Geology and petrography of the Masatdagi diasporic bauxites, Alanya, Antalya, Turkey

Abstract

There are more than fifteen bauxite outcrops in the study area located in the southern part of the Central Taurides. The bauxites are developed in the Upper Permian Cebireis Formation (carbonate rocks interbedded with schist) and Lower Triassic Asmaca Formation (limestone, dolomite, quartzite and schist). The bauxite outcrops are observed as parts of two or three independent bauxite blocks that were broken apart by faulting and an erosional surface. Based on outcrop appearances, four ore types can be defined; black, earthy, clayey, and Fe- and Mn-bearing bauxites. Oolitic textures are common in all ore types, except the earthy ones. Bauxites are represented by a mixture of diaspore and clay in varying proportions. Diaspore, boehmite, gibbsite, corundum, hematite, goethite, amorphous iron hydroxide, magnetite, chamosite, pyrite, marcasite, psilomelane, rutile, kaolinite, illite, muscovite, hydro-muscovite, chlorite, chloritoid, rectorite, ephesite, albite, microcline, quartz, K–Mg–Al silicate, hydrated K–Al silicate, and dolomite are present in the ore paragenesis. Bauxites, which are observed at or near the contact between the Cebireis and Asmaca formations, are thought to be fillings of cavities within and/or on Late Triassic—early Cretaceous carbonate rocks.