Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration (BMRE)
Not a member yet
1932 research outputs found
Sort by
Geological and reservoir modelling of coalbed methane in Karadon Region of Zonguldak Basin (Türkiye): A case study
No full textThe Zonguldak Basin stands out as Türkiye’s primary hub for bituminous coal production alongside a notable coalbed methane content of mined coal seams. In this study, we are proposing for the first time an integrated approach of geological modelling, reservoir characterization, and production forecasting of one coalbed methane block within Zonguldak Basin to understand the potential of this unconventional resource. The study initiated with the development of a 3D geological model data from the Karadon coal mine. Results of several laboratory tests conducted on coal samples such as desorption capacity which is measured as 666.67 scf/ton is integrated into the model. A reservoir model was developed by incorporating gas composition, pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) characteristics, and special core analysis (SCAL) data. A combination of 1,2,3,4 and 5 wells scenarios is proposed to figure out the best production solution adapted to the study area. As a result, a 5-wells configuration also known as the “5 spot wells” layout is selected. Five wells will be in the same well pad but deviated 600 meters distance in target zones. Each well in the pad includes two frac stages at two separated coal and shale interbedded intervals. The final volumetric projection suggests a cumulative gas production estimates around 1.803 billion m3 from 5 wells, which confirms the potential of coalbed methane as an important additional energy resource to Türkiye’s economy
(U-Th)/He geochronology of supergene iron ores from Attepe, Eastern Taurides, Türkiye: Evidence for Early Pleistocene aridification
No full textThe Taurus Mountains form the southern boundary of the Central Anatolian Plateau in Türkiye and represent part of the broader Himalayan-Tibetan orogenic system. Today, they act as a climatic divide, separating the dry, semi-arid interior in the north from the more temperate Mediterranean climate in the south. However, their formation history and climatic impacts remain unclear. In this study, we apply multiple aliquot (U-Th)/He dating to supergene iron-oxide phases from the Attepe iron deposits in the Eastern Taurides to investigate Cenozoic climatic conditions. The ages obtained from four deposits range from ~5.2 to 0.95 Ma, indicating sustained hot and humid conditions conductive to supergene mineralization during the Plio-Pleistocene. The observed decrease in age with depth, reflect a progressive deepening of the weathering front at rates of 6.4 to 18 meters per million years between 5 and 1 Ma. The preservation of supergene iron minerals formed during a stable, warm, and humid period between the late Miocene and Middle Pliocene means the absence of rapid uplift or erosion within the past million years. Instead, the youngest goethite around 0.95 Ma supports the hypothesis that regional climate change, rather than tectonic uplift, was the primary factor of increasing aridity around ~1 Ma
Update on the utilisation of geothermal energy for space and greenhouse heating in Türkiye
No full textAs 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. Most areas including 20 geothermal fields and numerous facilities (hotels, schools, etc.) are also heated with domestic heating. Space and greenhouse heating have increased by 210% and 850%, respetively, between 2007 and 2024. Considering Türkiye’s geothermal potential, it is expected that this development will be even greater, especially in Eastern Anatolia
Mineralogy and geochemistry of kaolinitic clays in the Şile Neogene Basin (İstanbul, Türkiye)
No full textŞile Neogene Basin (ŞNB) is one of the world’s crucial sedimentary clay-sand-coal basins, where approximately 3 million tons of clay and 20 million tons of sand are produced annually. The ŞNB, with a thickness of \u3c54 \u3em, lies unconformably on partly Paleozoic and partly Mesozoic basement units. Clay levels with a total thickness ofkaolinite, quartz and illite, and small amounts of Ca-smectite, mixed-layered phase (I/S), feldspar, siderite, chlorite, muscovite (+/- sericite), anatase, iron oxides/hydroxides, alunite and pyrite. Geochemically, most of the major oxides and SiO2/Al2O3 ratios do not show significant changes on the vertical or lateral scale. On the other hand, trace elements, REE contents and Th/U ratios of the clay levels overlaying the Paleozoic sandstones are higher than the clays overlaying the Mesozoic volcanics. REEs are higher in the lower part of the Neogene sequence than in the upper part. The mineralogical and geochemical data show that the existing material of ŞNB is an accumulation of different basement rock groups, the mineral type and size of the transported fragments varied at short intervals and carried the effects of various environmental conditions and alteration types
Magnetic anomalies and geological signatures in the Black Sea: a comprehensive study of the east and west basins
No full textThis study investigates the origin of the Black Sea, focusing on the East and West Black Sea basins. Data such as Curie Point Depth values, heat flow, bathymetry, Moho depth, sediment thickness, and magnetic depth estimation were analyzed to explore the region’s geological features. Correlations between these parameters were assessed for each basin, shedding light on their tectonic history and the influence of volcanic rocks. Thinner sedimentary covers enhanced the detectability of rocks with higher magnetic properties, while the interiors showed lower magnetic anomalies due to younger sedimentary rocks. Edge detection techniques, like tilt angle and Local Wavenumber methods, improved magnetic data interpretation. The study computed Curie Point Depth and heat flow using 65 blocks, revealing greater depths in the Western Black Sea (up to 32 km) compared to the Eastern Black Sea (24-28 km). Two profiles (A-A’ and B-B’) were examined for further insights. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the geological evolution of the Black Sea basins
