Appraisal of iron deposits in southern and western Turkey

Abstract

Between May 20 and June 17, 1969, previously known iron deposits were examined widely at eight separate localities in western Turkey. The object of the examinations was to learn the, nature, geologic setting, and approximate size of each deposit, to review prior estimates of size, and possibly recommend additional exploratory work.. The full extent of each deposit is poorly known at the present time, so recommended additional work entails drilling, digging trenches or pits, geologic mapping or, combinations of these activities. On Qaldagi Mountain an area of about 1 sq km is capped by bredciated chert under which may be a continuous zone of mixed iron oxides and chert fragments. The thickness of the ferruginous zone is poorly known but is as much as 12 meters, in at least one place. The- ferruginous material and chert appear to have formed by the weathering of serpentine, bun this concept needs further testing. Drilling is recommended to determine the grade, thickness, and extent-of the ferruginous zone beneath the cherty cap. Inasmuch as mining by hand sorting is in progress, part of the deposit can be considered to be marginally in the category of iron reserves. The Keceborlu iron deposit consists of earthy to slightly compacted hematite and limonite mixed with small chert fragments. The surface area underlain by ferruginous rock is about 5,000 to 7,500 sq meters. The maximum known thickness of the deposit is about 7 meters. Iron appears to have been concentrated by weathering and oxidation of cherty limestone. The deposit is probably either a remnant of a once more extensive weathered cap, or a sink hole filling. The Keceborlu area warrants a low priority for further exploration, but one drill hole is recommended to test the thickness of the deposit. The iron deposits at Mellec are layered and vein-magnetite replacements of limestone. The six known deposits are discontinuous. No additional. work is recommended. ' The Gilindire Iron deposit consists of irregular concentrations of pisolitic and earthy hematite and 'limonite along an unconformity or disconformity between two groups of limestone. The ferruginous zone is incompletely known around the rim of the large Gilindire syncline. Data from trenches 5 to 6 km around the syncline--about ? the possible length of the ferruginous zone--provide the main knowledge about the size and grade of ferruginous lenses. The ferruginous lenses range in thickness from a fraction of a meter, to about 3 meters, but appear to average 1 meter or less, and range in grade from about 10 to 37 percent iron. No additional exploration work is recommended at Gilindire. The Buyukeceli deposit consists of veinlike masses of earthy and compact hematite and limonite cutting fresh limestone. The veins apparently originally contained siderite which has been weathered and converted to iron oxide. Further exploration by drilling is recommended at such time as other largest deposits are able to be brought into the development stage in the Mediterranean coastal area of Turkey. The iron deposits overlooking Bayas on the Gulf of Iskenderun ere in one or more layers along the west-facing front of the Amanus Mountain Range, between beds of gently to moderately east-dipping limestone. Isolated exposures may represent a once-continuous ferruginous bed that has been blockfaulted and intruded by serpentine. The ferruginous bed (or beds) is 20-30 meters thick, and consists of a mixture of very fine grained hematite and claylike material. Iron content ranges from 20 to 40 percent and aluminum, averages about 15 percent. Available data on distribution are scant but suggest that one ferruginous bed may be 1-2 kilometers long, 500 meters wide and 20 meters thick. The potentially large size of the Payas deposits warrants an early coordinated program of drilling end beneficiation testing. An iron deposit was examined on a conspicuous limestone ridge in the Syrian graben east of the Amanus Moun