Large outcrops of microbial continental carbonates attract geologists attention in terms of deciphering their depositional evolution. Unravelling petrological features of non-marine carbonate rocks like travertine and tufa helps to refine macroscopical and spatial aspects of a variety of travertine fabrics which are needed to build travertine facies models. The depositional framework of the Kömürcüoğlu quarry, used as an study analogue for microbial carbonate rocks, comprises (1) subhorizontal travertine facies in which channels and pools interfinger with cascade travertine facies, (2) biostromal reed facies, (3) cascade tufa facies, (4) conglomerate-marl units and (5) paleosol surfaces. The main difference of this quarry with respect to other quarries present within the E-W oriented of Denizli extensional basin relates to its remarkable N-S oriented geobody architecture.
Sixteen (16) travertine/tufa depositional and three diagenetic macro-fabrics that reduced vuggy and cavity pores were distinguished, i.e., (1) crystalline crust travertine (2) shrub crust travertine, (3) superficial ooids, (4) coated reed travertine, (5) phyto travertine with grasses and reeds, (6) phyto cushion travertine, (7) massive micrite, (8) laminated micrite with pseudo-fenestral porosity, (9) laminated crystalline travertine (10) calcite rafts, (11) intraclasts, (12) phytoclasts travertine, (13) detrital tufa, (14) laminated stromatolitic tufa, (15) reed framework tufa, (16) bryophyte tufa, (17) lime mud cement, (18) Mn- and Fe-enriched calcite cement, and (19) fibrous calcite cement. Some fabrics were helpful in evaluating the paleoenvironmental setting. Crystalline crust travertine fabrics reflects the subaerial cascade environment which sometimes alternates with paleosol surfaces marked by intraclasts. Light coloured sand-sized shrub crusts make up grapestones and occur together with superficial ooids that formed in small channel pools where the siliciclastic input was important, probably in relation to an ephermeral fluvial stream environment. According to the flow routes of travertine precipitating waters and the growth position of organisms with respect to depositional surface, dark coloured phyto fabric and light coloured phyto cushion travertine fabric can be differentiated, with the first likely representing a subaerial environment of travertine precipitating system. Laminated micrite with pseudo-fenestral fabric and light-coloured phyto cushion travertine fabrics indicate more shallow or marginal subaqueous zones in this environment. Coated reeds formed where macrophytes encrusted by carbonate cement grew producing biostromal reed facies. If the phyto cushion deposits are wheatered, a brown-coloured massive micrite fabric is created. Diagenetic fabrics give a dark colour to phyto fabrics, and also form a geopetal arrangement.
