Water balance and water quality in the Çürüksu basin, western Turkey

The purpose of this study is to determine the hydrological properties, groundwater potential, and water quality of the Çürüksu basin, western Turkey, and to contribute to the efforts of providing an adequate water supply for the city of Denizli. To achieve these objectives, the study consisted of mapping the geology and hydrogeology, determining the water balance, and defining the water quality. The basement rock units in the study area include several impervious metamorphic rock types and Mesozoic karstic limestone, which are overlain by Oligocene fluvial and lacustrine strata, Pliocene travertine and limestone, and Quaternary alluvium. The karstic limestone and the travertine and limestone strata constitute potential aquifers in the Çürüksu basin. The discharge regimes of the 22 springs in the two basins show little change through the year. The flow systems of the springs also have a large storage capacity and drainage occurs very slowly. The discharge of the springs does not appear to be affected immediately by monthly variations in precipitation. According to the water balance, the precipitation in the Çürüksu basin cannot provide all of the measured surface runoff. Excess runoff is 2?m3?s–1 in the Çürüksu basin, and in the adjacent Gökp?nar basin the deficit in surface runoff is also 2?m3?s–1. Thus, the underground catchment area of the springs extends beyond the surface drainage area of the Çürüksu basin. Although the P?narba??, Kazanp?nar, and Böceli springs emerge from the karstic limestone aquifer in the Çürüksu basin, these springs are fed from the adjacent Gökp?nar basin. The spring waters emerging from karstic limestone are fresh, of the calcium bicarbonate type, soft, and potable. The spring waters emerging from the travertine and limestone aquifer are low-temperature, brackish, of the calcium sulfate type, very hard, and not potable but useful for the irrigation. The occurrences of coal strata and hydrothermal activity have caused some deterioration of groundwater quality.     

Pyritized mudstone and associated facies in the Permian–Triassic boundary of the Çürük Dağ section,Southern Turkey

This paper is the first study of pyritized mudstones (PM) in the Permian–Triassic (P–T) boundary section of the Çürük Da? (Taurus, Antalya Nappes, Turkey). The mudstones were generally formed as lensoidal-shaped layers or infill materials within nodular platform limestones (hardground). Normal marine fauna is diminished in the pyritized limestones, whereas tube-like microorganisms are apparently increased with the association of pyrite crystals consisting of both framboidal and cubic crystals. The total rock volumes are up to 50–60% clay minerals and are mainly made up of in situ kaolinite and subordinate mixed layer clays (illite–vermiculite). Kaolinite preferentially developed on feldspar crystals, sometimes covering ostracoda bivalves together with gypsum micronodules composed of fan-shaped gypsum crystals. The origin of the kaolinite is, in situ, directly related to feldspar dissolution via heterotrophic bacteria. Thus, kaolinite is found along with bacterial structures. Other mineralogical compositions include established quartz (mostly β-quartz), gypsum crystals (100–200 μm) glauconite and magnetite. Magnetite grains comprise a minor amount (1–2%) and show some bacterial-induced crystal orientations. Glauconite is formed as an accessory mineral that occurs as infill material in biogenic grains. On the other hand, some microspheres represented by a silica-dominated composition are only observed in scanning electron microscopes (SEM) studies under high magnification. Isotope values (d34S) obtained from the pyritized mudstones show an isotopic heterogeneity that suggests that the pyritized mudstone consists of at least two components, with different sulphur-concentrations and d34S values.     

