliocene–Quaternary uplift rate of about 0.1 mm yr⁻¹. The Quaternary top surface of the Valensole basin, that truncates SW-vergent thrust propagation folds, is folded above the Lambruissier anticline. Exceptional conditions resulted in the local preservation of this Quaternary fold morphology created with a minimum uplift-rate of 0.05 mm yr⁻¹ under a NE-trending compression. At the front of the Digne nappe the deformation is characterized by WSW to WNW trends of compression and low strain rates during the Quaternary period.     

Cosmogenic <Superscript>10</Superscript>Be-derived denudation rates of the Eastern and Southern European Alps

Denudation rates from cosmogenic ¹⁰Be measured in quartz from recent river sediment have previously been used in the Central Alps to argue that rock uplift occurs through isostatic response to erosion in the absence of ongoing convergence. We present new basin-averaged denudation rates from large rivers in the Eastern and Southern European Alps together with a detailed topographic analysis in order to infer the forces driving erosion. Denudation rates in the Eastern and Southern Alps of 170–1,400 mm ky⁻¹ are within a similar range to those in the Central Alps for similar lithologies. However, these denudation rates vary considerably with lithology, and their variability generally increases with steeper landscapes, where correlations with topographic metrics also become poorer. Tertiary igneous rocks are associated with steep hillslopes and channels and low denudation rates, whereas pre-Alpine gneisses usually exhibit steep hillslopes and higher denudation rates. Molasse, flysch, and schists display lower mean basin slopes and channel gradients, and, despite their high erodibility, low erosion rates. Exceptionally low denudation rates are also measured in Permian rhyolite, which has high mean basin slopes. We invoke geomorphic inheritance as a major factor controlling erosion, such that large erosive glaciers in the late Quaternary cold periods were more effective in priming landscapes in the Central Alps for erosion than in the interior Eastern Alps. However, the difference in tectonic evolution of the Eastern and Central Alps potentially adds to differences in their geomorphic response; their deep structures differ significantly and, unlike the Central Alps, the Eastern Alps are affected by ongoing tectonic influx due to the slow motion and rotation of Adria. The result is a complex pattern of high mountain erosion in the Eastern Alps, which has evolved from one confined to the narrow belt of the Tauern Window in late Tertiary time to one affecting the entire underthrust basement, orogenic lid, and parts of the Southern Alps today.     

The sedimentary record of the exhumation of a granitic intrusion into a collisional setting: the lower Gonfolite Group,Southern Alps,Italy

The clastic wedge of the Gonfolite Lombarda Group (GLW) accumulated during Oligocene–Miocene times in the Southern Alps foreland basin, formed on the southern, inner side of the Alpine belt. It represents the depositional counterpart of the exhumation and erosion of the Central Alps metamorphic–magmatic units.Among the Central Alps units, the Tertiary Bergell Intrusion (TBI) is one of the principal sources of pebbles occurring within the GLW. Geochronologic data, both from intrusive pebbles and present-day outcrops of intrusive rocks, document the rapid uplift history of the GLW source area.The lower Gonfolite clastic wedge (Como Conglomerate and Val Grande Sandstone Formations, Oligocene–Early Miocene) has been investigated through the study of sandstone and conglomerate petrology for detecting the effects in the sedimentary record of this collision-related event.The main results are: (i) sandstone petrology of the Como Conglomerate records an evolution from feldspatholithic to feldspathic sandstones; (ii) the related Q/F–F/L ratios suggest an evolution from a mixed plutonic–metamorphic to a mainly plutonic source; (iii) consistently, conglomerate petrology records a progressive increase of plutonic pebbles (from nearly 0–50% of the total), a corresponding decrease of metamorphic clasts (from nearly 80 to nearly 50%) and the disappearance of cover rock fragments. Considering the high relief/short transport setting of the GLW clastic routing system, these values probably resemble the real proportions of such rocks in the Gonfolite catchment area.During the Aquitanian, the return to a metamorphic-rich source is recorded both by sandstones and conglomerates at the top of the Como Conglomerate and in the Val Grande Sandstone. This last signal is interpreted as the result of the reorganisation of the Gonfolite source area, possibly related to the northward shift of the main Alpine divide.     

