AGE, TECTONIC SETTING AND QUALITY DISTRIBUTION OF THE NEOGENE LIGNITE DEPOSITS OF WESTERN ANATOLIA
Süleyman Demirel University, Dept. of Geology, 32260 Isparta, TURKEY. E-mail : yagmurlu@mmf.sdu.edu.tr
Dokuz Eylül University, Dept. of Geology, 35100 Bornova, İzmir, TURKEY. E-mail : hulya.inaner@deu.edu.tr
Dokuz Eylül University, Dept. of Geology, 35100 Bornova, İzmir, TURKEY. E-mail : eran.nakoman@deu.edu.tr
Dokuz Eylül University, Dept. of Geology, 35100 Bornova, İzmir, TURKEY.
Abstract
The lignite-bearing continental Neogene basins of Western Anatolia are divided into three groups accordingto their time of formation, tectonic setting, and sedimentary facies. These are, in ascending time/tectonic order, the NE, the NW and the E_W-trending basins. While the NE and the NW-trending Neogene basins of Western Anatolia are filled with respectively Middle to Upper Miocene sedimentary sequences, the E_W-trending basins are filled with Pliocene-Quaternary sediments only. The latter basins have parallel trends from west to east. Generally, the boundaries of the basins are controlled by growth faults which have influenced the thickness and spreading of the sedimentary sequence and lignite seams. These sedimentary sequences of the continental basins consists mainly of fan, fluvial, lacustrine, and volcanoclastic sediments. Most of the economic lignite deposits in the Neogene continental basins occur in the uppermost part of the fluvial sequences which are concordantly overlain by lacustrine sequences. Thee NE-trending Neogene lignite basins of western Anatolia have a relatively high calorific value compared to those of the NW-trending lignite basins. The E_W-trending Pliocene-Quaternary basins do generally not contain economic lignite deposits. The total lignite reserve of western Anatolia amount to approximatively 3 billion tonnes.