FLUVIO-LACUSTRINE AND PALEOSOL SUCCESSION OF THE LATE MIOCENE BAYRAMHACILI MEMBER, AYVALI VALLEY, CAPPADOCIA, CENTRAL ANATOLIA: PALEOCLIMATIC INTERPRETATION

The paleosols and fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary rocks of Bayramhacili Member were examined using polarized-light microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopy, and by chemical methods. Red colored paleosols formed within these terrestrial sedimentary rocks comprise predominantly of smectite illite with feldspar, quartz, opal-CT, amphibole. The sedimentary rocks such as limestone, marlstone and diatomite formed in lacustrine environment. The alteration of the ignimbrites caused the depletion of Si, and increase of Al+Fe+Mg, Ti, and K (and related Ba+Sr) favored precipitation of smectite illite in paleosols. The appearance of calcrete from the upper profile level is suggestive of a shift to more arid or more seasonal conditions that is equivalent with a prominent change in sediment provenance.