Superposed deformations in the Eastern Alps: strain analysis and microfabrics

Superposition, mainly of two Eoalpine (Cretaceous) deformation events, can be observed in vertical sections and horizontal traverses throughout a decollement zone in the Eastern Alps consisting of crystalline basement and autochthonous and allochthonous cover stacked in several nappes. The first event is an episode with a non-coaxial strain history caused by W-directed thrusting, the second a N-directed shortening by folding and fold imbrication. Strain analysis based both on deformed pebbles and on the preferred orientation of phyllosilicate grains (March theory), microfabric analysis, and observations of the relative timing of deformation and metamorphism, together indicate that the superposition of structures caused by the two events amounts to one continuous, progressive act of deformation. We attribute gradual and consistent variations in intensity and axial ratio of the tectonic strain to a history influenced by: (a) the position of samples in the pile; (b) the relative importance of the strain increments caused by the two events; and (c) rock ductility. We interpret variations of the c-axis fabrics of quartz in the same way, and draw tentative kinematic conclusions for the Eoalpine orogeny in the Eastern Alps.     

第四纪磨拉石组分与青藏高原隆升的关系——对新疆叶城柯克亚剖面第四系砾石成分测量结果的认识

青藏高原北缘的第四纪磨拉石沉积反映了高原所经历的隆升和剥蚀过程。本次工作对新疆西昆仑山前柯克亚剖面第四系磨拉石进行了砾石测量和统计。其结果为:砾石成分主要是沉积岩类,尤其在下部,以砂岩等碎屑岩为主;向上有较多的碳酸盐岩砾石,其中变质岩砾石较少,基本未见片麻岩砾石。这一结果表明当时的物源区主要是由中、新元古界、古生界和中生界的沉积岩系组成的,与现代地表在铁克里克及西昆仑出露的大套变质岩系明显不一致。由此可见,该地区在第四纪早期尚未具有现代地表的地质构造面貌特征,或者说尚未达到现今的隆起高度。现在铁克里克和西昆仑地区出露的大面积古老变质岩系是2.4Ma以后的构造隆升造成的。     

Multistage tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone: New constraints on the tectonics of the Inner Western Alps

The Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone (CISZ) within the Inner Western Alps represents the remnant of a long-lived minor subduction zone involving a narrow, thinned continental crust/oceanic lithosphere seaway between two continental domains of the Adria microplate (i.e., the Sesia Zone and the Ivrea-Verbano Zone). As opposed to many suture zones, the CISZ mostly escaped pervasive tectonic deformation and metamorphism, thus preserving the original stratigraphy and allowing the relationships between tectonics and sedimentation to be defined. Through detailed geological mapping (1:5000 scale), structural analysis, stratigraphic and petrographic observations, we document evidences for the late Paleozoic to late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the CISZ, showing that it played a significant role in the context of the tectonic evolution of the Inner Western Alps region from the early to late Permian Pangea segmentation, to the Jurassic Tethyan rifting, and up to the subduction and collisional stages, forming the Western Alps. The site of localization/formation of the CISZ was not accidental but associated with the re-use of structures inherited from regional-scale wrench tectonics related to the segmentation of Pangea, and from the subsequent extensional tectonics related to the Mesozoic rifting, as documented by crosscutting relationships between stratigraphic unconformities and tectonic features. Our findings document that evidences derived from stratigraphy, facies indicators, and relationships between tectonics and sedimentation in the shallow crustal portions of suture zones, such in the CISZ, are important to better constrain the tectonic history of those metamorphic orogenic belts around the world in which evolutionary details are commonly complicated by high-strain deformation and metamorphic transformations.     

Neoproterozoic Deformation at a Boundary Zone Between the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt and Pakhal Basin, SE India: Strain Analysis of Deformed Pebbles

In the Kinnerasani area in southeastern India, the terrain boundary between the Archean Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt and the Proterozoic Pakhal Supergroup overlying the Dharwar-Bastar cratons can be observed. We analyzed the mesoscopic and microscopic structural features of the highly deformed pebbles in the basal conglomerate bed of the Pakhal Supergroup that occurs at the terrain boundary. The results of the analysis of the pebbles suggest that: 1) deformation of pebbles resulted from ductile deformation during peak metamorphism 2) the mode of strain is plane strain to constrictive and maximum elongation located to be vertical and 3) the apparent stretch of the pebbles is up to 300%.In the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt, quartz grains constituting the quartz layer of the feldspathized gneiss folded by the last-phase deformation also show vertical maximum stretching in constrictive strain. This observation suggests that the deformational features, at least the mode of strain, during the last-phase deformation is comparable to the deformation forming elongated pebbles of the Pakhal conglomerate. The last-phase deformation structures of the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt are well observed near the terrain boundary. This indicates that the Pakhal deformation overprinted the rocks of the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt near the boundary, and that their tectonic juxtaposition occurred during or before this deformation period. Because the Pakhal deformation took place during or soon after the peak metamorphism of the Pakhal Supergroup, which is known to be 1000 Ma, and the last metamorphism of the Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt in the Khammam area were reported to be 1100 Ma. The tectonic juxtaposition between the Pakhal Supergroup and Nellore-Khammam Schist Belt was around 10001100 Ma.     

