Quaternary uplift rates of the Central Anatolian Plateau, Turkey: Insights from cosmogenic isochron-burial nuclide dating of the Kizilirmak River terraces

The Central Anatolian Plateau (CAP) in Turkey is a relatively small plateau (300×400km) with moderate average elevations of ~1km situated between the Pontide and Tauride orogenic mountain belts. Kizilirmak, which is the longest river (1355km) within the borders of Turkey, flows within the CAP and slowly incises into lacustrine and volcaniclastic units before finally reaching the Black Sea. We dated the Cappadocia section of the Kizilirmak terraces in the CAP by using cosmogenic burial and isochron-burial dating methods with ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al as their absolute dating can provide insight into long-term incision rates, uplift and climatic changes. Terraces at 13, 20, 75 and 100m above the current river indicate an average incision rate of 0.051±0.01mm/yr (51±1m/Ma) since ~1.9Ma. Using the base of a basalt fill above the modern course of the Kizilirmak, we also calculated 0.05-0.06mm/yr mean incision and hence rock uplift rate for the last 2Ma. Although this rate might be underestimated due to normal faulting along the valley sides, it perfectly matches our results obtained from the Kizilirmak terraces. Although up to 5-10 times slower, the Quaternary uplift of the CAP is closely related to the uplift of the northern and southern plateau margins respectively. •Incision of Kizilirmak River terraces in Central Anatolian Plateau (CAP) studied.•Four terraces dated by cosmogenic burial and isochron-burial methods.•Terraces indicate an average incision rate of 0.05mm/yr since 1.9Ma.•Height of a basalt ridge provides 0.05-0.06mm/yr minimum denudation rates since 2Ma.•CAP Quaternary uplift is 5-10 times slower than the N and S margins respectively.