Geochemistry of beach sands from the Bartın and Samsun-Ordu coastal districts, Northern Black Sea, Türkiye: implications for provenance
No full textThis study aims to investigate geochemical and petrological characteristics, chemical weathering indices and provenance of the beach sands collected from 11 different sites along the coastlines of Bartın, Samsun and Ordu districts adjacent to mafic and intermediate volcanic rocks on the Pontides. Petrological findings show that the abundance of detrital quartz, feldspar and sedimentary lithic fragments increase in beach sands of the Bartın region where the SiO2 values fall in a wide range (47 to 87 wt.%). The Samsun and Ordu beach sands have moderately low SiO2 (50 to 61 wt. % and 48 to 62 wt. %, respectively) and relatively high Fe2O3 contents. LREE concentrations of investigated beach sands show enrichment patterns. Mafic minerals, especially pyroxene and magnetite grains are represented by eroded or abraded morphologies due to dissolution and erosion processes, while opaque heavy minerals show signs of recycling from basic adjacent rocks with etched to subrounded grain surface textures. The low chemical index of alteration (CIA) estimated for the beach sand samples implies the presence of fresh rock erosion along the coasts. We used magnetite to gain better understanding of the formation and origin of Fe-rich beach sands. The mineral chemistry data indicate that studied magnetites have quite similar composition and the mobility of trace elements exerts a great control on their distribution in magnetite
Reply to: “Discussion: Determination of Atterberg Limits Using the Vane Shear Test Method [Bull. Min. Res. Exp. (2024) 174: 1–10]”
No full textThe main focus of the criticisms raised by O’Kelly and Soltani (2025) (hereafter referred to as discussers) to the authors’ article in Bulletin of Mineral Research and Exploration (174, 1-10) is to examine the veracity of the strength-based equations presented by Kayabalı et al. (2024). The discussers applied the predictive equations proposed by the authors to dissimilar soils in the two articles (Kayabalı et al., 2015a; Kayabalı et al., 2015b) published earlier by the lead author with his research group. The discussers showed that the predictive equations 6 and 7 given by Kayabalı et al. (2024) yield extremely high values of liquid limit (LL) and plastic limit (PL) when applied to dissimilar soils. Further, discussers argued that the approach proposed by Kayabalı et al. (2024) led to erroneous results in determining soil classes
Newly identified uranyl vanadate mineral formation in the Thrace Basin, NW Türkiye: Insights into identification and origin of carnotite and tyuyamunite minerals
No full textThe Thrace Basin is located in the northwest of Türkiye, bounded by the Rhodope Zones to the west, the Strandja (Istranca, Strandzha) Massif to the North, and the İstanbul Zone to the east. The Stranja Massif’s basement is composed of the Tekedere Group, which includes Paleozoic gneisses and schists, as well as the Şeytandere Metagranite, consisting of altered and unaltered metagranites. Unaltered metagranites are characterized by large feldspar crystals and are typically white and pink in color, while altered metagranites are typically yellow color. The subject of this study Şeytandere metagranites which the uraninite mineral, for the first time, was identified in unaltered metagranite samples, while carnotite and tyuyamunite minerals were identified in altered meta-granite samples. The morphologies and elemental compositions of these minerals were identified by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The SEM-EDS analyses revealed that the major elements of carnotite [K2(UO2)2(V2O8)(H2O)3] and tyuyamunite [Ca(UO2)2(V2O8)(H2O)8] are of K, U and V and Ca, U and V, respectively. In the investigated samples carnotite has a plate-like morphology, whereas tyuyamunite shows a fibrous appearence. This investigation shows that carnotite and tyuyamunite are epigenetically formed from uranyl vanadate minerals in the Şeytandere metagranite. These minerals indicate uranium leaching from granitic materials and re-deposition as fine specks in open pores by circulating meteoric water. The leached uranyl ions, combined with vanadate ions, form carnotite and tyuyamunite under weathering conditions
Bivalvia biostratigraphy of Aksütlü region (Hekimhan, NW Malatya, Türkiye) and paleoclimatological interpretations
No full textIn 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
Importance of grain size distribution in quantitative analysis using Rietveld Method: An experimental study
No full textThe Rietveld method refines a theoretical line profile until it fits the measured profile using a least squares methodology. In Rietveld method, complete qualitative mineral determination, mineral chemistry, appropriate XRD analytical conditions and sample preparation steps should be applied correctly. This study aims to determine the grain size-dependent variations in the quantitative compositions of minerals with various chemical compositions and crystallographic characteristics. Eight pure minerals (quartz, calcite, halite, colemanite, barite, polyhalite, gypsum, thenardite) are been selected, powdered, pulverized and separated into 3 different grain sizes as 228μm (Dv90), 29μm (Dv90) and 8μm (Dv90). These minerals are mixed in certain proportions to prepare three mixture samples. Mixture samples are evaluated using the Rietveld Method on XRD whole rock patterns and then compared to the actual reference mixture sample whose mixing ratio is known for each grain size. Sample with a grain size of 8μm (Dv90) with random orientation gave the closest result compared to the reference content. If the structural and physical refinement stages are processed properly, accuracy of percentage mineralogical composition increases when the grain size decreases