Toprakkale-İskenderun motorway the stratigrapy of Payas- İskenderun area

The studied area which is surrounded by the Amanos Mountains from the east and tectonically controlled collapsation basin of İskenderun Gulf. In this study detailed stratigraphical investigation has been carried out around Payas - İskenderun (Hatay) area. In the mapping area different stratigraphic and tectonic based lithostratigraphic units have been outcropped.Through the investigated area the base lithostratigraphic units outcropped as shallow marine character of dolomitic in some places, carbonated Upper Triassic-Cretaceous aged Demirkazık formation and Kızıldağ ophiolites which are emplaced in the area during Upper Cretaceous. Carbonate rocks mostly observed as autochtonous and seldom allochtonous. Basically serpentinite containing ophiolitic rocks altered in some sectors, squeezed, frequent cracks and broken structured.Mesozoic aged Demirkazık formation and Kızıldağ ophiolites uncoformably overlain by marine limestone, containing silicified nodules and karstic cavities of the Almacık formation (Lutetian). Silicified limestone uncorformably overlain by shallow marine Kuzgun formation (Miocene) which shows sandstone-claystone alternation.The youngest units of study are represented by Quaternary succession of the Alluvium. Alluvium have a vide range extentions at the southeast part of the investigated area. In the studied area alluvium has considerable thick columns containing alluvial fans and cones.On the Toprakkale - İskenderun Motorway construction baseline there has been some paleo - landslide areas encountered which have been taken place in Demirkazık formation at the east of Sarıseki village. Paleo - landslide areas will be disturbed by means of excavations due to road construction. By the soil investigation results, road slopes found instable. Under these investigation results some sophisticated protection projects done for stability against potential landslides.