Abstract:

The Akdağ and Topuz Dağ (Nevşehir) areas are located in the south of the Middle Kızılırmak part of Central Anatolia. This area with its monument like fairy chimneys and the coloured pyroclastic rocks is one of Türkiye’s most attractive volcanic areas. Oxidation crusts emerge on the fairy chimneys that are the most important geological formations on the badlands topography. In semi-humid and semi-arid climates this crust is formed as result of oxidation of the elements within the host rock tuffs. The oxidation crust plays an important role in protection of the surface of fairy chimneys on which it is formed. Therefore, the crust thickness at 26 places in the research area was measured. Themeasurements showed that the thickness of crust ranges between 0.3 cm and 12 cm. The thickest crusts were detected on the fairy chimneys in the Göreme valley whereas the thinnest appeared on the fairy chimneys around the Topuz Dagi region. This crust is vital for the preservation of the fairy chimneys. Therefore the effect of people on such formations must be controlled. Keywords: Fairy chimneys, Oxidation crust, Akdağ, Topuz Dağ, Nevşehir, Türkiye.

Keywords: