Turkey sits where Europe meets Asia, and that geological crossroads gives it a wide variety of mineral resources used across industry, construction and technology. From small-scale quarrying to large mines, Turkey’s deposits reflect diverse rock types and long tectonic activity.
There are 34 Minerals in Turkey, ranging from Barite to Zinc. The list is organized with the columns Primary uses,Main provinces,Latest production (t), so you can quickly see each mineral’s common applications, where it’s concentrated, and recent output — you’ll find the full breakdown below.
How reliable are the “Latest production (t)” numbers?
Production figures come from a mix of official Turkish government reports, industry disclosures and trade statistics; they give a useful snapshot but can vary by year and reporting method, so check the cited year and source for each entry if you need precise or up-to-date data.
Which provinces should I watch for mineral activity or investment?
Look at provinces that repeatedly appear across the list — regions with multiple high-production entries often indicate established infrastructure and skilled labor; combine that pattern with local permitting rules and commodity demand to identify practical research or investment opportunities.
Minerals in Turkey
| Mineral | Primary uses | Main provinces | Latest production (t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boron (borate minerals) | Glass, detergents, agriculture, ceramics | Eskişehir,Kütahya,Balıkesir | N/A |
| Chromite | Stainless steel, ferrochrome, refractories | Elazığ,Gümüşhane,Giresun | N/A |
| Copper | Electrical, construction, alloys | Artvin,Elazığ,western Anatolia | N/A |
| Gold | Jewelry, investment, electronics | Uşak (Kışladağ),Erzincan,İzmir | N/A |
| Silver | Jewelry, electronics, photography | Rize,Balıkesir,Erzincan | N/A |
| Iron ore | Steelmaking, pig iron | Sivas (Divriği),Malatya,Erzincan | N/A |
| Bauxite | Aluminium production | Bursa,Balıkesir,Aydın | N/A |
| Manganese | Steel alloys, batteries, chemicals | Giresun,Elazığ | N/A |
| Lead | Batteries, pigments, alloys | Zonguldak,Balıkesir,Rize | N/A |
| Zinc | Galvanizing, alloys, chemicals | Rize,Balıkesir,Kastamonu | N/A |
| Barite | Drilling muds, weighting agents, chemicals | Aegean region,Southeastern Anatolia | N/A |
| Feldspar | Glass, ceramics, fillers | Aydın,Muğla,İzmir | N/A |
| Kaolin | Paper, ceramics, paints | Kütahya,Bilecik,Western Anatolia | N/A |
| Bentonite | Drilling muds, foundry, cat litter | Edirne,Nevşehir,Sivas,Balıkesir | N/A |
| Perlite | Insulation, horticulture, lightweight aggregates | Nevşehir,Manisa,Niğde | N/A |
| Diatomite | Filtration, absorbents, polishing | Kütahya,Çankırı,Manisa | N/A |
| Pumice | Lightweight aggregate, abrasives, horticulture | Nevşehir,İzmir,Manisa | N/A |
| Zeolite (natural) | Water treatment, pet litters, catalysts | Manisa,Denizli,İzmir | N/A |
| Marble | Building, decorative stone, monuments | Denizli,Afyon,Muğla,Balıkesir | N/A |
| Travertine | Flooring, cladding, decorative stone | Denizli (Pamukkale),Burdur | N/A |
| Onyx (calcite) | Decorative stone, sculpture, countertops | Denizli,Afyon | N/A |
| Limestone | Cement, construction, lime production | Widespread (Anatolia) | N/A |
| Gypsum | Plaster, drywall, cement additive | Kayseri,Denizli,Konya | N/A |
| Dolomite | Refractories, steel, construction aggregate | Balıkesir,Çanakkale,Western Anatolia | N/A |
| Quartz / Silica sand | Glassmaking, foundry, silicon industry | Bursa,Denizli,İzmir | N/A |
| Talc | Ceramics, paint, plastics, paper | Kastamonu,Balıkesir,Western Turkey | N/A |
| Mica (muscovite) | Electrical insulators, cosmetics, paint | Bursa,Western Anatolia | N/A |
| Chromium (metal) — note: chromite feedstock | Stainless steel alloys, plating | Elazığ,Gümüşhane,Giresun | N/A |
| Natural stone (other decorative) | Cladding, landscaping, monuments | Muğla,İzmir,Afyon | N/A |
| Dolerite / Basalt | Aggregate, road stone, construction | Widespread volcanic regions | N/A |
| Garnet (industrial) | Abrasives, waterjet cutting, filtration | Western Anatolia,İzmir region | N/A |
| Sulphide polymetallic ores | Source of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag | Various (volcanic-hosted regions) | N/A |
| Pyrite (sulphur-bearing) | Chemical industry, sulfuric acid production | Western and Central Anatolia | N/A |
| Chromium concentrate (processed) | Ferrochrome production, exports | Elazığ,Gümüşhane | N/A |
Images and Descriptions
Boron (borate minerals)
Turkey is the world’s leading source of borate minerals (colemanite, tincal). Found in sedimentary evaporite basins of western and central Anatolia, boron is vital for glass, ceramics and fertilizers and drives significant export revenue.
Chromite
Chromite occurs in ophiolite belts and ultramafic complexes in eastern and northern Turkey. Important for stainless steel production, Turkish chromite is concentrated in a few provinces and historically significant for metallurgical industry.
Copper
Copper in Turkey occurs in porphyry and volcanogenic deposits, especially in eastern and western Anatolia. It is mined for electrical wiring, industrial alloys and local smelting; many deposits also produce gold and silver as by-products.
Gold
Gold production comes from epithermal and porphyry deposits in western and eastern Turkey. Large open-pit mines and several mid-size operations supply bullion, making gold an increasingly important metal for mining investment and exports.