Petrographical, geochemical and geochronological constraints on igneous clasts and sediments hosted in the Oligo-Miocene Bakony Molasse, Hungary: evidence for a Paleo-Drava River system

The provenance of igneous clasts and arenitic sediment enclosed within the Bakony Molasse was studied using geochemical and geochronological methods. The majority of igneous clasts were eroded from the Oligocene Periadriatic magmatic belt. A part of the andesite material has Eocene formation age. Rhyolitic pebbles originated from Permian sequences of the Greywacke zone or the Gurktal Alps. Apatite fission track (FT) ages from the sandstone matrix (age clusters at ~75 and ~30 Ma) are typical for the Austroalpine nappe pile and for the cooling ages of Periadriatic magmatic belt. Variscan detrital zircon FT ages indicate source areas that had not suffered Alpine metamorphism, such as the Bakony Mountains, Drauzug and the Southern Alps. Another group of detrital zircon grains of Late Triassic-Jurassic FT age (mean: ~183 Ma) marks source zones with Mesozoic thermal overprint such as the Gurktal Alps and some Austroalpine regions. Zircon grains with Oligocene FT age (mean: ~34.7 Ma) were derived from the Periadriatic intrusives and their contact zones. On the basis of the new data, we propose that the ancestor of the recent Drava River had already existed in Oligo-Miocene time and distributed eroded material of the southern Eastern Alps to the east.     

Late Miocene increasing exhumation rates in the eastern part of the Alps – implications from low temperature thermochronology

A new set of apatite fission‐track and apatite (U–Th)/He data reveals a hitherto undated late Miocene exhumation pulse in the eastern part of the Eastern Alps. While distinct parts of the study area, including the Seckauer Tauern, have been at near surface conditions (<100 °C) since the Eocene, the neighbouring Niedere Tauern experienced enhanced cooling and exhumation in the middle Miocene and again at the late Miocene/Pliocene boundary. Middle Miocene exhumation is interpreted as a result of tectonic escape and convergence that operated simultaneously during lateral extrusion of the Eastern Alps. As the higher late Miocene/Pliocene exhumation rates are restricted to a single tectonic block, namely the Niedere Tauern, we infer a tectonic trigger that is probably related to a change in the external stress field that affected the Alps during this time.     

Quantifying tectonic versus erosive denudation by the sediment budget: the Miocene core complexes of the Alps

The denudation budget of the Alps is quantified for the main period of lateral extrusion between 22 and 12 Ma. The relative importance of tectonic denudation increases from W to E from ∼70% in the Lepontine window in the Swiss Alps to ∼80% in the Tauern window and to more than 95% in the Rechnitz window. The driving mechanism of tectonic denudation was eastward extrusion due to an unconstrained orogenic margin in the Pannonian basin. Tectonic denudation in the Alps was responsible for about 30% of the total exhumation between 22 and 12 Ma.     

Dating emplacement and evolution of the orogenic magmatism in the internal Western Alps: 1. The Miagliano Pluton