Syn-tectonic sedimentary evolution of the Miocene Çatallar Basin,southwestern Turkey

The Çatallar Basin is one of the Miocene basins located in the southern part of the Bey Da?lar? Massif (SW Turkey). This basin has been reinvestigated and new stratigraphic and sedimentological data are now presented. The Çatallar Basin lies in paraconformity on the Bey Da?lar? carbonate platform of Late Cretaceous to Palaeogene age. It consists of an impersistent, shallow-marine carbonate base (Karabay?r formation, Late Oligocene to Early Burdigalian) followed by an onlapping detrital sequence including the Akçay and Ba?beleni formations (Langhian to Serravallian). The Akçay formation mainly contains turbidites in which several debris-flows and olistostromes are intercalated. The lowest debris flows derive from the local carbonate platforms of Cretaceous and Palaeogene age. Higher, the debris flows and olistostromes contain large carbonate blocks deriving from nearby sources (Bey Da?lar? platform carbonates), whereas the accompanying pebbles originate from the allochthonous ophiolitic units located farther to the north (Lycian Nappes) or to the east (Antalya Nappes). The origin of these ophiolitic detritus is a matter of debate. The new data obtained in this study favour a northern origin.     

Sedimentological and Petrographical Aspects of Upper Miocene Evaporites in the Beypazari and Çankiri-Çorum Basins,Central Anatolia,Turkey

The Southeast Anatolian orogen is a part of the eastern Mediterranean-Himalayan orogenic belt. Development of the Southeast Anatolian orogen began with the first ophiolite obduction onto the Arabian platform during the Late Cretaceous, and it continued until the Miocene. Its lingering effects continue to be discernible at present. During the Late Cretaceous-Miocene interval, three major deformational phases occurred, related to Late Cretaceous, Eocene, and Miocene nappe emplacements. The Miocene nappes are composed of ophiolites and metamorphic massifs.

For a decade, field studies in the region have shown that strike-slip tectonics played a role complementary to the major horizontal effects of the nappe movement, as indicated by: (1) fault systems active during the Eocene; (2) different Eocene rock units composed of coeval continental and deep-sea deposits and presently tectonically juxtaposed; and (3) other stratigraphic and structural data obtained across the present strike-slip fault zones.

These strike-slip faults possibly resulted from oblique subduction of the mid-oceanic ridge underneath the northerly situated Yuksekova ensimatic island-arc complex, causing a gradual cessation of the island-arc system. The subduction also led to the development of a back-arc pull-apart basin, i.e., the Maden basin, which opened on the upper plate. The geologic history in Southeast Anatolia resembles the development of the San Andreas fault system and subsequent tectonic evolution.     

Relative tectonic activity assessment of the Çameli Basin,Western Anatolia,using geomorphic indices

Western Anatolia is one of the world’s most seismically active regions. A nearly N–S-oriented extension caused the formation of E–W- and NE–SW-trending major grabens, creating the potential for earthquakes with magnitudes ≥ 5. The fault segments of the NE-trending Çameli Basin were evaluated using geomorphic indices, common tools for assessment of relative tectonic activity in such areas. Quantitative measurement of geomorphic indices including mountain-front sinuosity (Smf; 1.35–2.39), valley floor width-to-height ratios (Vf; 0.08?0.37), and hypsometric integral (HI; 0.31–1.05) suggest relatively higher tectonic activity along western and southern part of the basin. Hypsometric curves for all segments of the faults mostly exhibit concave or straight profiles, signifying existence of young mountain fronts in the Çameli Basin. These calculations indicate that the Çameli Basin is tectonically active and, southern/south-western areas of this depression have earthquake potential, consistent with epicentres of recent earthquakes, occurred along some fault segments. Possible reason of this activity seems to be related to the E–W-trending corridor lying between the Gulf of Gökova and south-eastern part of the Çameli Basin, represented by active normal faults. These findings should be valid beyond the Çameli Basin for similar situations along the Isparta Angle’s western margin.     

