Selected chromite mines in western Turkey (Fig. 1) were the focus for a stu
dy of platinum-group element (PGE) and Au concentrations in chromite ores a
nd host rocks. Forty-six underground chromite mines were sampled in ten dis
tricts. The chromite is hosted in peridotite, dunite, serpentinized harzbur
gite and Iherzolite rocks of late Jurassic to late Cretaceous age. A total
of 113 ore and rock samples were collected and examined.
High PGE concentrations are a feature of chromite-rich rocks worldwide in u
ltramafic complexes of Alpine type.(1,6,8,23,29) Knowledge of the geology a
nd geochemistry of these deposits is, therefore, critical to understanding
of the mechanism of PGE mineralization and its genesis. The study area cont
ains numerous chromite deposits in a complex, ENE-trending suture zone betw
een the Izmir-Ankara ophiolite zone in the north and the Taurides platform
in the south. More than 200 chromite occurrences, prospects and mines are s
cattered throughout the peridotites, dunites and serpentinized Iherzholite-
harzburgites(10).