Eker, Ç.Saydam.; Kiliç, E. Demirkol

This study defines the source area, sub-aerial weathering, and sedimentary cycle level, as well as heavy metal content and origin, of the Çoruh River bed sediments. The studied sediments are geochemically classified as litharenite based on the ratio of the major element contents. Relative to the Upper Continental Crust (UCC), trace elements Rb, Sr, Ba, Th, U, Zr, Hf, Y, Nb, and Pb are generally depleted; Co, Ni, Cu, Sc, and V are generally enriched; and Au is depleted in some places and enriched in other places. The rare earth element (REE) distributions of the samples exhibit a trend similar to that of the upper continental crust (UCC); however, low to moderate depletion occurs in the bed sediments in UCC. The analyzed samples exhibit low Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values, Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA) values (<50), CIA/WIP (Weathering Index ratios <1), and substantially high Index of Compositional Variability values (ICV) (>1). Thus, the samples are not chemically mature and are mainly derived from non-altered sources and were exposed the simple cycling history. REEs are depleted in the river bed sediments, unlike the world river average silt, world river average clay, and suspended sediment in world rivers. Minor enrichment of Zn, Sn, and Sc contents, low-to-moderate enrichment of Cu content, very severe enrichment of as content, and extremely severe enrichment of Ni content of the analyzed samples are observed. Consequently, stream bed sediments are derived from intermediate sources close to mid-continental crust rather than felsic sources Low-to-moderate degrees of chemical weathering of these sediments indicate increased tectonic activity, increased erosion, and rapid sedimentation in semiarid to arid conditions in the source regions over time. Thus, the sediments are chemically immature. These sediments are exposed to lithogenic and anthropogenic contamination.

Sipahi, Ferkan; Sadıklar, M.Burhan

Dacitic rocks that crop out around the Zigana Mountain (Gümüşhane) in the eastern Pontide (NE Turkey), are mainly composed of quartz, plagioclase, sanidine, amphibole, muscovite, and biotite as the main minerals. Zircon and rutile are the accessory minerals. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, and covellite are the opaque components. On the basis of trace-element data, dacites have been classified as Dacite-I and Dacite-II. Dacite-I is tholeitic-transitional, whereas Dacite-II is transitional-calc-alkaline. The geochemical variation can be explained by the fractionation of the common mineral phases, such as plagioclase, hornblende, magnetite, and apatite. Dacites also show island-arc properties, with negative Nb, Sr, P, and Ti anomalies. The trace-element distrubitions of the dacitic rocks reflect the typical characteristics of rocks from the subduction-related tectonic setting, with enrichment of large-ion lithofile elements and light rare-earth element, but depletion in high-field-strength elements. The dacitic rocks are developed through plagioclase ± hornblende-controlled fractionation from the same parental magma that settled in two successive stages and are derived from an enriched source, probably by the mixing of slab-derived and lithospheric melts.

Eker, Cigdem Saydam

Subaerial weathering level, source area and tectonic environments were interpreted by using petrographic and geochemical characteristics of Eocene age sandstones found in the eastern Pontides. The thickness of Eocene age clastic rocks in the eastern Pontides ranges from 195 to 400 m. Mineralogical components of sandstones were mainly quartz, feldspar, rock fragments, and opaque and accessory minerals. Depending on their matrix and mineralogical content, Eocene age sandstones are identified as arkosic arenite-lithic arenite and feldspathic wacke-lithic wacke. CIA (Chemical Index of Alteration) values observed in the Eocene age sandstones (43-55) suggest that the source terrain of the sandstones was not affected by intense chemical weathering. Low CIW/CIA (Chemical Index of Weathering/Chemical Index of Alteration) values of the sandstones studied here suggest only slightly decomposed material and having undergone little transport until final deposition. Zr/Hf, Th/Sc, La/Sc and CIA ratios are low and demonstrate a mafic source; on the other hand, high LREE/HREE ratios and a slightly negative Eu anomaly indicate a subordinate fclsic source. Modal mineralogical and SiO 2/Al 2O 3 and K 2O/Na 2O and Th, Zr, Co, Sc of Eocene age sandstone contents indicate that they are probably magmatic arc originated and deposited in the back arc basin.