Composition and origin of the Çaldağ oxide nickel laterite,W. Turkey

The Çalda? nickel laterite deposit located in the Aegean region of W. Turkey contains a reserve of 33 million tons of Ni ore with an average grade of 1.14% Ni. The deposit is developed on an ophiolitic serpentinite body which was obducted onto Triassic dolomites in the Late Cretaceous. The deposit weathering profile is both laterally and vertically variable. A limonite zone, which is the main ore horizon, is located at the base of the profile. A hematite horizon is located above the limonite, which in the south of the deposit is capped by Eocene freshwater limestones and in the north by a siliceous horizon. The deposit is unusual in lacking a significant saprolite zone with little development of Ni-silicates. The boundary between the limonite zone and serpentinite below is sharp with a marked decrease in concentrations of MgO from 13 to 1 wt.% over a distance of 2 mm representing the ‘Mg discontinuity’. Ni concentrations within goethite, the main ore mineral, reach a maximum of ~3 wt.% near the base of the limonite zone. Silica concentrations are high throughout most of the laterite with up to 80 wt.% silica in the upper portion of some profiles. The combination of a serpentinite protolith and a high water table at Çalda?, in association with an aggressive weathering environment in a tropical climate, resulted in the formation of an oxide-dominated deposit. The precipitation of silica may coincide with a change in climate with silica precipitation linked to an increase in seasonality. Additional variations within profile morphology are attributed to transportation during and after laterite development as a result of faulting, pocket type laterite formation and slumping, each of which produces a contrasting set of textural and geochemical features.     

The Çubukludağ graben,south of İzmir: its tectonic significance in the Neogene geological evolution of the western Anatolia

Field studies on the Neogene successions in south of İzmir reveal that subsequent Neogene continental basins were developed in the region. Initially a vast lake basin was formed during the Early–Middle Miocene period. The lacustrine sediments underwent an approximately N–S shortening deformation to the end of Middle Miocene. A small portion of the basin fill was later trapped within the N–S-trending, fault-bounded graben basin, the Çubukludağ graben, opened during the Late Miocene. Oblique-slip normal faults with minor sinistral displacement are formed possibly under N–S extensional regime, and controlled the sediment deposition. Following this the region suffered a phase of denudation which produced a regionwide erosional surface suggesting that the extension interrupted to the end of Late Miocene–Early Pliocene period. After this event the E–W-trending major grabens and horsts of western Anatolia began to form. The graben bounding faults cut across the Upper Miocene–Pliocene lacustrine sediments and fragmented the erosional surface. The Çubukludağ graben began to work as a cross graben between the E–W grabens, since that period.     

The Çubukludağ graben,south of İzmir: its tectonic significance in the Neogene geological evolution of the western Anatolia

Abstract

Field studies on the Neogene successions in south of ?zmir reveal that subsequent Neogene continental basins were developed in the region. Initially a vast lake basin was formed during the early-Middle Miocene period. The lacustrine sediments underwent an approximately N-S shortening deformation to the end of Middle Miocene. A small portion of the basin fill was later trapped within the N-S-trending, fault-bounded graben basin, the Çubukluda? graben, opened during the Late Miocene. Oblique-slip normal faults with minor sinistral displacement are formed possibly under N–S extensional regime, and controlled the sediment deposition. Following this the region suffered a phase of denudation which produced a regionwide erosional surface suggesting that the extension interrupted to the end of Late Miocene–Early Pliocene period. After this event the E–W-trending major grabens and horsts of western Anatolia began to form. The graben bounding faults cut across the Upper Miocene–Pliocene lacustrine sediments and fragmented the erosional surface. The Çubukluda? graben began to work as a cross garden between the E–W grabens, since that period. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

Tertiary Volcanic and Tectonic Evolution of the Ayas-Güdül-Celtikci Region,Turkey

Volcanic activity in the Ayas-Güdül-Celtikci region began by Oligocene (?)-early Miocene time and persisted until the end of early Pliocene time. It commenced with andesitic breccias and lavas at the base of the series and evolved through the deposition of ignimbritic and laharic volcanic material toward intermediate levels of the succession. Caldera formation followed this period of volcanic activity. Ephemeral lakes covering the region caused the subaqueous extrusion of the latest lavas during this period of activity. Afterward, limnic and fluvial sedimentation Occurred in the region during a period of volcanic quiescence. This mid-late Miocene deposition was followed by new basaltic activity. The volcanism was controlled by conjugate fault sets, N45W and N15E, representing pure-shear stress in a N20W direction, from the late Oligocene to the end of the early Pliocene. Normal dip-slip faults having a N55E trend were created by local N25W tension, presumably because of the North Anatolian fault, after early Pliocene time.     

