Global Volcanism Program | Nevsehir-Acigöl Volcanic Complex

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Bulletin Reports

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General Information

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

213004

Pleistocene

1,683 m / 5,522 ft

38.537°N
34.621°E

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Cluster

Volcano Types
Complex
Maar(s)
Lava dome(s)
Pyroclastic cone(s)
Caldera

Rock Types

Major
Rhyolite
Dacite
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Intraplate
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

127,863
127,863
218,469
2,253,483

Geological Summary

The Nevsehir-Acigöl Volcanic Complex is located in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey largely in the area between the towns of Acigöl and Nevsehir. A hypothesized 7 x 8 km late-Pleistocene caldera (Acigöl, or Kocadag) is part of a partially buried larger caldera and contains a group of maars, lava domes, basaltic lava flows, and pyroclastic cones. As defined by Uslusar et al. (2021), this complex includes 24 lava domes (andesitic to rhyolitic), 10 scoria cones (basaltic to andesitic), six maars (basaltic trachyandesitic and rhyolitic), two tuff rings (basaltic), and another 28 undifferentiated features; the youngest dome and maar ages are about 20 ka (U-Th/He). Three groups of obsidian lava flows have been dated; pre-collapse flows between about 190,000 and 180,000 years before present (BP), 75,000 years BP lava domes (such as Taskesik Tepe on the east), and lava domes on the west about 20,000 to 15,000 years old. Thirteen tephra layers deposited between about 11,000 and 4,300 years ago were found in sediment cores in the late Pleistocene Eski Acigöl maar (Kuzucuoglu et al., 1998), but their source is uncertain. An ash layer near the Kocatepe dome was reported by Pasquare (1968) to overlie artifacts of Roman-Cappadocian age, but no detailed work is known.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Bigazzi G, Yegingil Z, Ercan T, Oddone M, Ozdogan M, 1993. Fission track dating obsidians in central and northern Anatolia. Bulletin of Volcanology, 55: 588-595.

Druitt T H, Brenchley P J, Gokten Y E, Francaviglia V, 1995. Late Quaternary rhyolitic eruptions from Acigol Complex, central Turkey. Journal of the Geological Society, 152: 655-667.

Froger J-L, Lenat J-F, Chorowicz J, Le Pennec J-L, Bourdier J-L, Kose O, Zimitoglu O, Gundogdu N M, Gourgaud A, 1998. Hidden calderas evidenced by multisource geophysical data; an example of Cappadocian calderas, central Anatolia. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 85: 99-128.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome, International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior.

Kuzucuoglu C, Pastre J-F, Black S, Ercan T, Fontugne M, Guillou H, Hatte C, Karabiyikoglu M, Orth P, Turkecan A, 1998. Identification and dating of tephra layers from Quaternary sedimentary sequences of Inner Anatolia, Turkey. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 85: 153-172.

Mellaart J, 1993. Descriptions (picturales) d'eruptions recentes du Hasan Dagi par les hommes du neolithique a Catal Hoyuk. L'Assoc Volc Europeenne (LAVE), 42: 17-30.

Pasquare G, 1968. Geology of the Cenozoic volcanic area of Central Anatolia. Roma Accad Nazionale Lincei Mem, 9: 55-204.

Uslular G, Le Corvec N, Mazzarini F, Legrand D, Gençalioglu-Kuscu G, 2021. Morphological and multivariate statistical analysis of quaternary monogenetic vents in the Central Anatolian Volcanic Province (Turkey): Implications for the volcano-tectonic evolution. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 416:107280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2021.107280

Eruptive History

There is data available for 0 confirmed eruptive period.

[ 2080 BCE ± 200 years ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Uncertain

2080 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Correlation: Anthropology

Pasquare (1968, p. 141) writes that "In the steppe plain facing the volcanic centre of Kocatepe, belonging to the Acigol district, numerous bones and faiences have been found under a covering of volcanic ashes. The deposit, contained in the upper levels of the eluvial and alluvial deposits forming the Acigol plain, is situated at Hanyeri a few dozen meters north of the Nevsehir-Acigol road.... According to Prof. Kokten of the Archeological Museum of Ankara, the hand-manufactured articles belong to a Roman-Cappodocian age." This may correspond to 2300-1850 BCE.