The Canavese Line in the Western Alps represents the position in the Alpine chain, where alkaline and calc-alkaline magmatism occur in close spatial and temporal association. In addition to available data on the alkaline Valle del Cervo Pluton, we present petrological and geochemical data on the Miagliano tonalite. The latter is of special interest, because it is located in the south-eastern side of the Canavese Line, in contrast to most Periadriatic Plutons. The dioritic to tonalitic rocks of the Miagliano Pluton represent an intermediate stage of a calc-alkaline differentiation, demonstrated by relics of two different pyroxenes as well as the texture of allanite. Hornblende barometry indicates pressures of ~0.46?GPa consistent with the presence of magmatic epidote. Field relationships between the two Plutons, the volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Biella Volcanic Suite and numerous dykes cross-cutting the different units, allow reconstruction of a more refined chronology of the calc-alkaline and alkaline magmatic series. High precision zircon geochronology yields an age of 33.00?±?0.04?Ma for the central tonalitic part of the Miagliano Pluton and 30.39?±?0.50?Ma for the granitic core of the Valle del Cervo Pluton. The difference in age combined with cooling data and intrusion depth indicates dissimilar tectonic transport east and west of the Canavese Line. The earlier emplaced Miagliano Pluton has to be exhumed from an intrusion depth of ~12?C15?km, whereas the neighbouring and younger Valle del Cervo Pluton is exhumed from a depth of 5?C7?km. This tectonic scenario is related to upper crustal rigid block rotation responsible for the burial of the lowermost Rupelian paleosurface of the Sesia?CLanzo Zone. Thus, the new ages constrain the paroxysm of the orogenic magmatism in the internal Western Alps to an extremely short lapse of time in the first half of the Rupelian.     

Multi‐phase late‐Neogene exhumation history of the Aar massif,Swiss central Alps

The late‐Neogene evolution of the European Alps was influenced by both tectonic and climatically driven erosion processes, which are difficult to disentangle. We use low‐temperature thermochronometry data from surface and borehole samples in the Aar massif–Rhône valley (Swiss central Alps) to constrain the exhumation history of the region. Multiple exhumation events are distinguished and linked to regional‐scale tectonic deformation (before 5 Ma), short‐lived climatically driven orogen contraction (between 4 and 3 Ma), and glacial valley carving since c. 1 Ma. Compared with previous studies, we clearly show the existence of two separate exhumation phases in the Late Miocene–Pliocene and better constrain the onset of glacial valley carving. The hydrothermal activity and geothermal anomalies currently observed in the borehole have been local and short‐lived, with only a minor influence on thermochronometric observations. We thus suggest that late‐stage glacial valley carving may have triggered topography‐driven fluid flow and transient hydrothermal circulation.     

Eaux fortement minéralisées et circulations profondes dans le socle. Exemple des Alpes franco-italiennes

The presence in the French–Italian Alps of several springs characterized by a high sodium–chloride content, depleted in oxygen-18, tritium free and with low carbon-14 activity, is well known. The geological, hydrological, and geochemical studies in progress for the new high-speed railway tunnel crossing the French–Italian Alps, show, in the drilled boreholes at a mean elevation of 700 masl, the presence of brines. Brines appear to be the basis of the geological, structural, and hydrodynamic systems, and fill the largest faults and the main tectonic contacts. The brines squeezed by tectonic activity, are mobilised at depth by freshwaters from the surface. To cite this article: G.-M. Zuppi et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Petrographic, geochemical and geochronological investigation on granitic pebbles from Permotriassic metasediments of the Tisia terrain (eastern Papuk, Croatia)

Granitic pebbles occurring in the Permotriassic metasedimentary sequence of eastern Papuk, Slavonian Mountains, Croatia, were recognized to represent a coherent group of felsic, muscovite-albite metagranites. Fabrics, modal compositions and geochemical data imply that the rocks are derivatives of S-type granites formed through a combination of igneous and subsequent metasomatic processes. A Variscan formation age is demonstrated by K-Ar dating on coarse muscovite (range of 329?C317?Ma) as well as by electron microprobe based Th-U-Pb monazite dating (338?±?15?Ma). Additionally to the Variscan metasomatic processes of albitization and greisenisation, which led to an almost complete replacement of K-feldspar and biotite by albite and coarse muscovite, pebbles were affected by a younger phase of alteration resulting in the formation of a fine-grained sericitic matrix. The fine sericite yields K-Ar ages of 91?C83?Ma. A substantial reheating of the rocks during the Cretaceous is also indicated by the growth of new monazite dated at 106?±?10?Ma. Yttrium-contents of the Cretaceous monazite from the granite pebbles (0.3?C0.9?wt% Y₂O₃) are compatible with metamorphic temperatures of ~350?C400°C. These data confirm recent concepts according to which large parts of the Slavonian Mountains received a pervasive Cretaceous low-T regional metamorphic overprint. Furthermore, the pebbles provide useful information on the nature of the eroded Variscan crust of the Tisia Terrain, which has obviously contained considerable amounts of evolved high-level S-type granites modified through albitization and greisenization.     