Plio-Quaternary evolution of the Küçük Menderes Graben Southwestern Anatolia,Turkey

The Küçük Menderes Graben (KMG) is part of the horst-graben system of southwestern Anatolia (Turkey), bounded by the Bozda? horst in the north and the Ayd?n horst in the south. The Plio-Quaternary evolution of the KMG has been evaluated using the nature of the Miocene-Quaternary fill sediments and palaeostress analysis of slip data measured in different parts of the graben.

The graben is composed of five subbasins—the Kiraz, Ödemi?, Bay?nd?r, Da?k?z?lca-Torbal? and Selçuk—that are connected to each other through narrow Quaternary troughs. The Da?k?z?lca, Kiraz and Selçuk basins bear Miocene and younger sequences whereas the other subbasins are largely filled by Quaternary sediments. The maximum thickness of the Quaternary fill reaches about 270 m in the Ödemi? and Bay?nd?r subbasins.

The calculated slip results indicate multidirectional extension, three successive deformational periods, and possible counterclockwise rotation in the KMG during the post-Miocene period. The first phase was a strike-slip regime under N-S compression, followed by a second phase of deformation which resulted in ENE-WSW extension with strike-slip components. The final phase of deformation was NE-SW extension which constituted the final evolution of the KMG.

The graben gained its present morphological configuration via the onset of E-W-trending, high-angle normal faulting imposed on the regionwide synformal structure during the Plio-Quaternary. The KMG evolved as a result of rifting during the Plio-Quaternary which followed Late Miocene unroofing of the Menderes Massif and the evolution of the Büyük Menderes and Gediz grabens.     

Mineral chemical investigation on sulfide mineralization of the Istala deposit,Gümüşhane,NE-Turkey

The mineralogy of the Istala deposit, Gümüşhane, northeastern Turkey, was studied in detail, and a geochemical investigation was carried out using electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA). Sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite are the major sulfide minerals found in the Istala deposit, with minor amounts of bornite, idaite, tetrahedrite–tennantite, anilite, yarrowite, mckinstryite, covellite and chalcocite. In addition to these, barite and a small quantity of quartz occur as gangue minerals. Based on the textural relations and mineral assemblages, five different stages of crystallization have been recognized. Mineral paragenesis of the first four stages has been found to be similar, whereas clear enrichment has been observed in the modal abundance of the copper sulfide mineral assemblage at the fifth-stage ore formation. Whole-rock geochemical analyses of the Istala ore show an enrichment of Ag content up to 3328 ppm. Optical observations and EPMA study indicated that abundant silver mineralization was found in the Istala ore, especially during the later-stage ore deposition. Repetition to the presence of native silver in the samples, a significant amount of silver was incorporated in bornite, idaite, tetrahedrite–tennantite, anilite, yarrowite, mckinstryite, covellite and chalcocite, whereas a trace amount of silver has been detected in sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The homogenization temperatures (T_h) of the primary fluid inclusions were measured between 98 and 284 °C, with frequency peaks around 140 °C, 190 °C and 240 °C. All data obtained support the theory that later stage copper-rich sulfides, formed under the low temperature conditions, are responsible for the large amounts of silver content in the Istala mine.     

Timing of low-temperature metamorphism and cooling of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations of the Bükkium,innermost Western Carpathians,Hungary

