The current status of gold mining in Turkey: An overview

Abstract

Gold has been treasured since ancient time for its beauty, purity, power, valuable asset and investment, accomplishment, and many more. However, gold also appeared in the last quarter of 20 th century as a basic metal due to its superior electrical conductivity, resistance to corrosion and required combinations of physical and chemical properties. Turkey has many gold deposits, which generally occurred in Late Mesozoic and Tertiary formations, and related to Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcano plutonic acts. However, the most economic porphyry, epithermal including both low and high sulphidation systems, volcanic associated massive sulphide gold deposits are abundantly found. Orogenic, placer and skarn host gold deposits are relatively less significant in terms of their abundance and reserve/resource sizes. Gold is embedded in Turkish life and plays a significant and innovative role in Turkey’s economy. Gold production has increased almost every year since 2001, rising from 1.4 tons to 45 tons in 2021. However, gold consumption does not meet gold production. Because Turkey is the fifth largest gold consumer in the world. The gold consumption is about 6 % of global demand. The review currently outlines a focus on geological and mining characteristics of gold deposits and features of gold such as its use, import, export and price.

Keywords

• Gold deposits
• Gold mining
• Gold uses
• Gold import
• Gold export

Türkiye’de altın madenciliğinin güncel durumu: Genel bir bakış

Öz

Altın ilk çağlardan beri onun güzelliği, saflığı, gücü, değerli servet olma, yatırım yapma ve daha birçok özelliği için biriktirilmiştir. Ancak, yirminci yüzyılın sonlarında süper elektriksel iletkenliği, korozyona karşı dayanıklılığı, istenen fiziksel ve kimyasal özellik birleşimleri nedeniyle ana metal olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Türkiye, genellikle geç Mezozoik ve Tertiary formasyonlarda, Mezozoik ve Senozoik volkanik-plütonik aktivitelerle oluşmuş birçok altın yatağına sahiptir. Ancak, en ekonomik porfiri, düşük ve yüksek sülfür sistemlerini içeren epitermal, volkanik masif sülfür tipi birçok altın yatakları oldukça yaygın bulunmaktadır. Orojenik, plaser ve skarn türü altın yatakları rezerv/kaynak büyüklüğü ve sıklığı bakımından daha az önemlidir. Altın, Türk insanının yaşamına girmiş olup, Türkiye ekonomisinde önemli ve yenilikçi bir rol oynamaktadır. Altın üretimi 2001 yılından bu yana 1.4 tondan 2021 yılında 45 tona yükselişiyle hemen hemen her yıl artmıştır. Ancak, altın üretimi altın tüketimini karşılamamaktadır. Çünkü Türkiye, küresel altın tüketici talebinin %6’sını oluşturmakta olup, dünyanın en büyük dördüncü altın tüketicisidir. Bu derleme incelemesi, güncel olarak altın yataklarının jeolojik ve maden karakteristiklerine; altın kullanımı, ithalatı, ihracatı ve fiyatı gibi özelliklerine odaklanmayı özetlemektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Altın yatakları
• Altın madenciliği
• altın kullanımları
• Altın ithalatı
• Altın ihracatı

Kaynakça

1. W. J. Young, The fabulous gold of the Pactolus valley, Boston Museum Bulletin 70 (359), 5-15, 1972.
2. MTA, Ore deposit inventory of Turkey. MTA Publication, 179, 571 page (in Turkish), 1980.
3. MTA, Gold and silver inventory of Turkey. MTA Publication, 198, 46 page (in Turkish), 1993.
4. T. Engin, Y. Z. Özkan, F. Şener, F. and B. Toprak, Metallogenic map of Turkey. MTA publication, Ankara, 2000.
5. Tollon, F. Courjault-Rade, P. and Bache, J-J. A metallogenic marker of Tethyan geodynamic evolution. In: The Economic Gold Deposits of Southeast Asia, the Caaribes and Alpine-Himalayan Fold Belts. A.E.M Narin, B. Vrielynck, J. Dercourt (Editors), 393-416, Plenum Press, New York, 1995. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/978-1-4899-1558-0_13,
6. Türkiye altın üretmi, https://altinmadencileri.org.tr/ turkiye-altin-uretimi-2/, Accessed 15 February 2022.
7. Robert, F. Poulsen, K.H. and Dube, B. Gold deposits and their geological classification. In: Proceedings of Exploration: Fourth Decennial International Conference on Mineral Exploration, A.G. Gubins, (Editor), pp. 209-220, 1997.
8. Çolak, H.I. Türkiye altın-gümüş envanteri. Envanter Serisi-206, MTA Genel Müdürlüğü, Ankara, 2017.

