GEOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND GEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF KARASU SPRING WATER AND YERKÖPRÜ TUFAS (HADIM-YERKÖPRÜ KONYA)

Abstract: Karasu spring water is located in Yerköprü region, which is 100 km away from Konya. The Karasu spring coming out from a fault and water output from karstic network into the valley. The Karasu spring which is enriched in carbonate discharges into valley as surface water, while the other spring discharges into the Göksu valley from a karstic void close to the Yerköprü waterfall. Water from both springs mixes at the waterfall and flow throgh Göksü valley. Bicarbonate ions in Karasu spring water are deposited as tufa (terrestrial carbonate) in Yerköprü waterfall region. In the past, Karasu spring water with bicarbonate has been used in water mills. Therefore, tufa deposition occurred in different areas. Changing the bed of the Karasu Spring causes the current precipitation to stop. This situation caused the pollution of the white tufas. Deposited tufas due to the change of the bed of the Karasu source on different parts of the waterfall cause slope collapse. The region, which is an important geosite area for Geotruzm, so, the Karasu source and the fascinating tufa structures should be protected. Thus, both the geological structures will be protected and the environmental pollution will be prevented.