Gold in Turkey - a missing link in Tethyan metallogeny

Yigit O.

ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS, vol.28, no.2, pp.147-179, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 28 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2005.04.003
  • Journal Name: ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.147-179
  • Keywords: gold, Turkey, Tethyan metallogeny, Tethys, pontides, Island arc, magmatic arc, mineral exploration, SOUTHERN MENDERES MASSIF, HIGH-PRESSURE METAMORPHISM, CENOZOIC ACTIVE MARGIN, WESTERN TURKEY, SULFIDE DEPOSITS, COPPER-DEPOSITS, VOLCANIC-ROCKS, EASTERN PONTIDES, FLUID-INCLUSION, GEOLOGIC TIME
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The gold metallogeny of Turkey constitutes a sector of the Tethyan Eurasian Metallogenic Belt (TEMB) within the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic system that formed from Jurassic-Cretaceous to the present. This orogenic system produced many different types of deposits related to subduction, collision, post-collision and rifting processes. Gold deposits, as well as other mineral deposits of Turkey, are mainly concentrated in Late Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks. Evaluation of the gold metallogeny of Turkey is based on a GIS database compilation of known gold deposits and prospects. Currently available data show that Turkey has a gold endowment, including reserves and resources, of approximately 31.5 M oz [979 tonnes] in 51 deposits, 21 of which contain more than 0.2 M oz gold. The other 30 deposits contain a total of approximately 1 M oz [31 tonnes] gold resources. Two recent discoveries, Kisladag and Copler, currently contain total resources of 17.6 M oz Au [549 tonnes], more than 50% of the total Turkish gold endowment.