9. W. Lindgren, Mineral Deposits, 4 th Edition, McGraw Hill, New York, 1933.
10. J.W. Hedenquist, J.W. and J. B. Lowenstern, The importance of CO2 on freezing point measurements of fluid inclusions, evidence from active geothermal systems and implications to zoning of ore deposition. Economic Geology, 80 (5), 1379-1406, 1994. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.80.5.1379
11. J. W. Hedenquist, Recognition of magmatic contributions to active and extinct hydrothermal system. Japan Geological Survey Report, 279, 68-79, 1992.
12. N. C. White, and J.W. Hedenquist, Epithermal gold characteristics and exploration. SEG Newsletter, 2-5, 9-13, 1995.
13. B. R. Berger and P. Ejman, Conceptual models of precious metal deposits. In Cameron Volume on Unconventional Mineral Deposits, W. C. Shanks, (Editor), Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, 191-205, 1983.
14. Ö. Yiğit, Gold in Turkey-a missing link in Tethyan metallogeny. Ore Geology Reviews, 28 (2), 147-179, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2005.04.003
15. R.H. Sillitoe, Indonesian mineral deposits-introductory comment, comparisons and speculations. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 50, 1-11, 1994. https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-6742(94)90020-5
16. E.H. Macdonald, Handbook of gold exploration and evaluation. Wood Head Publishing Limited, Cambridge, 2007.
17. Eldorado Gold, Kışladağ gold mine, Turkey, technical report. Final Report, (Unpublished), 2020.
18. Kışladag gold mine, https://www.eldoradogold. com/assets/operations-and-projects/europe/operations/kisladag-turkey/default.aspx, Accessed 10 January 2022
19. Kışladağ altın madeni, https://www.tuprag. com.tr/kisladag-altin-madeni/, Accessed 10 January 2022
20. Türkiye altın madenleri, https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Ki%C5%9Flada%C4%9F_mine, Accessed 11 Januray 2022.
21. Çöpler-Erzincan altın madeni http://www.anagold. com.tr/, Accessed 11 January 2022.
22. Madencilik Türkiye, 2020, Ülkemizin işletilen ve geliştirme aşamasında olan altın projeleri. Madencilik ve Yerbilimleri Dergisi, 91, 72-76, 2020.
23. Çöpler gold mine, https://www.lidyamadencilik.com/projects/copler-gold-mine, Accessed 12 January 2022.
24. H. Yılmaz, Ovacık gold deposit: an example of quartz –adularia-type gold mineralisation in Turkey. Economic Geology, 97 (8), 1829-1839, 2002. https://doi.org/10.2113/97.8.1829
25. Ovacık altın madeni, https://kozaaltin.com.tr/ operasyonlar-ve-projeler/ovacik-altin-madeni/, Accessed15 January 2022.
26. Efemcukuru altın madeni, https://www.tuprag. com.tr/efemcukuru-altin-madeni/, Accessed 15 January 2022.
27. Eldorado Gold, Efemçukuru gold mine, Turkey, technical report. Final Report, (Unpublished), 2020.
28. T.İ. Turan, Kaymaz (Eskişehir) ve Himmetdede (Kayseri) altın yataklarının jeolojik özelliklerinin karşılaştırılması. Doktora tezi, Hacettepe Üniversisetesi, Ankara, 2018.
29. Himmetdede altın madeni, https://www.kozaaltin. com.tr/operasyonlar-ve-projeler/himmetdede-altin-madeni/, Accessed 20 January 2022.
30. Kaymaz altın madeni, https://www.kozaaltin. com.tr/operasyonlar-ve-projeler/kaymaz-altin-madeni/, Accessed 20 January 2022.
31. Mastra altın madeni, https://kozaaltin.com.tr/ operasyonlar-ve-projeler/mastra-altin-madeni/, Accessed 20 Jabuary 2022.
32. A. Ersoy and T.Y. Yünsel, Hazine Mağara (Gümüşhane) polimetalik maden (Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn) yatağının işletme tasarım ve üretim planlamasına yönelik rezerv ve tenor modelleme raporu. Çukurova Üniversitesi, Adana, (Unpublished Report), 2010.
