Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences, cilt.34, sa.1, ss.78-97, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin)
The province of Bilecik is one of the leading block stone production regions in northwest Asia Minor, where natural stone quarrying has been carried out since ancient times. Natural stone with different patterns has been mined in the block stone quarries in this region from past to present. The natural stone obtained from this region was used in Italy and İstanbul during the Roman period and in the construction of many historical buildings in İstanbul during the Ottoman period. The best known of these types of natural stone is Breccia Corallina (Marmor Sagarium), a brecciated limestone with ivory-colored clasts and coral red cement. In this study, the geological characteristics of block quarries producing limestone in the Bilecik region, where the Breccia Corallina (Marmor Sagarium) pattern is located, were determined. For this purpose, stratigraphic, sedimentological, structural, and engineering geological studies were carried out in the quarries in the region and in the surrounding area. According to the results obtained, the limestone patterns observed in the quarries in the Bilecik region were classified as Bilecik Beige Group (Bilecik Beige-oolitic, Bilecik Beige-reefal, Bilecik Beige-fossiliferous, and Bilecik Beige-unfossiliferous), Rozalya Group (Rozalya brecciated and Rozalya stylolitic), Aragonite Group (Aragonite and Brecciated Aragonite), and Zigzag. The Bilecik beige group comprises oolitic, fossiliferous, and reefal limestones deposited in shallow marine environments. The others are micritic textured pelagic limestones deposited in deep marine environments. The study area is also located at the junction of the North Anatolian Fault and Eskisehir Fault, and the tectonic structure of the region has been shaped by the activity of these faults. The Rozalya breccia pattern known as ‘Breccia Corallina’ is a limestone pattern formed under the control of these faults. Aragonite group patterns are limestone patterns formed by secondary mineral development together with faulting. Although the formation of limestone patterns in the study area is under the control of faults, limestone masses containing widely spaced discontinuities are suitable for block stone production.