Silver
Silver is mainly a by-product of base-metal and gold mining across Turkey. It occurs with lead-zinc and copper ores and is recovered in concentrate processing, supporting jewelry and industrial demand.
Iron ore
Iron ore is found in banded iron and sedimentary deposits; Divriği (Sivas) is historically the most famous. Iron supports Turkey’s large steel sector, with deposits distributed across central and eastern regions.
Bauxite
Bauxite deposits in western Turkey supply the aluminium industry. Found in karstic and lateritic settings, Turkish bauxite feeds domestic alumina plants and supports downstream metal production when available.
Manganese
Manganese occurs in sedimentary and hydrothermal deposits. Used in steelmaking and battery chemistry, Turkish manganese deposits are modest but locally important for alloy production.
Lead
Lead is produced from vein and carbonate-hosted polymetallic deposits, often with zinc and silver. It supplies battery and industrial uses and arises as a by-product from several base-metal mines.
Zinc
Zinc is recovered from carbonate-hosted and vein deposits, frequently alongside lead and silver. It is crucial for corrosion protection (galvanizing) and broad industrial applications.
Barite
Barite (barium sulfate) occurs in hydrothermal veins and sedimentary deposits. Turkey supplies barite for drilling fluids, paints and chemicals, with deposits scattered across several regions.
Feldspar
Feldspar is an abundant industrial mineral in western Turkey, quarried for glass and ceramic industries. Occurs in pegmatites and metamorphic rocks; local processing serves domestic tile and tableware production.
Kaolin
Kaolin (white clay) is mined from weathered granites and sedimentary deposits. Important for ceramics, paper coating and fillers, Turkish kaolin supports both domestic manufacturing and exports.
Bentonite
Bentonite (smectite clays) forms from volcanic ash alteration. Widely distributed, it’s used in drilling fluids, sealing, iron ore pelletizing and consumer products; Turkey ranks among notable producers.
Perlite
Perlite is a volcanic glass that expands when heated. Turkish deposits are mainly in Central Anatolia; expanded perlite is used for insulation, soil mixes and lightweight construction materials.
Diatomite
Diatomite (siliceous sedimentary rock from diatoms) occurs in lacustrine basins. Turkey produces diatomite for filtration, absorbents and industrial polishing agents, often near central and western lake regions.
Pumice
Pumice is widely quarried in volcanic regions like Cappadocia and western Anatolia. Lightweight and abrasive, Turkish pumice is used in construction blocks, exfoliants and horticultural substrates.
Zeolite (natural)
Natural zeolites (clinoptilolite and others) occur in altered volcanic tuffs. Turkey is a significant source, supplying agriculture, water purification, gas adsorption and animal feed applications.
Marble
Turkey’s famous marbles are quarried in western Anatolia with varied colors and patterns. Major exporter of decorative stone, marble supports construction and interior design markets globally.
Travertine
Travertine is a banded carbonate deposited by thermal waters; Turkey’s Pamukkale is both a tourist landmark and a major source of travertine used internationally as building stone.
Onyx (calcite)
Turkish onyx (calcite onyx) is a translucent decorative stone quarried in western Turkey. Used for veneers, countertops and ornamental work, it’s prized for dramatic banding and polishability.
Limestone
Limestone is ubiquitous across Turkey and underpins the cement industry. Quarried in many provinces, it supplies aggregate, lime and raw material for cement and steelmaking.
Gypsum
Gypsum deposits in evaporitic basins are mined for plaster, wallboards and cement additives. Turkish gypsum supports local construction material production and regional building sectors.
Dolomite
Dolomite occurs in carbonate rock sequences and is quarried for refractory linings, steel fluxes and as crushed stone. Turkey’s dolomite resources are exploited regionally for industry.
Quartz / Silica sand
High-purity quartz and silica sand deposits support glass, foundry and chemical industries. Found in sedimentary lenses and hydrothermal veins, silica is an essential feedstock for multiple sectors.
Talc
Talc deposits in metamorphic terrains are mined for use in ceramics, paints and plastics as a filler and lubricant. Turkish talc serves domestic manufacturers and some export markets.
Mica (muscovite)
Mica occurs in pegmatites and metamorphic rocks. Muscovite is used for electrical insulation, cosmetics and filler applications; deposits in western Turkey support niche industrial uses.
Chromium (metal) — note: chromite feedstock
Turkey’s chromite ores are the source material for chromium metal and ferrochrome production. Found in ophiolitic belts, chromium is critical for stainless steel and corrosion-resistant alloys.
Natural stone (other decorative)
Beyond marble and travertine, Turkey quarriess a wide range of decorative stones—granites, andesites, limestones—used domestically and exported for architectural finishes and landscaping.
Dolerite / Basalt
Dolerite and basalt quarries supply crushed rock for roads, rail ballast and construction. These volcanic rocks are common in many Turkish highland and plateau areas, supporting local infrastructure projects.
Garnet (industrial)
Garnet-rich metamorphic rocks are locally quarried for abrasive mineral applications. Turkish garnet is used in waterjet cutting, sandblasting and industrial filtration media.
Sulphide polymetallic ores
Polymetallic sulphide deposits occur in Turkey’s volcanic belts and are major sources of copper, lead, zinc and silver. These complex ores underpin much of the country’s metal mining activity.
Pyrite (sulphur-bearing)
Pyrite is found in hydrothermal and sedimentary deposits; historically used as a source of sulfur for chemicals. In Turkey it occurs alongside other base-metal mineralization.
Chromium concentrate (processed)
Processed chromite concentrates are exported or fed to ferrochrome smelting. Turkey’s chromite beneficiation supports alloy production and international trade in chromium raw materials.
