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

Authors

Okan PULAT Ms, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Western Black Sea Regional Directorate, Zonguldak, TürkiyeFollow
Murat KIRTIL MS, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Mineral Exploration Studies, Ankara, TürkiyeFollow
Mustafa KARAKAŞ Ms, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Central Anatolia 2nd Regional Directorate, Konya, TürkiyeFollow
Mustafa KÜÇÜK Ms, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Geophysical Surveys, Ankara, TürkiyeFollow
Ahmet Mert ULUTAŞ Ms, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Geophysical Surveys, Ankara, TürkiyeFollow
Murat AKGÖZ Phd, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Mineral Exploration Studies, Ankara, TürkiyeFollow
Ali Tuğcan ÜNLÜER Phd, anbul Technical University (ITU), Faculty of Mines, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul, TürkiyeFollow
Hülya ATEŞ Phd, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Department of Mineral Exploration Studies, Ankara, TürkiyeFollow
Mehmet Burak OMAÇ Ms, MTA International Mining Inc. (MTA Uluslararası Madencilik A.Ş.), Ankara, TürkiyeFollow
Özkan TÜRKAN Ms, MTA International Mining Inc. (MTA Uluslararası Madencilik A.Ş.), Ankara, TürkiyeFollow

DOI

10.19111/bulletinofmre.1812181

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.

Recommended Citation

PULAT, Okan Ms; KIRTIL, Murat MS; KARAKAŞ, Mustafa Ms; KÜÇÜK, Mustafa Ms; ULUTAŞ, Ahmet Mert Ms; AKGÖZ, Murat Phd; ÜNLÜER, Ali Tuğcan Phd; ATEŞ, Hülya Phd; OMAÇ, Mehmet Burak Ms; and TÜRKAN, Özkan Ms (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," Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration: Vol. 2025: Iss. 178, Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.1812181