Sedimentological aspects of the Ya?lıpınar Formation, Northern Pınarbaşı (Kayseri)

Abstract

With this study, it is aimed to determine the depositional environment of the Paleocene Ya?li{dotless}pi{dotless}nar formation and paleogeographic and paleoclimatological condition during deposition by means of description and interpretation of facies identified from eighth sedimentological sections in the study area located five km to the North of Pinarbaşi{dotless} (Kayseri). The interplay between tectonic and sedimentology is also evaluated according to the facies relations. The Ya?li{dotless}pi{dotless}nar Formation has been divided in two members; the Alti{dotless}kesek member and the Karabo?az member. The Alti{dotless}kesek member is characterized by middle alluvial fan and distal fan facies associations. Middle fan facies association comprises matrix- supported conglomerate, clast-supported conglomerate, trough cross-bedded sandstone and horizontally stratified sandstone characterizing braided channel deposits. Distal alluvial fan facies association is represented by red mudstone with caliche levels, fine grained sandstone and red mudstone including lenticular limestone layers. The Karabo?az member is composed of mud plain deposits and lacustrine deposits. Massive mudstone with carbonate nodules is widespread in the study area and is interpreted as mud plain deposits. Lacustrine deposit is composed of massive limestone including mud cracks, micro- karst, fossil charophytes and stromatolites. Facies types and basin fill characteristics of Ya?li{dotless}pi{dotless}nar Formation shows that the sequence was deposited in a NESW oriented graben. The alluvial deposit was likely derived from limestones belonging to the Permian-Cretaceous basement. The dominance of red mudstone and caliche implies that there was a semi-arid climate during Paleocene in the area.