Geology of Neogene basins of Buldan-Sarıcaova region and their importance in Western Anatolia neotectonics

The Büyük Menderes and Gediz (Ala?ehir) grabens are two significant segments of the Western Anatolian extensional province. They merge around Buldan-Sar?caova in the east. Outcropping Neogene sedimentary units in this area display a rather complex structure. This paper summarizes the importance and meaning of the data obtained during a detailed investigation of the Neogene units and aims to improve our understanding of the neotectonic evolution of Western Anatolia. The Buldan-Sar?caova Neogene sequence is composed of three different sedimentary units: (1) the Lower Unit, (2) the Middle Unit, and (3) the Upper Unit. The Lower Unit crops out on the Buldan horst which is located between the Büyük Menderes and Ala?ehir grabens. The sequence starts as a coarse conglomerate and sandstone (?salar Formation) and continues as lagoonal-lacustrine mudstone, interbedded with coal seams and shales (Bostanyeri Formation) and also with lacustrine limestones. The age of this succession is Lower-Middle Miocene. The development of the basin is structurally controlled by NNW-trending normal faults. The Middle Unit begins with a conglomerate–mudstone sequence (K?z?lburun Formation), followed by a sandstone–mudstone–marl sequence (Sarayköy Formation). A lacustrine limestone–marl unit occurs at the top (Aktepe Formation). Some thin gypsum lenses and layers are observed in the Sarayköy Formation. The unit contains some brackish-water fossils. The rocks of the Middle Unit crop out mostly at the low altitudes of the Buldan horst, i.e. the southeast piedmont, around the junction of the Büyük Menderes and the Gediz grabens. The Middle Unit was deposited in fluvial and lacustrine environments during the Late Miocene–Pliocene period. These rocks were formed in response to the uplift of the Buldan horst. The Upper Unit, which is composed of conglomerates, was deposited within the Büyük Menderes Graben–Gediz Graben depressions as alluvial fill.     

Geochemical and environmental investigation of the water resources of the Tanjero area,Kurdistan region,Iraq

The hydrogeochemistry of groundwater and environmental aspects of the Tanjero area (Sulaimani City, Kurdistan region, Iraq) were investigated statistically. Correlation analysis and cluster analysis revealed several indicators for the source of contaminations. The hydrochemical classification of the water samples determined Ca²⁺, Na⁺, and Mg²⁺ as dominant ions and K/Rb and Na/Cl ratios indicated water–rock interactions with several minerals (e.g., silicate and carbonate minerals). Sr, Ca, Mg, Rb, and K (1757, 117, 29.8, 7.23, and 10.1 μg/L, respectively) in the water samples correlate with each other and show higher concentrations in the wells around scrape and dump sites than the other wells. The water samples were classified according to a redox classification as well, and aerobic and intermediate anaerobic categories were recognized with regard to the reduction of dissolved oxygen and Mn (VI) ions with organic matter in the groundwater. Mn exceeds drinking water standards.     

Water absorption process effect on strength of Ayazini tuff,such as the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), flexural strength and freeze and thaw effect

Tuffs have been used as a construction material possibly since ancient times. In Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, there are numerous buildings constructed by tuff. Tuff has been a local construction material, during the Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Even though tuffs have relatively low durability and low strength values compared to marble, etc., they have survived with no major deterioration failures on many historical buildings. It has also been preferred because of its high porous texture, lightweight and easy shaping and process properties in the building sector. Naturally, it would be easily affected by water and humidity because of its porous structure. However, having this kind of structure leads to poor durability properties due to keeping water in it. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the tuff quarried from the region and possible water effect, which may lead to degradation of its strength and durability of the material, thereby shortening the life span of the building structure used. Samples, which were tested after exposing to water and the freeze and thaw effects, were measured at a certain time. In this study, uniaxial compressive strength and flexural strength tests were conducted on test samples. The test results indicate that water may deteriorate the tuff’s strength properties and durability of the materials in due time.     