K-Ar ages of illite-muscovite and fission track ages of zircon and apatite were determined from various lithotypes of the Bükkium, which forms the innermost segment of the Western Carpathians. The stratigraphic ages of these Dinaric type formations cover a wide range from the Late Ordovician up to the Late Jurassic. The grade of the orogenic dynamo-thermal metamorphism varies from the late diagenetic zone through the anchizone up to the epizone (chlorite, maximally biotite isograd of the greenschist facies). The K-Ar system of the illite-muscovite in the < 2 m grain-size fraction approached equilibrium only in epizonal and high-temperature anchizonal conditions. The orogenic metamorphism culminated between the eo-Hellenic (160-120 Ma) phase connected to the beginning of the subduction in the Dinarides, and the Austrian (100-95 Ma) phase characterized by compressional crustal thickening. No isotope geochronological evidence was found for proving any Hercynian recrystallization. The stability field of fission tracks in zircon was approached using the thermal histories of the different tectonic units. A temperature less than 250°C and effective heating time of 20–30 Ma had only negligible effects on the tracks, whereas total annealing was reached between 250 and 300°C. Apatite fission track ages from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations show that the uplift of the Bükk Mountains occurred only in the Tertiary (not earlier than ca. 40 Ma ago). Thermal modeling based on apatite fission track length spectra and preserved Paleogene sediment thickness data proved that the Late Neogene burial of the recently exhumed plateau of the Bükk Mountains exceeded 1 km.     

Late Quaternary evolution of the Gediz and Büyük Menderes grabens,Western Anatolia,Turkey

The Gediz and the Büyük Menderes Graben basins, two of the most important structural elements of western Anatolia, markedly differ in their palaeogeographic evolution during the Holocene. On the basis of the study of the facies and the geomorphological characteristics of the youngest sedimentary fills it is suggested that the evolution of the Büyük Menderes basin has a simple progradational history while the Gediz River basin has shown a complex evolution mainly controlled by intense tectonic periods. Comparison between the palaeogeographic evolution of these basins points to the fact that tectonism has been more effective in the Gediz basin during the Holocene.     

Lithostratigraphy,facies, and deposition environment of the lower Jurassic Ammonitico Rosso type sediments (ARTS) in the Gümüşhane area,NE Turkey: Implications for the opening of the northern branch of the Neo-Tethys Ocean

Ammonitico Rosso type sediments (ARTS) form the bottom level of the ?enköy Formation in the Gümü?hane area. The formation accumulated in the rift-related basins triggered by extensional tectonic regimes in the Early Jurassic times. Six different sections were studied in this area in order to interpret the lithostratigraphy, facies, and deposition environments of the ARTS. Two basic lithofacies were distinguished, nodular-marly and nodular-calcareous. These facies provide useful information regarding depositional conditions in the area and environmental energy. These factors were mainly related to the relative sea-level that in turn was controlled by tectonic and eustasy conditions. In addition, seven different types of microfacies were recognized and described as a result of the detailed analysis of the sections. The results of the analysis show that these sediments in the Gümü?hane area were developed in transgressive phases/events. These sediments share characteristics with other peri-Mediterranean regions and sea-level curves, and show a similarity to the major transgressive pulse during the Pliensbachian stage. Deposition of ARTS was controlled by syn-depositional extensional movements, leading to their accumulation on top of tilted blocks, slopes and horsts in an open marine environment. The ARTS were developed during the rifting of the continental margins pointing up the phases of the Tethys opening. Neptunian dykes verifying this opening developed at different levels of the ARTS and were filled with overlying sediments. These results support the hypothesis that the ARTS were formed in tectonically active environments where extensional tectonic movements were continuously improved during the deposition of the ARTS.     

Usefulness of electrical and magnetic methods in finding buried structure of the Alabanda Ancient Cistern in Çine Town,Aydın City,Turkey

In this paper, the Electrical Resistivity Tomography and magnetic methods, including Tilt Angle and Euler Deconvolution, have been used in a comperative manner to determine the lineaments and depths of buried archeological structures. The zero contours of the tilt angle correspond to the boundaries of buried structures and the half distance between ±π/4 rad corresponds to the depth to the top of the structures. Also, in order to estimate the positions and depths of buried structures in the study area, the Euler Deconvolution method was applied to the total magnetic field data. All of the methods have a good correlation about determination of the horizontal locations and depths of the buried structures. The archeological excavations based on the geophysical investigations have demonstrated that the buried structure is an ancient cistern building because of the unearthed pools. Therefore, the interpretations of the geophysical methods and fiction of the paper were made according to the ancient cistern building. With this study, a buried ancient cistern structure was modeled and revealed by the geophysical methods for the first time. Additionally, using of these geophysical techniques in a comparative manner for the archaeogeophysical work will greatly contribute to future studies.     

