THE INFLUENCE OF VOLCANISM AND TECTONIC ON THE GEOMORPHOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF KARAKURT (KARS) REGION

Abstract

Metamorphics of Paleozoıc, ophiolitics of Upper Cretaceous and continental sediments and volcanics of Tertıary-Quaternary are out cropped in the investigated area. The most common rock unit is Upper Miocene Pliocene aged Karakurt volcanics which is of basaltic lawa and tuff. The most important geomorphological unit in the area is the cornice of Aras valley in E - W direction and high landforms around it. Aras river is developed its bed by cutting basaltic and tuffaceous volcanics placed horizontally. Structure plateau and conical shaped volcanic hills are located at N - NW of valley. Strike-slip faults in E - W direction (Horasan Fault Zone) control the forming of the Aras river. The volcanism which started at Late Miocene and finished at Quaternary is alcali and calcalkali in character. This volcanic activity has cansed some higt major lanforms like Süphandağ, Kesedağ and Aladağ. Volcanism also played major role to form recent land forms and river net