33. Çukuralan altın madeni, https://kozaaltin.com.tr/ operasyonlar-ve-projeler/cukuralan-altin-madeni/, Accessed 20 January 2022.
34. Ö. Dumanlılar, İ. Cihan, M. Ekmekçi, G. Kanaat, C. Aydoğan and O. Turunç, Bakırtepe (Sivas-Kangal) altın cevherleşmesinin oluşum ve zenginleşme evrelerinin kavramsal modeli. Yerbilimleri, 40 (2), 136-167, 2019. https://doi.org/10.17824/yerbilimleri. 519195
35. Bakırtepe altın madeni, https://www.demirexport.com/ En/Pages/ContentDetail.aspx?GMID=572, Accessed 22 January 2022.
36. Öksüt altın madeni, https://oksutmadencilik.com.tr/en/, Accessed 22 January 2022.
37. A. Aluç, İ. Kuşcu, M. Cihan, D. C. Serçe and S. Bekarslan, Öksüt (Develi, Kayseri, Türkiye) yüksek sülfidasyon epitermal altın cevherleşmesinin jeolojisi-mineralojisi zamanlaması ve kökensel araştırılması. 70. Türkiye Jeoloji Kurultayı Bildiri Özetleri, 2017.
38. Lapseki altın madeni, https://www.tumad.com.tr/ en/lapseki, Accessed 25 January 2022.
39. İvrindi altın madeni, https://www.tumad.com.tr/ ivrindi-altin-ve-gumus-madeni, Accessed 25 January 2022.
40. Sart altın madeni, https://www.pomzaexport.com/tr/, Accessed 30 January 2022.
41. Bolkardağ altın madeni, https://kurmelgroup.com/ gumustas-madencilik/, Accessed 30 January 2022.
42. N. Şişman and H. Şenocak, Bolkardağı yöresinin jeolojisi ve maden yatakları. Maden Tetkik Araştırma Enstitüsü, Ankara, (Unpublished Report), 1981.
43. Altıntepe altın madeni, https://www.sandstormgold. com/our-royalties/altintepe/, Accessed 5 February 2022.
44. Midi Altın madeni, http://yildizlarsssholding. com.tr/en/yildiz-bakir-madencilik, Accessed 7 February 2022.
45. İnlice altın madeni, https://www.esan.com.tr/tr/ uretim/metalik-maden-tesislerimiz, Accessed10 February 2022.
46. Madencilik Türkiye, Esan İnlice de kapasite artışına gidiyor. Madencilik ve Yerbilimleri Dergisi, 2020.
47. M.H. Terzi, 2020, İnlice (Konya) epitermal altın yatağının Jeolojisi, jeokimyası ve kökensel incelenmesi. Doktora Tezi, Aksaray Üniversitesi, (Unpublished), 2020.
48. Kızıltepe altın madeni, http://www.zenitmadencilik. com/projeler/kiziltepe-altin-gumus-madeni-projesi, Accessed 5 March 2022.
49. B. Uğurlu, Kızıltepe low – sulphidation epithermal deposit (Sındırgı, Balıkesir): An example for relay-ramp-hosted epithermal gold mineralisation in western Turkey. MSc Thesis, Middle East Technical University, Geological Engineering, (Unpublished), 2019.
50. SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., Preliminary economic assessment on the Taç and Çorak Deposits, Yusufeli Property, Artvin Province, Turkey. Project number 2CMO26.00 (Unpublished), 2011.
51. Aği Dağı altın madeni, https://miningdataonline. com/property/3102/Agi-Dagi-Project.aspx, Accessed 20 February 2022.
52. Kirazlı altın madeni, https://www.alamosgold. com/operations/development-projects/turkish-development-projects/default.aspx, Accessed 20 February 2022.
53. Yenipazar altın madeni, https://www.aldridge.com.tr/ operations_yenipazar-project.html, Accessed 1 March 2022.
54. Artmin Madencilik and Sandstorm Gold Royalties, Hod Maden project, Feasibility study –Technical Report NI 43-101 (Unpublished), 2021.
55. Hod altın madeni, https://www.lidyamadencilik. com/projeler/hod-maden, Accessed 1 March 2022.
56. Taç-Çorak altın madeni, https://www.sandstormgold. com/our-royalties/yusufeli/, Accessed 5 March 2022
57. Tavşanlı altın madeni, http://www.zenitmadencilik. com/projeler/kutahya-tavsanli-altin-gumus-madeni-projesi, Accessed 13 February 2022.
58. R.H. Sillitoe, Gold-rich porphyry deposits: descriptive and genetic models and their role in exploration and discovery. In: S. Hageman, P.E. Grand Brown (Eds), Gold in 2000, Reviews in Economic geology, 13, 315-345, 2000. https://doi.org/10.5382/Rev.13.09
