Search

The sedimentary dynamic of the Paleogene deep marine clastic system of the Halkapınar formation provides valuable information for understanding the complex geological history of the Ulukışla basin. This study aims to investigate the sedimentological characteristics of the Halkapınar formation and the paleoenvironmental framework in which the deposition occurred along with the related processes. Detailed sedimentological studies combining facies analysis with field observations indicated that the formation consists essentially of gravity flow deposits accumulated in a deep water setting spanning from the continental slope to the basin floor. The prime mechanisms accountable for sediment accumulation encompass slide, rock fall, debris flow, high-density turbidity current, low-density turbidity current, and suspension fallout. The sedimentary succession is composed predominantly of carbonate-rich turbiditic sandstone with mudstone intercalations, siltstone, and subordinate conglomerate containing clasts most likely derived from the adjacent Bolkar platform and to a lesser extent from the Alihoca Ophiolitic Mélange. The fragmentation of these source areas is mainly attributed to tectonic activity and erosion. Additionally, the occurrence of volcaniclastic sandstones in some localities documents the existence of a volcanic source that provided detritus to the basin. Facies distribution along with depositional architecture of the formation strongly suggest a sedimentation associated with the slope apron system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rudarsko-Geolosko-Naftni Zbornik is the property of Faculty of Mining, Geology & Petroleum Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The character of the boundary between the tectonic units in the Central Taurides and the Ulukışla Basin is controversial. The contact has been accepted as discordant or tectonic contact by different researchers. The deformation data of the units in the study area provide important information about the Mesozoic - Cenozoic period geological developments of the region. Regional compression in NW - SE direction has caused the development of fold, foliation and reverse fault type structures in the units in the study area. Similar structural deformations are observed in the rock units defined in the Ulukışla Basin as well. In this study, structural data were collected from the field in order to determine the deformation pattern and contact relations of the units in the region. Field data and structural analysis reveal that the contact between the Ulukışla Basin deposits and the Bolkardağı Unit in the study area is of 70° - 80° southeast dipping reverse fault character. These structural data in the region were interpreted as the product of a movement from southeast to northwest.

The character of the boundary between the tectonic units in the Central Taurides and the Ulukışla Basin is controversial. The contact has been accepted as discordant or tectonic contact by different researchers. The deformation data of the units in the study area provide important information about the Mesozoic - Cenozoic period geological developments of the region. Regional compression in NW - SE direction has caused the development of fold, foliation and reverse fault type structures in the units in the study area. Similar structural deformations are observed in the rock units defned in the Ulukışla Basin as well. In this study, structural data were collected from the feld in order to determine the deformation pattern and contact relations of the units in the region. Field data and structural analysis reveal that the contact between the Ulukışla Basin deposits and the Bolkardağı Unit in the study area is of 70° - 80° southeast dipping reverse fault character. These structural data in the region were interpreted as the product of a movement from southeast to northwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of selected elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Mo, As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, Sb, and Zn) and Pb isotope ratios were determined in 53 sediments from Alihoca, Gümüş, Horoz, and Çakıt streams around the south-central Taurides (Ulukışla Basin), Niğde, which is a known mining province in Turkey. Several pollution and risk assessment indices were used to assess possible heavy metal pollution in the stream sediments and the associated potential ecological risks. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, Sb, and Zn were elevated in the streams located near ancient mines, active mines, and slag piles in the area, suggesting an influence from mining activities. The pollution assessment indices indicated that the sediments were significantly polluted by As, Cd, Sb, Zn, and Pb and moderately polluted by Cu, Ni, Cr, and Co. The sediments show very high potential ecological risk with As, Cd, Sb, and Pb as the principal contributors. Ni, Cr, As, Pb, Zn, and Cd exceeded the probable effect concentrations in most of the samples implying that their concentrations may frequently affect sediment-dwelling organisms. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate that the accumulation of heavy metals in the stream sediments is due to an interplay of anthropogenic activities (mining and agrochemical application) and geogenic processes (weathering of bedrocks and supergene alteration of base metal-rich mineralization). Pb isotopic tracing indicates that total Pb in the sediments (206Pb/207Pb = 1.09-1.29) is primarily from weathering and dissolution of ultrapotassic rocks (206Pb/207Pb up to 1.20) and galena (206Pb/207Pb up to 1.21) from the Pb-Zn-Au deposits in the area with some anthropogenic input from mine slag piles (206Pb/207Pb = 1.10). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The İvriz detachment fault has been determined on the southern border of the Ulukışla basin separating the metamorphic Bolkar Group of the Taurus Mountains and the Paleocene-Lower Eocene Halkapınar formation of basin deposits. The fault dips towards the north and has kinematic indicators (asymmetric grain/grain aggregate porphyroclasts, oblique foliation, and S-C fabrics), suggesting a top-to-the-N-NE sense of shearing. The clastic material originating from the Bolkar Group in the sedimentary units of the Ulukışla basin demonstrates that the detachment fault could have been be active during Latest Cretaceous-Eocene times. The İvriz detachment may have initiated as part of a high-angle breakaway fault (the Aydos main breakaway fault) in the south of the Ulukışla basin. The breakaway fault then rotated to a low-angle normal fault and its northern continuation played an important role in the exhumation of the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex. This implies that the Upper Cretaceous-Eocene sedimentary basins in central Anatolia were supradetachment basins rather than collision- or arc-related basins as previously suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines evaporated deposits of gypsum known as the Ulukışla Evaporites located in the Ulukışla Basin, central Anatolia, Turkey. The Late Eocene compression between the Eurasian and Afro-Arabian plates formed numerous shallow epicontinental basins in SE central Anatolia. During this period, the Ulukışla Basin was a shallow marine environment. The composition of the Ulukışla Basin indicates that gypsum and stromatolite were deposited due to an arid climate and sea level oscillation between 37.25 and 38.52 Ma. Oxygen, sulfur, and strontium isotopes and the geochemistry of the evaporated rocks were measured to understand the paleoenvironment of this formation. Trace element analyses of Fe, K, Mg, Na, Mn, Sr, Ni, and Cu from the gypsum samples showed very high variability. The average K/Na, Sr/Ca, and Mg/Na were measured to be 0.4, 2.35, and 2.9 %, respectively, which indicates that the Ulukışla gypsum lies in a formerly hypersaline environment. Sr/Sr, O, and S isotope ratios indicate that the gypsum was deposited in marine water then mixed with fresh continental water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper Cretaceous-Eocene Çamardl Formation is exposed along the northern edge of the Ulukışla Basin (central Anatolia) and consists of turbiditic sediments. The sediment geochemistry has been studied in order to understand the provenance, source area weathering, and tectonic setting of the basin. Çamardl Formation sediments are characterized by low to moderate SiO contents, variable abundances of major elements, and a relatively high proportion of ferromagnesian elements. Evidence from discrimination diagrams of sedimentary provenance, tectonic setting, major element geochemistry and Sc/Th, Cr/Th, Co/Th, Zr/Sc, La/Sc, La/Co, Cr/Sc, Y/Ni, and K/Rb values show that the Çamardl Formation sediments were derived from mafic, felsic, and intermediate sources. The chemical index of alteration (CIA: 57.63-78.11) revealed moderately weathered source rocks. Then major and trace element concentrations indicated deposition in an active continental margin and continental island arc settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]