Geological and Petrographical Investigations of the Gümeli Village (Alaplı-Zonguldak-Turkey)

Abstract

The study area covers around the Gümeli Village, located in the Zonguldak Basin which is the Turkey's most important coal basin, approximately 70 km west of the Zonguldak city centre and 20 km southeast of Alaplı District. In this study, it is aimed to investigate of the geological features of the region, stratigraphic sequence of rock units outcropping in the region, the lithological, mineralogical and petrographical properties of different units. Sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic units formed from Palaeozoic to today are exposed in the study area according to field and laboratory studies conducted in the region. The Lower OrdovicianLower Devonian aged Hamzafakılı Formation which forms the basement of the study area, consists of clayey-quartzite, microcon-glomerates, metasandstone, arkose and conglomerates. Devonian aged Göktepe Formation, which is overlay on the Hamzafakılı Formation with low angular unconformity, is represented by chalcschist, phyllite, sandstone, siltstone and claystone. The Medium-Late Devonian aged Belen Granitoide is mainly composed of granite, granodiorites, quartz diorite and leucogranites cut the Hamzafakılı and Göktepe formations. The Late Creta-ceous Alaplı formation overlying the older units with an angular unconformity is represented by marl, clayey limestones, limestones and tuff/tuffites. The Early-Middle Eocene aged Çaycuma formation overlying by the angular unconformity the on the Alaplı formation is composed of sandstone, siltstone, claystone, mudstone and volcanic sandstone alternation. All these units covered by the old and new alluviums.