Jeoloji Münendisliği Dergisi

Mining Geology of Attepe Iron Deposit, Mansurlu-Adana

ABSTRACT: The Attepe Iron Deposit takes place in the Precambrian age Emirgazi Formation which belongs to Geyik Da Unit of Taurus Tectonic Belt. The iron deposit consists of pyrites, siderites and hematites from bottom to top, all are formed in the sedimentary conditions. The deposit crops out by the effect of faults after the mineralization. At that stage, especially siderites and other iron minerals were turned in to limonite and goethite due to karstification and surficial processes. The iron rich zones formed by this way provide raw materials for the operation. The present position of ore and host rocks is tectonically related. The processes related to diagenesis, metamorphic and late phase deformations caused strong folding and faulting tectonism of the area. The metals dissolved from primary iron minerals of sedimentary origin are mobilized to fracture zones which led to late stage siderite vein and veinlets. In the siderite samples, siderite, ankerite, pyrite, rutile and mangane dendirites have been dominantly determined. In addition, very little amount of shortite minerals accompany to the above association. Siderites consist of % 55,1-65,3 Fe203 (total iron), 2,2-10,0% SiO2, 0,9-1,3% MnO, 0,03-1,7% Al2O3, 2,1-3,6% MnO; On the other hand, limonite and goethite contain 57,2-93,8% Fe2O3 (Total iron), 0,5-1,6% MnO, 1,1-3,6% SiO2, 0,1-0,6% Al2O3, 0,05-0,6% MnO. The Cr2O3 content of 140 ppm determined in metasiltstones is also noticable. Due to evaluations of chemical data of the samples, a tendency toward relationship to basic rocks can be postulated about the origin of iron of primary sedimentary iron formations. On the formation of Attepe Iron Deposits, it has supposed to be a tendency to a probable volcanic - syn-sedimentary type, when the interpretations of the study area with all other investigations. Within the frame of this study, it is highly recommended that Precambrian units must be investigated in detail during further studies.