Investigation of the geochemical properties of the Late Triassic–Early Jura age Kızılören formation carbonates around Akyokuş-Çal dağı (Konya)

The aim of the study, which was carried out in a narrow area (~60 km2) covering a narrow area around Akyokuş-Çal Mountain (Konya), was to interpret the paleo-environmental conditions and related geological events and to reveal the geochemical properties of the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic Kızılören Formation limestones with an elemental geochemical approach. While the Kızılören Formation carbonates in the region show dolomitization, they do not contain dolostones in our study area and are only found in the form of limestones. Microfacies, major and trace element properties of Kızılören limestone samples indicate very low diagenetic alteration and very low terrigenous contribution, and our samples preserved their primary marine characteristics. Again, since the K/Rb ratios of Kızılören limestone samples are quite low, they do not indicate any metamorphism effect. The strong positive correlations between the TNTE values of Kızılören limestone samples and SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 indicate that the TNTE content is taken from the terrigenous input. In the Sr-Rb-Ba triangular diagram, Kızılören limestone samples show a marginal and open marine environment. In addition, the distribution of the Kızılören limestone samples in the Sr/Ba–Sr/Rb diagram indicates the deposition in a completely continental margin environment. In addition, Kızılören Formation samples show terrestrial margin and offshore environment in terms of storage environment in the Ce/Ce* versus Al2O3 and Fe2O3 graph. The source of the terrestrial input in the Kızılören limestone samples shows the arid climate region and the Al/Ti ratios emphasize that the terrestrial input is eolian rather than fluvial. In addition, the terrestrial input in the Kızılören limestone samples exhibits mixed provenance (mafic-felsic). The cerium values of the Kızılören Formation samples indicate marine water characteristics, transgressive deposition, and precipitation in anoxic environment, although oxic in some phases. Y/Ho values of the Kızılören Formation samples reflect that the freshwater suspended load and/or eolian detrital were mixed at a low rate during the deposition process and some fluctuations in the water level. The limestones of the Kızılören Formation show that the rare earth elements are impoverished according to PAAS and are not affected by hydrothermal fluids.