Chromitite Ore Types and Geochemical Investigation of Pozantı-Karsantı Ophiolite in Mazmılı Region (Turkey)

Abstract

The Pozantı-Karsantı Ophiolite located in the middle Taurus has significant chromitite reserves in Turkey. The chromitite ore bodies belong to concordant and subconcordant form and are located within mantle harzburgite surrounded by bodies of dunite. Chromitite ore types are small or medium bodies of massive, disseminated, banded and nodular, also the result of a combination of at least two of these types of ores consist of mixed-type ore. Chromite ores bear traces of plastic deformation under the influence of lateral forces developing in the lateral direction. Plastic deformation is also observed at the micro scale. This study presents the concentrations of a complete suite of major (SiO2, Cr2O3, MgO, Al2O3, and FeO(t)) and trace elements (Ni, Ti, Co, V, Zn, S, Ca, Ga and Cl) in podiform chromitites of the Pozantı-Karsantı Ophiolite. According to the chromite ore whole-rock geochemical analysis, there was a positive relationship between the amount of Cr2O3 and Zn, V, Ti, and Co, while a negative relationship was found between Ni, S and Ca. This situation is opposite with the dunites in which the chromite ore is located.

Keywords

• Ophiolite
• Chromitite
• Geochemistry
• Pozanti-Karsanti

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