U-series dating and origin of Yaprakhisar (Guzelyurt-Aksaray) travertines in Central Anatolian Volcanic Province, Turkey

TEMİZ U., Kocak I., ÖKSÜZ N., Akbay S.

ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES, vol.11, no.22, 2018 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 11 Issue: 22
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s12517-018-4046-9
  • Journal Name: ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Keywords: Yaprakhisar (Guzelyurt-Aksaray), Fissure ridge travertine, U-series, Trace elements, Rare earth elements, RARE-EARTH-ELEMENTS, FISSURE-RIDGE TRAVERTINES, GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS, QUATERNARY TRAVERTINES, FLUID INCLUSIONS, TRACE-ELEMENT, FAULT ZONE, DEPOSITS, BASIN, CALCITE
  • Yozgat Bozok University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study reveals the age, setting, and geochemistry of fissure ridge travertines outcropping in Yaprakhisar (Guzelyurt-Aksaray) that is located in the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (CAVP) and investigates their relationship with main tectonic structures. Dating studies with the U-series analysis method identified that travertine formations were deposited from 3 to 147ka BP. The travertines in the study area were divided into two groups based on the age and extension direction. The first group consists of fissure ridge travertines with 70 degrees NE and deposited in the range of 126-147ka BP. The second group has 10 degrees NW strike and are fissure ridge travertines dated to 3-47ka BP. The association between the travertine groups and the significant fault zones in the region was investigated, and three different formation models are presented. The relationship between the fissure ridge travertines and faults deforming the CAVP was determined using paleo-discontinuities. The Yaprakhisar travertines were determined to have Ce and Eu anomalies, along with low Ba and relatively low Sr values. When the trace element and REE content of the Yaprakhisar travertines are considered together, the travertines are concluded to have been deposited under oxic conditions from limestone-evaporite-dolomite-sourced hypogene water with low acidity and relatively low temperature.