Preliminary Findings for A New Iron Mineralization in the Central Anatolian Iron Province (Turkiye) and An Approach to the Genesis

In this study, we present preliminary findings from geological field investigation that may indicate the presence of a new iron deposit in the Central Anatolian Iron Province (Turkiye). The geological field investigation identified massive iron ore outcrops, indicating significant iron mineralization. According to the analysis results of the samples taken from the iron ore outcrops, the outcrops contain 35.87-81.75% Fe. Silica ratios are 10.85 - 48.40%. Fe/Mn ratios, Si-Al values, Si/Al ratios, Fe/Ti and Al/(Al+Fe+Mn) ratios, Fe-Six2-Mn ratios, Fe-Al-Mn ratios, (Ca+Al+Mn) - (Ti+V) and (Ti+V) - (Al+Mn) ratios of the mineralization were evaluated. The positions of the samples taken on all distinction diagrams indicate that the mineralization in the study area was formed by hydrothermal activity (under relatively high-temperature conditions at 300-500 °C). The fact that the iron ores contain small amounts of transition metals such as Ni and V suggests that they are not related to volcanic rocks but are similar to the Lake Superior iron formation type. Ore deposition probably occurred through transgression-regression at the continental passive margin or the arc-back basin. Therefore, a model can be proposed where the iron ores in the study area were deposited by combining two stages in a continental margin or arc-back basin due to transgression-regression processes. These two stages are (1) hydrothermal fluid and fluvial activity (terrestrial dendritic sedimentation) that precipitates Fe and Si, and (2) oxidation and iron formation. Therefore, the primary source of the mineralization may have been volcanosedimentary or exhalative sedimentary type (synsedimentary), and later metamorphism and tectonic events may have led to the present position of the mineralization.