ABSTRACT: In this study Markov chain analysis is applied to lignite bearing Zirnak Fonnation which is of Pliocene age and is located at Eastern Anatolia. It is composed of mainly conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, claystone, limestone and locally tuff agglomerate and lignite `beds. In order to apply Markov chain analysis lignite, tuff, claystone, and siltstone litofacies and their successions are counted from 5 drilling cores of Zirnak Formation. Independent trials probability, transition, probability, and difference matrixes are derived from this raw data. Litofacies relationships and transitions have statistically been described and iotrepreted. As a result; lignite-claystone and claystone-lignite transitions are similar to lignite-tuff ani-tuff-lignite transitions. The relationships between the formation of lignite and occurrence tuff have been found statistically.