Stream sediment geochemistry of the Geli Dere (Baskil-Elaziğ) area

The study area is located in 5 km southwest of the province Elazig at Baskil township and between 4257362 north latitude and 37483652 east longitude.The oldest units of the study area are Kömürhan ophiolite and Elazığ Magmatits of Upper Cretaceous age. The youngest units are Maden Melange and Seske Formation belongs to the Middle Eocene and Upper Pliocene age, respectively.This study includes major and minor element concentrations in different size fractions (-80 and -200 mesh) river sediment and surface water samples which on Geli Dere and the tributaries. The analyses were done by using ICP-OES method in ACME Analytical Laboratories, Kanada.This study includes horizonal and vertical distribution of the elements in the river bed sediments. The metal concentration in the river bed sediments are higher a few ten fold than basement rocks according to the comparison between metal content of the river bed sediment and metal content of the granodioritic rocks. Particularly, the horizonal distribution of Mn, Cu, Zn, As and Fe is the higest in large parts of the river bed where water flow rate decrease and metals contents increase. The vertical distribution of the elements in different level in the sand bar is complicated. The metals may be riched as clastic in the sandbar level due to high porosity and precipitated by adsobtion on clay and organic matter levels. There are negative correlation relationship between Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, As, Sb concentrations and Sn, W, Sr, U, Th, NTE along the river bed sediments. Results of factor analysis are showed that three different factors effect on elements distribution on the river bed sediments. The first factor is determined as granodioritic rocks due to Sn, W, Sr, Th, U and NTE concentrations, second factor as hydrothermal mineralizations due to Mo, Pb, Ag, As, Ni, Cd and Ba concentrations, third factors as sedimantary formations due to Fe, Mn concentrations in the river bed and tributaries.Alkalinity values change range between 172-265 HCO3 mg/L; temperature values change range between 12-17,8 0C; electrical conductivity values change range between 302-768 (?s/cm); pH values change range between 8,2-8,86 in the river water samples and only one spring water sample. It was observed that river water element cocentrations are higher than average of the world river water due to possible mineralizations. The high electrical conductivity, pH and alkalinity values are considered to be significant on metals precipitation.As a result, the river bed sediment have been affected from alteration possible mineralizations, granodioritic rocks and sedimater rocks. In addition to, geochemical prospection explorations show to be located in the northwest of the study area of the possible mineralizations.Key Words: Baskil, Geli River, Stream Sediments, Geochemical Prospection