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 KO 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 Eskisehir, 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.

Karadut iron mineralization, situated between the Göksun and Elbistan districts in the Eastern Taurus. Many large and small iron deposits and mineralization are distributed across a 40-kilometer region south of the Sürgü fault. These mineralizations are notable not only for their high-grade ore but also for how they are formed. This study aims to investigate these mineralizations by analyzing their mineralogical characteristics and examining their spatial and temporal relationships with host rocks through field observations. Karadut iron mineralization comprises two primary types: metamorphic banded magnetite and hydrothermal hematite-goethite. Metamorphic banded mineralizations, observed as numerous deposits, offer small-scale reserves. Magnetites are aligned parallel to the lamination within micaschists, with thicknesses ranging from 1 cm to 10 m. Near-surface magnetites exhibit hematite formation via martitization, accompanied by supergene limonite formations. Analyses of outcrop and core samples reveal iron contents ranging from 34.20% to 85.14% Fe2O3. This study provides the first detailed exploration of hydrothermal-type mineralizations in high-altitude areas with limited accessibility. Mineralization developed along karstic voids and tectonic lines, primarily consisting of hematite and goethite, with barite as a gangue mineral. Outcrop samples indicate iron contents reaching 85.6% Fe2O3.

The aim of this study is to understand the geological aspect and characterisation of barite bodies in Camal Island, a part of Kenyir National Geopark, in Terengganu state, Malaysia. Methods included a desk study, field investigations, and laboratory analyses including petrographic analysis, XRD, and SEM. Based on the field investigation and petrographic analysis, the host rock of the Camal Island barite body is mainly shale and mudstone with minor chert and siltstone (regionally called Kerbat Shale). The barite bodies here can be categorised into three types: stratiform, vein, and residual bodies. Thin sections of barite samples confirmed the type of barite bodies with different crystal structures. XRD analysis identified several phases including barium and barium sulfate as primary phases, sulfur, oxygen, calcium and strontium as secondary phases as well as quartz and other minor phases suggesting complex formation processes. SEM analysis of several barite samples also revealed that barite in stratiform body has fine-grained, tabular and bladed crystals, while barite in both vein and residual bodies has coarse-grained, irregular forms. These findings improve the understanding of the geology and barite mineralization of three types of barite bodies (stratiform, vein, and residual bodies) in the study area. The existence of this mineral should be protected to support the development and conservation of the Kenyir Geopark.

The Bracco chromitites are hosted in the Mesozoic Ligurian Ophiolites (Italy) and provide key insights into the magmatic and post-magmatic (i.e. metamorphic and hydrothermal) evolution of gabbro-hosted chromitites in an oceanic mantle. Petrographic and mineralogical analyses reveal that the Bracco chromitites comprise cumulitic, massive to disseminated, layered chromitites overprinted by multi-stage alteration within altered olivine–clinopyroxene–anorthite cumulates. Detailed Cr–Al–Fe³⁺ systematics indicates that primary Cr- to Al-rich chromite, affected by metamorphic-hydrothermal processes under subgreenschist facies conditions, locally escaped recrystallization and metasomatic modification. Consequently, chromite cores preserve their primary magmatic compositions consistent with crystallization from aluminous melts produced by low-degree partial mantle melting at a mid-ocean ridge (MOR) setting. Metamorphic-hydrothermal alteration is marked by multi-stage ferrian chromite rims, whereas based on their Mg content the associated chlorite is classified as clinochlore. Chlorite geothermometry indicates alteration temperatures in the range of ~100-300 °C, consistent with oceanic serpentinization under prehnite-pumpellyite facies conditions. The hydrothermal fluids were oxidizing, enriched in SiO₂ and MnO, and circulated through fracture networks in the shallow oceanic lithosphere. Elevated MnO amounts in alteration rims suggest widespread Mn-enrichment in these fluids, potentially linking them to seafloor Mn deposits in the Ligurian Ophiolites. Together, these findings indicate that the Bracco chromitites, their gabbroic hosts, and associated lherzolitic mantle rocks were at least partially exposed at the Tethyan seafloor prior to their final emplacement during the Alpine orogenetic phase, where serpentinization promoted complex chromite alteration

The Borucu (Aksaray) region, within the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex, comprises a variety of rocks, including granite, alkali feldspar granite (AFG), pegmatite, and aplite dikes. The granite and AFG host some veins or lenses of pegmatites, with lengths reaching approximately 70 m in the N10-25W direction. The AFG and pegmatitic rocks are characterized by variable mineral assemblages, including K-feldspar (orthoclase), quartz, plagioclase, and to a lesser extent, biotite, garnet, and opaque minerals. Inner zones feature the mega-grained pegmatite, whereas outer zones consist of the coarse-grained K-feldspar and quartz pegmatite. In this study, integrated surface and vertical (trenching and drilling) exploration, mineralogy-petrography, geochemical, and magnetic separation analyses were employed to assess the industrial raw material potential of the AFG and pegmatites. The total alkali (Na2O+K2O) contents reach in 15.56-16.82% for the mega-grained pegmatite, 8.07-9.76% in the coarse-grained pegmatite, and 9.20-9.66% in the AFG. However, the Fe2O3 contents (0.30-1.15%) constrain their industrial raw material quality. Magnetic separation improved the AFG material to second-quality ceramic industry standards. Despite Fe2O3 limitations, Borucu’s pegmatites and AFG represent usable industrial raw material resources.

