Morphogenesis of the basin of Pasinler (North-East Anatolia)
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Intramontarious basins are evident in northeast Anatolia. The Erzurum basin-zone, which is named after the biggest city of the region called Erzurum, is a west-cast running morphological depression line nb ZD in the area of Cayirli-Askale-Erzuium-Pasinler and Horasan. The basin of Pasinier is divided from the Erzurum-basin only by a volcanic barrier (Deveboynu gecidi) cast of Erzurum. It raises 2,050 m above sea level. The build-up of this area has been marked by distinct compressing tectonics since the Cenozoic. Seismic activity is mirroring these compressive forces that are a consequence of the collision of the northern and southern plates. This elongated intramontanous basin-zone with its straight-lined west-cast direction shows the same strike like the older subsurface. It broke down inbetween the North-Anatolian ophiolite suite that has been rising since the upper Miocene. The sinking of the intramontanous basin of Pasinler had its beginning as early as the lower Pliocene. The eastern Erzurum basin, namely the basin of Pasinler, has a certain exceptional position between the intramontanous basins. This is due to the fact that limnic sedimentation is still evident in the higher Pliocene, while in contrast for nearly all other basins this is not the case. It even persisted during the Pleistocene. The erosion and outwash processes of the basin of Pasinler are marked by river terraces at least for the younger Pleistocene. The diverse climatic influences with partly different morphodynamics are always showing only modifying effects, This is also the case for the basin of Pasinler. The overall mostly important determining parameters for the formation of the basin are tectonics, rock sequences and lithology. This research is based on fieldwork and excavations in the basin of Pasinler. It was realized by a research project thankworthy supported by the Atatidrk University of Erzurum.