Determination of deterioration of the main facade of the Ferit Paşa Cistern by non-destructive techniques (Konya,Turkey)

Building stones have long been one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. Building stones used in historical monuments are deteriorated partly or completely depending on the environmental and atmospheric effects. In recent years, non-destructive test methods have been used to assess deterioration of building stones used in historical monuments. Gödene stone is one of the building stones being widely used in the historical buildings in the Konya region, Central Anatolia. The most deterioration effects are observed in the Ferit Pa?a Cistern among the historical structures built with Gödene stone in the region. The aim of this study is to assess the deteriorating effects in the street façade of the Ferit Pa?a Cistern via non-destructive testing methods (Schmidt hardness rebound value, P-wave velocity, humidity measurement and thermal imaging) and create maps of deteriorated features. Turkey’s historic places are integrated to Turkish culture, efforts are made to conserve heritage through rehabilitation. Therefore, this study will help developers and federal managers during the project planning stage by providing technical data.     

Correlation of the Canol Formation source rock with oil from Norman Wells

The source of the oil at Norman Wells has long been assumed to have been the Canol Formation and/or the Bluefish Member of the Hare Indian Formation. These two units are stratigraphically above and below the Kee Scarp Formation reservoir unit respectively, and are both bituminous shales. A wide range of analytical techniques including Rock-Eval pyrolysis, solvent extraction and fractionation, capillary gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and white light and fluorescence microscopy has been used to characterize core samples of these two units and two samples of crude oil from the Norman Wells field.Most of the analytical techniques were insufficiently refined to either differentiate the extracts from each other or to make a definitive oil/source rock correlation. Collision activated decomposition coupled with multiple ion detection mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) did provide sufficient chemical compositional detail of the oils and the two potential sources to demonstrate that the Canol Formation has been the effective source of the Norman Wells oil whereas the Bluefish Member has not. Petrological analysis of the organic fractions also indicates that although the bulk organic composition of both units may be classified as Type II organic matter, significant differences exist between them. The Bluefish Member contains substantial amounts of megaspores, whereas the organic matter in the Canol Formation is largely phytoplankton debris.The level of thermal maturity of the core samples ranges from immature to moderately mature in the vicinity of the Norman Wells field to overmature for the samples obtained to the west and north of the field. The level of thermal maturity of the oil was observed to be somewhat higher than that of the samples of the source formation directly above the field. It was thus inferred that some lateral migration from more mature areas has occurred but the extent of this migration was not necessarily more than a few to tens of kilometers.     

Insights into biaxial extensional tectonics: an examplefrom the Sandıklı Graben,West Anatolia,Turkey

West Anatolia, together with the Aegean Sea and the easternmost part of Europe, is one of the best examples of continental extensional tectonics. It is a complex area bounded by the Aegean–Cyprus Arc to the south and the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) to the north. Within this complex and enigmatic framework, the Sandıklı Graben (10 km wide, 30 km long) has formed at the eastern continuation of the Western Anatolian extensional province at the north‐northwestward edge of the Isparta Angle. Recent studies have suggested that the horst–graben structures in West Anatolia formed in two distinct extensional phases. According to this model the first phase of extension commenced in the Early–Middle Miocene and the last, which is accepted as the onset of neotectonic regime, in Early Pliocene. However, it is controversial whether two‐phase extension was separated by a short period of erosion or compression during Late Miocene–Early Pliocene. Both field observations and kinematic analysis imply that the Sandıklı Graben has existed since the Late Pliocene, with biaxial extension on its margins which does not necessarily indicate rotation of regional stress distribution in time. Although the graben formed later in the neotectonic period, the commencement of extension in the area could be Early Pliocene (c. 5 Ma) following a severe but short time of erosion at the end of Late Miocene. The onset of the extensional regime might be due to the initiation of westward motion of Anatolian Platelet along the NAFZ that could be triggered by the higher rate of subduction at the east Aegean–Cyprus Arc in the south of the Aegean Sea. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.