Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Origin of Buyukmahal Manganese Mineralization in the Artova Ophiolitic Complex, Yozgat, Turkey

The Artova ophiolite complex (AOC) is exposed along the northwestern and eastern margins of Yozgat area in Turkey. The Mn-deposit in the Buyukmahal area is part of this ophiolite complex. The deposit is in banded and lenticular forms and hosted by a radiolarite unit overlying the volcanics. Pyrolusite and magnetite are the main minerals of the manganese ore in the Buyukmahal (Yozgat) area. The gang minerals in the deposit are composed only of quartz and calcite. In this study, mineralogy, major oxide, trace element and REE contents of Buyukmahal manganese mineralization are evaluated. The geochemical data indicate that Buyukmahal mineralization does not originate from a pure hydrothermal or pure hydrogenous source but from a system consisting of both sources. It is also asserted that the mineralization was first developed on a sea floor spreading center within the Alpine Ophiolite System and then obducted as part of the AOC.