Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

Geosite Potential and Geoheritage Assets of Uşak Province

Abstract: Geosites encompass natural elements that represent geological / geomorphological events, processes,and features extending from the past to the present, including fossil assemblages, minerals, rocks, structuralcomponents, and landforms. They also include cultural elements such as ancient quarries, water channels, androck dwellings. Geological heritage (geoheritage) consists of geological-geomorphological formations that possesssignificant scientific, educational, and landscape value and must be preserved against natural / anthropogenicthreats through a sustainable approach.Within the borders of Uşak province, which has a surface area of approximately 5,341 km², there are natural andcultural geosites that have geoheritage value and represent significant potential for the development of geotourism.Elements with geosite potential in Uşak province, including faults, fault scarps, plant and vertebrate fossil deposits,skarn zones, and alteration zones, were identified. In addition, landforms identified during fieldwork—namelytravertines, travertine cones, dacite columns, fairy chimneys, canyon valleys, intra-valley bed depressions, badland topography, and erosion- and deposition-derived karstic forms—were examined, classified as geosites, and theirmorphological and geological characteristics were described. Uşak province hosts not only a diversity of geositesformed by natural processes but also a variety derived from cultural and historical heritage. In this context, culturalgeosites such as ancient water channels, ancient roads, ancient quarries, rock tombs, mounds (höyüks), tumuli, androck (cave) settlements were identified and their characteristics detailed.According to ProGEO`s geosite classification, the identification of a total of 64 geosites from seven differentclasses in the research area demonstrates that Uşak province possesses a rich natural and cultural heritage potentialfrom geological, geomorphological, and geoarchaeological perspectives.