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Title: Karstification at Beskonak dam site and reservoir area, southern Turkey

Journal Article · · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences
OSTI ID:90801
 [1]
  1. Cumhuriyet Univ., Sivas (Turkey)

Beskonak dam and hydroelectric power plant are planned to be constructed on the Koepruecay river, 40 km east of the Antalya city. In the dam site and reservoir area, Koepruecay Conglomerates of Miocene age and the Beskonak Formation (sandstone-claystone) alternating with each other crop out vertically. Koepruecay conglomerates, with the components of limestone fragments and carbonate texture, are karstic and permeable, whereas the Beskonak Formation is impermeable. At the northern edge of the reservoir area, the Olukkoeprue karst springs discharge at a minimum of 30 m{sup 3}/s. These springs discharge mainly through vertical and subvertical joint systems. Intensive superficial karstification developed along the joint systems and the terrane reveals columns of rocks, called {open_quotes}fairy chimneys.{close_quotes} Olukkoeprue springs represent the discharge point for a large and continuous system of underground solution cavities. In the Koepruecay basin, there are numerous karstic features within the conglomerates. Within the reservoir area, Kurukoeprue cave, with a length of 530 m, is an example of these caves developed within the conglomerates. In some parts of the reservoir area, where the groundwater level is lower than the surface-river elevation, a highly developed karstification zone is present within the fluctuation range of groundwater between depths of 40 and 50 m. The above-mentioned Kurukoeprue cave is an active cave developed in the dam site and its vicinity. The solution conduits developed along the system of mostly vertical fractures and joints are interconnected, thus giving rise to a three-dimensional conduit network. On the other hand, a majority of these conduits have clay and calcite filling materials. Karstification in the dam site varies with depths exponentially. Data suggest that karstification has a vertical extention as deep as -220 m. 4 refs., 9 figs.

OSTI ID:
90801
Journal Information:
Environmental Geology and Water Sciences, Vol. 22, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English