Middle Eocene to Early Miocene sedimentary evolution of the western Lombardian segment of the South Alpine foredeep (Italy)

The main steps of the sedimentary evolution of the west Lombardian South Alpine foredeep between the Eocene and the Early Miocene are described. The oldest is a Bartonian carbonate decrease in hemipelagic sediments linked with an increase in terrigenous input, possibly related to a rainfall increase in the Alps. Between the Middle Eocene and the early Chattian, a volcanoclastic input is associated with an extensional tectonic regime, coeval with magma emplacement in the southern-central Alps, and with volcanogenic deposits of the European foredeep and Apennines, suggesting a regional extensional tectonic phase leading to the ascent of magma. During Late Eocene to Early Oligocene, two periods of coarse clastic sedimentation occurred, probably controlled by eustasy. The first, during Late Eocene, fed by a local South Alpine source, the second, earliest Oligocene in age, supplied by the Central Alps. In the Chattian, a strong increase in coarse supply records the massive erosion of Central Alps, coupled with a structures growth phase in the subsurface; it was followed by an Aquitanian rearrangement of the Alpine drainage systems suggested by both petrography of clastic sediments and retreat of depositional systems, while subsurface sheet-like geometry of Aquitanian turbidites marks a strong decrease in tectonic activity.     

Variscan geodynamic evolution of the Carnic Alps (Austria/Italy)

The South-Alpine Carnic Alps are part of the southern flank of the European Variscides and display a continuous sedimentary record from Late Ordovician to Devonian times followed by Carboniferous S-directed nappe stacking and Late Carboniferous to Early Permian post-collisional collapse. The tectonometamorphic and sedimentary evolution of the Carnic Alps resembles a continuous process where pre- and syn-orogenic volcanism, syn-orogenic flysch sedimentation, deformation including nappe stacking, metamorphism and tectonic collapse shift in age from internal zones in the N towards external zones in the S. New structural, petrological and sedimentological data are presented concerning the tectonometamorphic history of the Carnic Alps. We distinguish three thrust sheets or tectonic nappes differing in their stratigraphic, sedimentological, deformational and metamorphic histories which were thrust over each other in Carboniferous times. Our data lead to a new geodynamic model showing an evolution from rifting or back-arc spreading in the Late Ordovician to the establishment of a mature passive continental margin in the Late Devonian/Early Carboniferous, flysch sedimentation in an active continental margin setting during the Visean/Namurian and finally collision during the Late Carboniferous between the northern margin of Gondwana and a microcontinent to the N.     

The interpretation of cyclic successions of the Middle and Upper Triassic of the Northern and Southern Alps

Theories regarding the formation of sedimentary cycles in the 3rd, 4th and 5th order bands are reviewed with reference to the Middle and Upper Triassic of the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) and Southern Alps. Milankovitch, autocyclic and tectonic theories are discussed, together with an evaluation of concepts of chaotic sedimentation and a case example from the NCA. Concerning eustasy, 3rd, 4th and 5th order sea-level fluctuations were probably a low-amplitude, low-rate phenomenon caused by fluctuations in the volume of mountain glaciers and ocean water during the Triassic. The Mid and Late Triassic was a non-glacial interval in which polar regions may have been ice-free, so glacio-eustasy can not be expected. Eustatic sea-level variations in the 3rd, 4th and 5th order bands seem to have left no useful imprint on cyclic successions in the region; whatever record there may be is inextricably mixed with two other signals (tectonic activity and autocycles). The review shows how sedimentation in the Triassic of the area was strongly influenced by tectonic activity. This is as true for the Middle and Late Triassic of the NCA as it is for the Southern Alps. Tectonic activity may be responsible for large-scale cyclicity (4th to 3rd order scale). Although seismogenic structures have yet to be identified and described in carbonate successions of the Alps, candidates do exist. Slumped and microfaulted layers in laminated sediments of the Seefeld Basin (Upper Triassic, NCA) have been described as the products of fault movements. The sedimentary record from the NCA and Southern Alps also leaves little doubt that autocyclic processes were important in all environments except perhaps the deep, sediment-starved basins. Most small-scale platform cycles (5th order scale) in the region can be related to autocyclic processes and, in shallow basinal successions, to events such as storms. Previous workers have not been consistent in their interpretation of cyclic successions in the area, applying diverse theories to similar successions. So far, the Steinplatte-Hochkönig platform, with attached Kössen Basin, is the only example interpreted with reference to tectonics and autocyclicity; eustasy was probably not the most important factor in cycle generation in the Triassic of the NCA and Southern Alps. Such an approach could prove useful in future studies.     

