An Example of Geosite Evaluation of Fossils: Zonguldak Coal Basin (Turkey)

Abstract

Today thanks to having knowledge about the geology, it is necessary to protect the areas of geological heritage and geosite and inform the people about them. In this study, the Zonguldak hard coal basin and fossils and pollens of coal in the basin were aimed to be evaluated as a geosite. Fossils and pollens of coal as a geosite have been studied from geological point of view in detail and aimed to draw attention of the researchers and local authorities Zonguldak hard coal basin’s historical, cultural sides and also create awareness to the geosite and geosite areas and bring these basin as an alternative for geotourism. Hard coal which is the most important underground wealth in the Zonguldak basin, and coal fossils, Carboniferous, aged between 290 and 350 million years, are found in the basin. Zonguldak hard coal basin on the Black Sea coast is 160 km in length through the E-W line between Eregli and Inebolu and has 1,100,357,359 tons of geological coal reserves in total. Alacaagzi, Kozlu, and Karadon formations in the region contain Carboniferous aged coal fossils. The samples of coal fossils are gathered from the sample archive of Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises, Department of Plan-Project and Facility as well as the personal fossil collections. It is determined that fossils of the coal formations in Zonguldak basin are the elements of geological heritage and the region containing those coal formations with fossils is the geosite area. Therefore, the detected geosite area should be taken under protection not only to understand the coal formation in the region but also to be able to transfer this information to the next generations. To protect and to introduce the geosite to the next generations, coal fossils, which were formed millions of years ago and which are of great significance in terms of geological heritage, should be protected under appropriate conditions; a museum which contains a collection of coal fossils should be established in the region. The museum will be also important institution that will help to the presentation, discovery, and protection of these geosite fields. Creating a museum containing fossil collection, introduction, protection, and transmission of the geosite to the next generation is important for the development of geotourism and the sustainable regional development.