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Journals / Maden Tetkik ve Arama Dergisi / 2025 / Cilt: 178 Sayı: 178

Geochemical and geophysical relationship of the potassium-rich fenite zone in surface and subsurface investigations of the giant Kuluncak (Malatya) Nb-U-REE-Zr-Li mineralization

Okan Pulat(General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Western Black Sea Regional Directorate, Zonguldak, Türkiye)0000-0002-8223-6118
Murat Kirtil(General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Mineral Exploration Studies, Ankara, Türkiye)0009-0009-4246-4747
Mustafa Karakaş(eneral Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Central Anatolia 2nd Regional Directorate, Konya, Türkiye)0000-0002-1716-2298
Mustafa Küçük(General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Geophysical Surveys, Ankara, Türkiye)0009-0003-8212-4575
Ahmet Mert Ulutaş(General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Geophysical Surveys, Ankara, Türkiye)0009-0008-2790-978X
Murat Akgöz(General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Mineral Exploration Studies, Ankara, Türkiye)0000-0001-8673-1776
Ali Tugcan Unluer(Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Faculty of Mines, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul, Türkiye)0000-0003-0382-4059
Hülya Ateş(General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Department of Mineral Exploration and Research, Ankara, Turkey)0000-0002-3202-9436
Mehmet Burak Omaç(MTA International Mining Inc. (MTA Uluslararası Madencilik A.Ş.), Ankara, Türkiye)0009-0003-6926-432X
Özkan Türkan(MTA International Mining Inc. (MTA Uluslararası Madencilik A.Ş.), Ankara, Türkiye)0009-0007-7518-0762
Pages
149–181
Publication Date
2025-12-23
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings demonstrate that fenitization and carbonatite-related metasomatism are the principal processes controlling mineralization, highlighting the Kuluncak district as a strategic Nb–REE resource of both national and international importance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The Kuluncak (Malatya) district hosts one of the most significant Nb–U–REE–Zr–Li mineralizations in Türkiye, spatially associated with alkaline and carbonatite-related rocks.
📊
Key Findings & Data:In this study, geochemical and geophysical investigations were integrated with surface and drillhole data to evaluate the role of fenitization in rare earth element enrichment.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:These findings demonstrate that fenitization and carbonatite-related metasomatism are the principal processes controlling mineralization, highlighting the Kuluncak district as a strategic Nb–REE resource of both national and international importance.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Fenite · Rare Earth Elements (REE) · Niobium (Nb)

Abstract

The Kuluncak (Malatya) district hosts one of the most significant Nb–U–REE–Zr–Li mineralizations in Türkiye, spatially associated with alkaline and carbonatite-related rocks. In this study, geochemical and geophysical investigations were integrated with surface and drillhole data to evaluate the role of fenitization in rare earth element enrichment. The drillhole profiles reveal systematic variations: in marble-hosted sections, light rare earth element (LREE) anomalies occur near-surface zones coupled with K2O enrichment, whereas in nepheline syenite-hosted drillholes, REE anomalies are concentrated at intermediate depths (~40–100 m) with heterogeneous distributions. High CaO concentrations, together with fluorite, barite, apatite, and Nb–REE-bearing minerals, confirm a strong carbonatitic contribution. Geophysical anomalies (spectral gamma, magnetic maps) support the geochemical evidence and were used to identify subsurface fenite zones. Comparison with other carbonatite-related systems in Türkiye, such as the Özvatan complex (Kayseri) and Eskişehir, indicates that Kuluncak represents one of the most carbonatite-dominant and LREE-enriched systems in the region. On a global scale, the geochemical features of Kuluncak resemble world-class deposits such as Bayan Obo (China) and Ilímaussaq (Greenland). These findings demonstrate that fenitization and carbonatite-related metasomatism are the principal processes controlling mineralization, highlighting the Kuluncak district as a strategic Nb–REE resource of both national and international importance.

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Cite This Article

Pulat, O., Kirtil, M., Karakaş, M., Küçük, M., Ulutaş, A. M., Akgöz, M., Unluer, A. T., Ateş, H., Omaç, M. B., Türkan, Ö. (2025). Geochemical and geophysical relationship of the potassium-rich fenite zone in surface and subsurface investigations of the giant Kuluncak (Malatya) Nb-U-REE-Zr-Li mineralization. Maden Tetkik ve Arama Dergisi, Cilt: 178 Sayı: 178, 149–181. https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.1812181

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