Central Anatolian Plateau, Turkey: incision and paleoaltimetry recorded from volcanic rocks

Authors: ERKAN AYDAR, HÜSEYİN EVREN ÇUBUKÇU, ERDAL ŞEN, LÜTFİYE AKIN

Abstract: The erosion/incision patterns of radiometrically well-constrained volcanic rocks provide excellent markers for revealing the landscape evolution. The Central Anatolian High Plateau represents an uplifted area that reaches up to 1500 m above sea level and includes the Cappadocian Volcanic Province (CVP). The CVP is composed of horizontally emplaced Neogene-Quaternary ignimbrites intercalated with lava flows and epiclastic continental sediments. River incision rates have been calculated using the morphological/paleoaltimetric features of radiometrically well-constrained volcanic units in the area. Starting from 10 Ma until 5 Ma, there was no major erosion or incision. The morphology, uplift rate, and incision rates of the CVP reveal that the onset of uplift is post 8 Ma and incision started after 5 Ma. Between 5 and 2.5 Ma, the incision rate is computed as 0.12 mm/year, whereas, in the last 2.5 Ma, the incision rate slowed down to 0.04 mm/year.

Keywords: Cappadocia, incision, uplift, paleoaltimetry, volcanics, erosion

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