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage

[ 2370 BCE ± 200 years ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Tephra layer T17

2370 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

The lowermost tephra-bearing layer (T17) in the Eski Acigöl maar was radiocarbon dated at 7,720 ± 185 years BP (Kuzucuoglu et al., 1998). Comparison with pollen ages in the core indicated that radiocarbon ages here are about 3,000 years too old, and Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) tentatively assign ages about 3,000 years younger than the radiocarbon age. Thirteen sediment layers containing local tephra (possibly from the Obruk Tepe area) were deposited between about 14,000 and 7,800 radiocarbon years ago. However, Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) were not definitive regarding if the basaltic tephra in the sediment layers resulted from primary falls during eruptive activity or were deposits of older deposits like products from the rhyolitic complex.

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Tephra layer T17

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Scoria

[ 3500 BCE (?) ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Tephra layer T15

3500 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

Tephra-bearing layer T15 in the Eski Acigöl maar was radiocarbon dated at 8,440 ± 160 years BP (Kuzucuoglu et al., 1998). Comparison with pollen ages in the core indicated that radiocarbon ages here are about 3,000 years too old, and Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) tentatively assign ages about 3,000 years younger than the radiocarbon age. Thirteen sediment layers containing local tephra (possibly from the Obruk Tepe area) were deposited between about 14,000 and 7,800 radiocarbon years ago. However, Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) were not definitive regarding if the basaltic tephra in the sediment layers resulted from primary falls during eruptive activity or were deposits of older deposits like products from the rhyolitic complex.

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Tephra layer T15

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Scoria

[ 6230 BCE (?) ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Tephra layer T13

6230 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

Tephra-bearing layer T13 in the Eski Acigöl maar was radiocarbon dated at 11,180 ± 90 years BP (Kuzucuoglu et al., 1998). Comparison with pollen ages in the core indicated that radiocarbon ages here are about 3,000 years too old, and Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) tentatively assign ages about 3,000 years younger than the radiocarbon age. Thirteen sediment layers containing local tephra (possibly from the Obruk Tepe area) were deposited between about 14,000 and 7,800 radiocarbon years ago. However, Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) were not definitive regarding if the basaltic tephra in the sediment layers resulted from primary falls during eruptive activity or were deposits of older deposits like products from the rhyolitic complex.

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Tephra layer T13

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Scoria

[ 7810 BCE (?) ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Tephra layer T10

7810 BCE (?) - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

Tephra-bearing layer T10 in the Eski Acigöl maar was radiocarbon dated at 12,760 ± 160 years BP (Kuzucuoglu et al., 1998). Comparison with pollen ages in the core indicated that radiocarbon ages here are about 3,000 years too old, and Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) tentatively assign ages about 3,000 years younger than the radiocarbon age. Thirteen sediment layers containing local tephra (possibly from the Obruk Tepe area) were deposited between about 14,000 and 7,800 radiocarbon years ago. However, Kuzucuoglu et al. (1998) were not definitive regarding if the basaltic tephra in the sediment layers resulted from primary falls during eruptive activity or were deposits of older deposits like products from the rhyolitic complex.

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Tephra layer T10

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	- - - -	- - - -	Scoria

Synonyms and Subfeatures

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Acigol-Neysehir | Acigol-Nevsehir

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Ayaktas Tepe

Cone

Kizil Tepe

Cone

Mercimek Tepe

Cone

Obruk Tepe

Cone

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Eski Acigol

Maar

1271 m

38° 33' 3.00" N

34° 32' 39.00" E

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Güneydag

Dome

Kaleci

Dome

Karniyarik

Dome

Kocadag Tepe
Kocatepe

Dome

1689 m

38° 32' 13.00" N

34° 37' 16.00" E

Korudagi

Dome

Kuzay

Dome

Taskesik Tepe

Dome

Vigla Tepe

Dome

Photo Gallery

The Global Volcanism Program has no photographs available for Nevsehir-Acigöl Volcanic Complex.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Nevsehir-Acigöl Volcanic Complex in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

EarthScope Consortium SAGE seismic stations/networks

EarthScope Consortium operates the NSF Geodetic Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (GAGE) and NSF Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (SAGE). The linked map shows the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Nevsehir-Acigöl Volcanic Complex. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

Large Eruptions of Nevsehir-Acigöl Volcanic Complex

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).

Country	Turkiye
Volcanic Region	Western Anatolian Volcanic Province
Landform \| Volc Type	Cluster \| Complex
Last Known Eruption	Pleistocene
Coordinates	38.537°N, 34.621°E
Elevation	1,683 m (5,522 ft)
Volcano Number	213004
Google Earth Placemark with Features
Cite Volcano Profile