Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

The Yomg Terrestrial Formations of the Eastern Valensole Basin (SE France)

Abstract: Valensole basin is situated in the southeast part of France and is formed as a subsiding basin on theMesozoic limestones. It contains more than 1000 m of mostly clastic sediments which are Tertiary-Quaternary in age.In the eastern part of the basin which was studied by the present writer, the red coloured "Valensole conglomerates" pass laterally in the white coloured "Puimoisson marles". These formations have been overlain by "Cryoclasticpebbles". These units are the youngest continental formations of the area which has been studied.In previous studies, it has been accepted that all these three units pass laterally in each other. Some workershave thought that they are Pliocene in age, but the other workers have suggested that they are Quaternary in age.This work has made it clear that the characteristic fossils which have been found in the Puimoisson marls indicatethat the Valensole conglomerates and the Puimoisson marls are definitely Upper Pliocene in age. The Cryoclastic pebbleswhich lie on top of the other units, represent a different faeies and are thought to be a glacial deposit in a Quaternaryage.Puimoisson marls were deposited in a lake environment which were developed in the Valensole basin here and there,during the Upper Pliocene time. At the same time southwesterly flowing rivers which were cut in the Mesozoic andLower Cenozoic units in the east, deposited the fan-shaped Valensole conglomerates in the basin.During a glacial period in Quaternary the cryoclastic pebbles were formed through frosting and melting processeson the Mesozoic-Lower Cenozoic units situated to the east of the basin. These pebbles were deposited as an alluvialcone in the basin after being transported by the southwesterly flowing rivers as in the case of the Upper Pliocene.