This study integrates geochemical, statistical, and machine learning methods to investigate hydrothermal systems and mineralization processes within southern Georgia's Bektakari–Bnelikhevi ore knot. A total of 212 geochemical samples were analyzed, revealing key elemental associations such as V–Sc, Mo–W, and S–V, indicative of magmatic-hydrothermal activity and metasomatic alteration, including albitization and potassic enrichment. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and DBSCAN clustering identified two dominant alteration regimes: sulfide-rich mineralization and alkali metasomatism. Geochemical indices, Alteration Index (AI) and Chlorite–Carbonate–Pyrite Index (CCPI), effectively delineate alteration zones. AI values ranged from 45 to 95, while CCPI ranged from 30 to 85, with the highest mineralization potential concentrated in sericitic and Na–Ca zones. Feature importance analysis highlighted the Cu–Ag–Pb Index (32%) and Metallicity Factor (27%) as the strongest predictors of mineralized zones. Machine learning models achieved high precision in identifying epithermal and porphyry zones (Precision > 0.85), though recall remained low in transitional areas (Recall ~0.38), suggesting underrepresentation or overlapping features in these zones. This integrated approach offers a data-driven framework for targeting hydrothermal mineralization. The findings can inform exploration strategies by prioritizing geochemical signatures and improving zone classification in complex alteration systems.

To contribute these areas to the global literature, the UNESCOTurkishNational Commission (UTMK), theGeneral Directorate of Mineral Exploration and Production (MTA), the General Directorate for the Protection of Natural Assets (TVK), the Chamber of Geological Engineers (JMO), and the Geological Heritage Protection Association (JEMİRKO) have conducted various studies. In light of these studies, a workshop was held on March 14, 2024, to determine Türkiye's 100 Most Important Geological Heritage Sites and Key Geological Areas for National and International Visibility. In the list of the first 100 Geological Heritage Sites defined by the International Union of Geological Sciences in its 60th year (2022), two of our natural beauties were included: the Miocene-aged Cappadocia Ignimbrite Levels and the travertines of Pamukkale. As a result of the workshop, two geological beauties that were not previously included in the list (Nemrut Caldera, Bitlis, and Salda Lake, Burdur) came to the forefront, while Salda Lake in Burdur was inclued in the second 100 Geological Heritage Sites designated by the International Union of Geological Sciences. This publication has been prepared to raise awareness following the completion of the voting and scientific studies in these areas for future applications.

In this study, Early Miocene bivalve fauna obtained from Hekimhan Aksütlü locality is presented. Abundant and well-preserved ostreid samples are interesting in the area where molluscs have not been studied before. Within the community where ostreids are dominant, eight species have been identified; four species of the Ostreoidea, two Pectinoidea, one Arcoidea and one Cardioidea have been recorded. The Carbon (13C/12C) and Oxygen (18O/16O) isotope ratio results of the ostreids and sediments indicate the first findings related to the Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO) Event in Anatolia. Identified bivalves reveal that Akyar Formation was deposited in a shallow and warm sea in Early Miocene.

As one of the sustainable, domestic and renewable resource, geothermal energy has a high potential and range of application in Türkiye and it is widely used especially in space and greenhouse heating. In this study, to overcome the challenges experienced in accessing data regarding geothermal energy utilisation in Türkiye (not being available in a single source, database irregularity/inadequacy, etc.) and to form a basis for future studies, current data were collected from various institutions and compiled by focusing on space and greenhouse heating. As of 2024, 170481 Residences Equivalence (1704.8 MWt) of space is heated with geothermal energy through 25 fields in 13 provinces. Additionally, 6970158 m2 (1394 MWt) of greenhouses are heated through 62 fields in 27 provinces. 94% of space and 81% of greenhouse heating are carried out in Western Anatolia and Afyonkarahisar is the province with the most space and greenhouse heating. Domestic heating is provided in 20 geothermal fields and numerous facilities (hotels, schools, etc.) are also heated in most areas. Space and greenhouse heating have increased by 210% and 850%, respectively, between 2007 and 2024. Considering Türkiye's geothermal potential, it is expected that this development will be even greater, especially in Eastern Anatolia.

The sensors on landers and rovers on Mars enable the performance of highly sensitive analyses in a limited area. However, orbiting satellites can observe the entire surface of Mars, albeit with coarser results than those obtained by landers and rovers. The objective of the study was to calibrate the distribution of hematite (Fe₂O₃) minerals derived from satellite data using ground observations, thereby producing more sensitive data across a larger area of the Vera Rubin Ridge (VRR) region. This topographic elevation extends from the northeast to the southwest in the northwest region of the Gale Crater. In the study, a model was established between the CRISM instrument data on the MRO satellite and the Mastcam sensor data on the Curiosity rover to determine the corrections that should be applied to the satellite data. The BD860_2 parameter, which identifies the hematite mineral, was adjusted to ModBD860_2 by employing the model's regression coefficients, which exhibited a Pearson correlation coefficient (r)of 66% and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.1%. By applying the ModBD860_2 indice to the CRISM data,it was concluded that areas where the BD860_2 indice did not detect the presence of hematite could also bepotential exploration areas.