“Mineral Industry” in Turkey.. the country with the world’s richest reserves

Turkey has 72 percent of global boron reserves, 50 percent of perlite reserves and 40 percent of calcite reserves.

Of 90 existing tradable minerals in the world , 77 are available in Turkey with the exception of 13 which include diamond, platinum, tinstone, titanium, bromine.

Quantity of these reserves is high/very high  regarding 50 of siad 77 minerals.

Turkey has a total of 4,400 mineral deposits excluding the coal and oil deposits.

The country has the world’s richest reserves in terms of mineral deposits. It has 2,5 percent share in the entire industrial minerals worldwide.

Existing minerals which are suitable for use in industry include boron , dolomite, calcite, feldspar, plaster stone,  quartz sand, and pumice

In the natural stones group exist marble, andesite and basalt as the most produced stones.

Copper, iron, chromium, aluminium and lead are produced at highest quantities in metal ores.

Turkey has 20 percent of the world’s bentonite reserves, more than 50 percent of the world’s perlit reserves, 40 percent of the calcit reserves as well as the second highest trona reserves in the world.

Mineral extraction and production activities gained speed in Turkey in line with the increase in industrialization during 1960s. It was during this period that large scale industrial plants were constructed for processing aluminium, zinc and magnesite.

Turkish mining industry opened up to international markets during 1980s. It was reshaped during 1990s in line with the needs of global markets.

Interest for metal mineralss and especially for gold increased during 2000s. Many pits were opened and production plants were founded thereafter.

Some facts about the mining industry;

BORON: 72 percent of the reserves are in Turkey. Total reserves are 3,047.7 million tons. 37 percent of the world’s boron production is made in Turkey.

FELDSPAR: 10 percent of the world’s feldspar reserves are in Turkey. Total reserves are 130 million tons. total worth of exports is 147 million dollars. Turkey is second biggest exporter in the world.

MAGNESITE: Turkey is the biggest magnesite exporter in the world. It has 32 percent share in the global magnesite exports. The country has 15 million tons of reserve. Its total exports of magnesite is 58 million dollars.

CHROMIUM: Turkey is the second biggest exporter of this item. It has 18 percent share in global exports. The country realizes 6 percent of total production world wide. It has 25 million tons of reserve.

It can be said Turkey has a brşght future provided all issues are solved in regards to legal infrastructure enabling long term mining activities. Frequent amendments to the mining law have no doubt a discouraging effect on entrepreneurs. Determination and extraction the mineral reserves can not be undertaken without a consistent and reasonable infrastructure is first established.

It can be said that the demand for minerals is expected to increase in the coming years and production capacities will likewise go up.

Mineral reserves are about to be depleted in EU countries soon which in return is to increase the demand for Turkish minerals from said countries.

Only 30 percent of the works for the exploration of the mineral reserve potential of Turkey could be completed by 2009.

compiled by Editor
BUSINESS TURKEY TODAY