Muğla paleosolleri(Milas-Özlüce;GB Türkiye)üzerine çoklu-veri paleoiklim çalışması

The research objective of this study is to identify the Late-Miocene-Early Pliocene paleosols and characterize the mineralogical, geochemical, pedological and micromorphological properties to evaluate the findings in order to understand the paleoclimates at the time of the formation of soils in Muğla (Milas and Özlüce regions), SW Turkey. Mineralogically, quite similar compositions are obtained for both paleosol-bearing sequences in that quartz, calcite, dolomite and feldspar exist in Milas and Özlüce sections. Clay fraction of the paleosols have dominantly smectite and illite in association with kaolinite and chlorite. Molecular weathering ratios of salinization, calcification, clayeyness and base loss are all compared with chemical index of alteration and mean annual precipitation values throughout the sections. Findings suggest that the paleosol units have relatively higher clayeyness, chemical index of alteration and mean annual precipitation associated with the presence of smectite and kaolinite. They all point the strong hydrolysis triggering the formation of soils during the Late-Miocene- Early Pliocene. The calcium carbonate nodules are only found in the uppermost paleosol level in Milas section revealing the aridity. The increase in illite-chlorite and decrease in alteration values with low precipitation are all related with this aridity. However, the dominant climatic pattern favours the formation of paleosols under warm and humid conditions revealed by high amount of smectite, clayeyness, alteration indices and mean annual precipitation values. This study suggests that the paleoclimate proxy data strongly mark the warm and humid climates with intensified chemical weathering and development of red-brown colored, hematite-bearing paleosols in Muğla during the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene. The findings show very good correlation especially with the Early Pliocene warming and can be concluded to carry the fingerprints of this global warming event.