Glacial geomorphology and geochronology of Esence Mountains (Erzincan)

This study focuses on the geomorphological features related to glaciation processes in the Esence Mountains, one of the high mountainous areas in Eastern Anatolia. The Esence Mountains, reaching an elevation of 3549 meters between the Erzincan plain and the Tercan-Çayırlı depression, possess the highest peak in the Erzincan province. The glacial geomorphological characteristics of these mountains have been examined using Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing techniques, morphometric analyses, and field studies. These investigations are further supported by glacial reconstruction and dating studies. Using the methods and techniques of glacial geomorphology, this study determined that the Esence Mountains experienced circular and valley glaciations. This characteristic, known as Alpine-type glaciation, describes glaciations constrained by the topography. In the mountainous region, a total of eight glacial valleys and 47 cirques of varying sizes were identified. The most distinct glacial traces are observed in the Aksu, Yedigöller, Soğanlı, Teknecik, and Karakaya glacial valleys. Additionally, significant glacial landforms such as arêtes, different types of moraines, glacial lakes, roches moutonnées, polished surfaces, and outwash plains (sandurs) are prominently visible in the mountainous area. Furthermore, periglacial features such as rock glaciers, garlands, patterned ground, talus cones, and protalus ramparts are observed in the study area. According to the results of the glacier reconstruction, it was determined that the paleoglaciers in the study area covered an area of 61.33 km², their thickness ranged between 111 m and 230 m, and the glacial tongues of the paleoglaciers, which reached a length of approximately 14 km, descended to ~1900 m elevation. Additionally, the paleo-equilibrium line altitude was determined to be at 2746 m. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating from moraine deposits yielded ages of 33.84 ± 4.56 and 44.54 ± 6.73 thousand years. This indicates that glaciation occurred during MIS 3 (57-29 thousand years).