Abstract

The Artova Ophiolitic Complex (AOC), which formed in association with Alpine Ophiolites, is exposed in the NE part of central Anatolia, in the interior of the central Black Sea region and within the borders of Çorum and Yozgat. The Derbent-Eymir manganese- oxide deposit under investigation occurs within this ophiolitic complex. The mineral association in Derbent ore is composed chiefly of pyrolusite, manganite and lesser amounts of ramsdellite, magnetite and goethite. Calcite is the main gangue mineral. The mineral association in Eymir ore is represented by pyrolusite, braunite, neltnerite, jacobsite, psilomelane and trace amount of limonite accompanied by some gangue minerals such as quartz and calcite. Electron microprobe analysis was carried out on pyrolusite, braunite and psilomelane minerals. While pyrolusite from Eymir has higher Si, Al, Mn and Ca, pyrolusite from the Derbent ore has lower Fe, K and Ba contents. Pyrolusite in the Eymir ore has higher Si, Al, Mn and Ca (10.28-7.06; 3.19-1.28; 87.98-81.88; 2.38-1.97 respectively) and lower Fe, K and Ba (0.31-0.16; 0.02-0.00; 0.07-0.00 respectively) contents in comparison to pyrolusite in the Derbent ore. Element variations in core-rim zones of spherical pyrolusites and manganite crystals elongated towards the gangue are quite noticeable. Both Eymir and Derbent ore deposits are low-temperature hydrothermal deposits. Geochemical variations recorded in various manganese minerals are found to be strongly dependent on the changes in pH and temperature of the ore-forming solution and distance to the spreading center.

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