The sedimentological properties and priliminary results of palaeoenvironmental development of Middle-Late Pleistocene Gürlek-Kocabaş (Denizli) and Örtülü (Afyon) Travertines, SW-Turkey

Abstract

This study includes the prilimary results of the Gurlek-Kocabas (Denizli) and Ortulu (Afyon) travertines precipitated within the similar depositional systems and the comparative investigation of the sedimentary processes and depositional periods of these terrestrial carbonates. The investigated areas are located within the NW-SE trending Denizli Graben (Gurlek-Kocabas) and NE-SW trending Acigol Graben (Ortulu) that adjacent to each other which started to develop due to the extentional tectonic regime in the neotectonic period in SW-Turkey.

Gurlek-Kocabas travertines are deposited in shallow-pool like depression depositional system where the marshpool and flat-pool facies are observed. On the other hand Ortulu travertines have been determined in this study where could be precipitated in higher energy environment like slope depositional system and also in lower energy environment like shallow-pool depositional system. While the lateral expanded of the Gurlek-Kocabas travertines is hundreds of meters, the Ortulu travertines continued few hundred meters and then they changed to the fluvial tufas towards Acigol Graben. Palaeosol levels are significantly observed in two travertine deposits.

According to the first pollen data, the existence of pollens (Pinaceae, Cedrus, Artemisia, Quercus), which are generally belonging to herbaceous and gymnosperms plants, are important data of climatic fluctuation. The presence of the Artemisia form in the investigated samples suggests the cool and arid climatic conditions in the precipitation of these terrestrial carbonates. According to radiometric dating, two travertine deposits are precipitated in Middle-Late Pleistocene. In this study is also determined that Gurlek-Kocabas travertines continued to precipitate until 85 ka but Ortulu travertine accumulations ceased approximately 308ka ago.