59. R. Dunne. Flotation of gold and gold-bearing ores. In: Gold Ore Processing. M. D. Adams (Editor), 315-337, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63658-4.00020-7
60. A.J. Teague, J.S.J. Van Deventer and C.I. Swaminathan, A conceptual model for gold flotation. Minerals Engineering. 12, 1001-1019, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-6875(99)00087-4
61. S. Liu, X. Chen, R. Lauten, Y. Peng and Q. Liu, Mitigating the negative effects of clay minerals on gold flotation by a lignosulfonate-based biopolymer, Minerals Engineering, 126, 9-15, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.06.021
62. R. Dunne, Flotation of gold and gold-bearing ores. In: Advances in Gold Ore Processing, Developments in Mineral Processing 15. M.D. Adams (Editor), 2005, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
63. K.S. Fraser, R.H. Walton and J.A. Wells, Processing of refractory gold ores. Minerals Engineering, .4, (7), 1029-1041, 1991. https://doi.org/10.1016/0892-6875(91)90081-6.
64. K.G. Thomas and M.S. Pearson, Pressure Oxidation Overview. In: Gold Ore Processing, Project Development, and Operations, M. Adams (Editor, 2nd Edit.), Elsevier, Great Britain, 341-358, 2016.
65. A.M. Ivana, Fundamentals of partial pressure oxidation of gold-bearing sulphide minerals, Ph.D. thesis, University of Queensland, School of Chemical Engineering, Australia, 2020.
66. V.G. Papangelakis and G.P. Demopoulos, Acid pressure oxidation of pyrite: reaction kinetics. Hydrometallurgy, 26, (3), 309-325, 1991. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-386X(91)90007-9.
67. L. Rusanen, J. Aromaa, O. Forsen, 2013, Pressure oxidation of pyrite-arsenopyrite refractory gold concentrate. Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing, 49 (1), 101-109., 2013 https://doi.org/ 10.5277/ppmp130110.
68. T. Thenepalli, R. Chilakala, L. Habte, L.Q. Tuan, C.S. Kim, A brief note on the heap leaching technologies for the recovery of valuable metals. Sustainability, 11, 3347-3352, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123347
69. Y. Ghorbani, J.P. Franzidis, J. Petersen, Heap leaching technology-current state, innovations, and future directions: A review. Mineral Processing Extractive Metallurgy Review, 37 (2), 73-119, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1080/08827508.2015.1115990
70. J. Petersen, Heap leaching as a key technology for recovery of values from low grade ores A brief overview. Hydrometallurgy 165, 206-212, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2015.09.001
71. D.W. Kappes, Precious metal heap leach design and practise. In Mineral Processing Plant Design, Practise and Control, A.L. Mular, D.N. Haibe, D.J. Barrett, Eds.; Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration: Denver, 2, 1606-1630, 2002.
72. R.H. Sillitoe, Gold rich porphyry copper deposit: geological model and exploration implications, In Mineral Deposit Modelling, R.V. Kirkham, W.D., Sinclair, R.I. Thorpe and J.M. Duke, Eds, Geological Association Canada Special Paper 40, 465-478, 1993.
73. Değerli metaller, https://www.tuik.gov.tr/, Accessed 20 March 2022
74. Metal ticareti, https://ticaret.gov.tr/data/ 5b87000813b8761450e18d7b/M%C3%9CCEVHERAT%20SEKT%C3%96R%20RAPORU%202020.pdf, Accessed 20 March 2022.
75. Altın ithalatı, https://borsaistanbul.com/dosyalar/ kmtp/veriler/ith_au.pdf, Accessed 22 March 2022.
76. Altın talebi, https://www.gold.org/goldhub/research/ demand-and-supply, Accessed 24 March 2022.
77. Metal fiyatları, https://borsaistanbul.com/tr/sayfa/ 316/metal-fiyatlari, Accessed 24 March 2022.