Evolution of Çamlık fissure-ridge travertines in the Başkale basin (Van,Eastern Anatolia)

Fissure-ridge travertines (FRTs) are of great importance for the determination and comparison of tectonic deformation in a region. The coeval development of these travertines with active fault zones supplies significant information about regional dynamics in terms of deformation pattern and evolution. In this paper, the characteristics of FRTs of the Ba?kale basin (eastern Turkey) and responsible regional tectonism are discussed for the first time. The Ba?kale basin is located between the Ba?kale Fault Zone (BFZ) characterised by Çaml?k fault and I??kl?–Zirani? fault. It is located between dextral Yüksekova Fault Zone and southern end of dextral Guilato–Siahcheshmeh–Khoy Fault system (Iran). Various morphological features indicating recent activity are exposed along the BFZ, including offsetting rivers, fissure-ridge travertine and fault scarps. The Çaml?k fissure-ridge travertine composing of three different depositions is observed along the eastern edge of the BFZ with approximately parallel orientations. The Çaml?k fissure-ridge travertine has been formed and developed on fault zone related to strike-slip or oblique movements. We explain how kinematic changes of faults can influence the fissure-ridge development.     

Age and Chemistry of Miocene Volcanic. Rocks from the Kiraz Basin of the Küçük Menderes Graben: Its Significance for the Extensional Tectonics of Southwestern Anatolia,Turkey'

Neogene volcanic rocks and granitoid plutons are among the most important geological components of western Turkey. Although they are voluminous north of the Gediz Graben, they are very scarce to the south, where volcanic rocks occur as isolated small exposures in a small number of localities. The Kiraz Basin of the Küçük Menderes Graben is a key locality, in which Tertiary volcanic rocks crop out at three locations. These rocks have been chemically analysed and dated (³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar whole rock and biotite analyses) in order to understand their tectonic setting of emplacement and its relation to the wider structure of western Anatolia. Whole rock and biotite ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar ages vary between 13.9 ± 0.2 Ma and 14.6 ± 0.2 Ma.

The Kiraz volcanic rocks are calc-alkaline, with a compositional range from basaltic andesite to dacite. They are strongly enriched in the light ion lithophile elements (LILE) and have chemistries typical of lavas erupted in subduction-related settings. Their close association with rift-bounding faults suggests eruptions via conduits flanking grabens in an extensional environment. The difference in chemical composition and age between the Kiraz volcanic rocks and the slightly older calc-alkaline volcanic rocks north of the Gediz Graben is attributed to their relatively younger ages and greater proximity to the Aegean Arc. Their calc-alkaline chemistry reflects magma generation influenced by the slab descending beneath this arc and eruption/emplacement in an extensional setting.     

Structural damages of the May 19, 2011, Kütahya–Simav earthquake in Turkey

Reconnaissance observations are presented on the building damage caused by the May 19, 2011, Kütahya–Simav earthquake in Western Turkey as well as an overview of strong ground motion data recorded during the earthquake is given. According to Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey, the magnitude of the earthquake is 5.7 in local magnitude scale. Although the earthquake can be regarded as a moderate event when considering its magnitude and strong motion recordings, it caused excessive structural damage to buildings in Simav district and several villages in the near vicinity. During the field investigation, different types of structural damage were observed mainly in the reinforced concrete frame buildings with infill walls and masonry buildings with various types of construction materials. Observed damage resulted from several deficiencies in structural and non-structural components of the buildings. Poor construction materials and workmanship, non-conforming earthquake-resistant design and construction techniques and non-ductile detailing are the main reasons for such an extensive damage, as observed in many past earthquakes in Turkey.