Depositional Sequences of the Late Pleistocene Shoreline System, Bor Basin, Southern-Central Anatolia: Implications for Reconstructing Lake Level Changes

Abstract

The Bor Basin is located in the east part of the Konya-Ereğli Plain occupied by Pleistocene lake (Fig. 1). Paleo-shoreline deposits rising western margins of the basin marked the former extent of a now desiccated Late Pleistocene Lake. This study evaluates the former lake level changes and the sequential evolution of a shoreline system that developed at the western margin with lacustrine fills of the Bor paleolake near Zengen settlement. The fills belongs to alluvial fans formed by streams coming from the high volcanic mountains located within the northern part of the basin. The sediment sequence of the fan reflects receded and extended levels of the former lake. 23 samples were obtained at the sand-quarry representing of various facies of the lacustrine fills. These samples were analyzed for mineralogical characterization, using XRD and their CaCO3 values were quantified. According to analysis, three evident different phases of weathering were distinguished in this deposit (Fig. 2). Weathering conditions occurred at the bottom of the profile (level 7) with the appearance of the vermiculite and illite/smectite mixed layer clays. Aridification phases occurred at the level of sample 16 with the appearance of the palygorskite. At the shallow levels from the samples 21 to 22, another aridification phase occurred attested by the appearance of the palygorskite, the mixed layers clays (illite/smectite) and the neoformation of the chlorite by weathering. The palygorskite occurrence showed only in the clay fraction (<2µm) associated with dolomite levels which support its secondary formation during dry periods and pedogenetic transformation. Pedogenesis conditions were attested also by the presence of the mixed layers clays at those levels