Area balancing as a test of models for the deep structure of mountain belts,with specific reference to the Alps

Basic concepts of structural restoration are applied to crustal cross-sections through mountain belts to explore large-scale tectonic models and deep structure. However, restored sections should account for variations in pre-orogenic crustal thicknesses. Crustal balancing approaches are reviewed and applied to two Alpine sections, coinciding with deep seismic experiments: NRP-20 East (Central Alps) and ECORS-CROP (Western Alps). Existing studies assume large (>300 km) orogenic contraction and only moderately thinned pre-orogenic crust. The resulting restored sections contain more crust than is imaged beneath the present-day Alps, the missing crust generally assumed to be subducted. Two kinematic modifications reduce the requirement for subduction: thinning and buoyancy-driven return flow of ultra-high-pressure metamorphic rocks during orogenesis; and pre-orogenic hyperextension. Using large stretching factors for the pre-orogenic crust negates crustal subduction on both Alpine transects. If the lower crust was approximately rigid, restorations of the Central Alps require strongly depth-heterogeneous stretching of upper and lower crust during Mesozoic rifting. Relaxing this requirement allows uniform lithospheric stretching, a corollary consistent with published subsidence estimates. Restorations make implicit statements on the form of pre-orogenic basins and the structure of continental margins incorporated into mountain belts that can in turn provide tests of tectonic models.     

Diagenetic and very low-grade metamorphic characteristics of the Paleozoic series of the Istanbul Terrane (NW Turkey)

The Istanbul Terrane along the Black Sea coast in NW Anatolia, is a Gondwana-derived continental microplate, comprising a well-developed Paleozoic succession. Petrographic and X-ray diffraction studies were performed on rock samples from measured sections throughout Ordovician?CCarboniferous sedimentary units. Diagenetic-very low-grade metamorphic clastic (shale/mudstone, siltstone, sandstone) and calcareous rocks (limestone, dolomite) mainly contain phyllosilicates, quartz, feldspar, calcite, dolomite, hematite and goethite minerals. Phyllosilicates are primarily represented by illite, chlorite, mixed-layered chlorite?Cvermiculite (C?CV), chlorite?Csmectite (C?CS) and illite?Cchlorite (I?CC). Feldspar is commonly present in the Ordovician and Carboniferous units, whereas calcite and dolomite are abundant in the Silurian and Devonian sediments. The most important phyllosilicate assemblage is illite?+?chlorite?+?I?CC?+?C?CV?+?C?CS. Illite and chlorite-bearing mixed layer clays are found in all units. The amounts of illites increase in the upper parts of the Silurian series and the lower parts of the Devonian series, whereas chlorite and chlorite-bearing mixed-layers are dominant in the Ordovician and Carboniferous units. Kübler index values of illites reflect high-grade anchimetamorphism for the Early Ordovician rocks, low-grade metamorphism to high-grade diagenesis for the Middle Ordovician?CEarly Silurian rocks and high-grade diagenesis for the Late Silurian?CDevonian units. The K-white micas b cell dimensions indicate intermediate pressure conditions in the Early Ordovician?CEarly Silurian units, but lower pressure conditions in the Middle Silurian?CDevonian units. Illites are composed of 2M ₁?±?1M _d polytypes in all units, except for Upper Ordovician?CLower Silurian units which involve 1M polytype in addition to 2M ₁ and 1M _d polytypes. The 2M ₁/(2M ₁?+?1Md) ratios rise from Devonian to Ordovician together with the increasing diagenetic-metamorphic grade. Chlorites have IIb polytype. In general, crystal-chemical data of clay minerals in the Istanbul Terrane show a gradual increase in the diagenetic/metamorphic grade together with increasing depth. The new data presented in this work indicate that the diagenetic/metamorphic grade of the Paleozoic of the Istanbul Terrane is higher than that of the neighboring Zonguldak Terrane and generated by a single metamorphic phase developed at the end of Carboniferous. This finding contrasts with the metamorphic history of the neighboring Zonguldak Terrane that displays a distinct Early Devonian unconformity and a thermal event.