Gürlevik Tufa Waterfall: Facies Characteristics, Depositional Systems and Geoheritage Potential (Erzincan, East Anatolia)

Öz

Gürlevik tufa, located in the southeast of the Erzincan (East Anatolia) pull-apart basin, represents a typical cascade/waterfall deposit developed in a fluvial environment. Calcareous tufa formed at three different levels. However, the facies properties and depositional system of the Gürlevik tufa formation remain unknown. This study aims to investigate the evolution of the tufa deposits and to clarify their facies changes in this tectonically active basin. For this purpose, seven measured sedimentary logs were obtained from field studies, and the lithofacies were described and interpreted based on their morphological properties, microscopic and biological contents. According to facies analysis, six lithofacies were identified and two depositional systems (perched springline/cascade and barrage-dammed) were determined. The monumental cascade/waterfall tufa accumulation is a consequence active tectonic and climatic factors in the region. Gürlevik tufa deposits are located in a protected natural site. This preliminary study draws attention to the geological importance of these sedimentary rocks, which record climate changes with high precision, as well as their geological heritage potential, that should be preserved and transferred to future generations.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Depositional system
• East Anatolia
• Erzincan
• Gürlevik fluvial tufas
• lithofacies

Gürlevik Tufa Şelalesi: Fasiyes Özellikleri, Depolanma Sistemleri ve Jeomiras Potansiyeli (Erzincan, Doğu Anadolu) / Gürlevik Tufa Waterfall: Facies Characteristics, Depositional Systems and Geoheritage Potential (Erzincan, East Anatolia)

Öz

Erzincan (Doğu Anadolu) çek-ayır havzasının güneydoğusunda yer alan Gürlevik tufaları, akarsu ortamında gelişmiş karakteristik bir şelale tipi depolanma ürünüdür. Tufalar, üç farklı seviyede basamaklar şeklinde oluşmuştur. Ancak, Gürlevik tufa çökellerinin fasiyes özellikleri ve depolanma sistemi tam olarak bilinememektedir. Bu çalışma, tektonik olarak aktif olan bu havzada tufa formasyonun gelişimini araştırmayı ve fasiyes değişimlerini aydınlatmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaçla, arazi çalışmaları kapsamında yedi adet ölçülü stratigrafik kesit alınmış ve bu ölçülü stratigrafik kesitlerden litofasiyesler morfolojik özellikleri, mikroskobik ve biyolojik içerikleri temel alınarak tanımlanmış ve yorumlanmıştır. Fasiyes analizlerine göre, altı litofasiyes tanımlanmış ve iki çökelme sistemi (tünek tipi/şelale ve baraj-set) belirlenmiştir. Anıtsal bir görünüm sunan bu şelale tufa birikimi, bölgedeki aktif tektonizma (diri faylar) ve iklimsel faktörlerin bir sonucudur. Gürlevik tufaları, doğal sit alanı olup koruma altına alınmıştır. Gerçekleştirilen bu ön çalışma iklim değişikliklerini yüksek hassasiyette kayıt altına alan bu sedimanter kayaçların jeolojik öneminin yanı sıra korunarak gelecek kuşaklara aktarılması hususundaki jeolojik miras potansiyeline de dikkat çekmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Depolanma sistemi
• Doğu Anadolu
• Erzincan
• Gürlevik akarsu tufaları
• litofasiyes

Kaynakça

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