Evaporite deposits in Turkey - borates, sulphates, chlorides

Abstract

In Turkey, salt lakes and lacustrine evaporite deposits are an important source of industrial minerals such as: borates, soda ash, sodium sulphates and salt (sodium chloride). In the Anatolian Plateau salt lakes differ in the chemical composition of body waters and evaporation conditions as well as tertiary lacustrine evaporitic deposits with its specific and often unique mineralogical composition. The review of conditions of evaporation and precipitation in salt lakes and lacustrine evaporite deposits geology and method of exploitation were the goals of the scientific expedition of Polish Salt Mining Association (PSMA) in Turkey which took place from 7th to 14th September 2011. The route lead through Anatolian Plateau to the salt lakes: Salda and Tuz, to the Kirka borates deposit and Cayirhan sodium sulphates deposit. During the expedition were visited also other places: Pamukkale - with hot springs and travertine precipitation, the marble deposits in the Iscehisar - Afyon region known since ancient times and Cappadocia vulcanic plateau with famous forms of weathering and erosion.