Karaburun (Istanbul) and Uluabat (Bursa) Beachrocks

Abstract

A lot of investigation has been done on beachrocks located along Turkey's coasts. In this investigation, Both Karaburun beachrocks laying on the coast of the Black Sea near Istanbul and Ulubat beachrocks laying along the coast of Uluabat Lake in Bursa have been documented using GPS for coordinate taking of the beachrock locations, clinimeter for the survey of the slope of beachrock layers, pH meter for survey of pH levels in water, acids (HCl and HNO3) for analysis of cement properties and Geographical Information System Technologies for maps. Both beachrock formations have been studied for the type of grain as petrographical aspects, grain size, cementation of beachrocks, geomorphological features and structure of its and mechanism of its development. Karaburun beachrocks have been completely constituted from shell fragments. It can be observed along the coast as 0-5 m high from actual sea level, in 25-45 cm layer thick and shell fragments have been surrounded by calcite as cement substance. Karaburun beachrock commonly appears as a layered deposit inclined to be located towards the Black Sea around 5-70. Constitution forms of beachrocks have been mostly devastated. Uluabat beachrocks have been constituted mixed and unconsolidated sands, gravels and blocks by CaCO3 as cement substance. Layer thicknesses are changing between 30-45 cm and inclined towards the Uluabat Lake around 2-50. Uluabat beachrock layers occur around 5-6 m from the lake level in August. It is fragile and easily erodeable also commonly destroyed. Karaburun and Uluabat beachrocks have different features in view of grain size and kind, structure, formation mechanism from not only each one but also other beachrock samples in Turkey. The high steep coast of Karaburun and its vicinity have showed traces of morphological uplift. One can accept that the beachrocks laying coastal low lands in the study area are morphological evidence of tectonic uplift. Uluabat beachrocks are accepted as geomorphological evidence of tectonic uplift. Tectonic uplift of northern Uluabat Lake has occured by means of tiltting. Thus, young and fragile beachrocks of Uluabat Lake have been moved to above the level of lake water. Uluabat beachrocks are less consolidated and less tough than Karaburun beachrocks Both beachrock samples couldn't be observed yet under the Scanning Electron Microscope and were examined using X-Ray Diffraction. All information is presented as initial results.