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

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 147 ka 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° NE and deposited in the range of 126–147 ka BP. The second group has 10° NW strike and are fissure ridge travertines dated to 3–47 ka 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.