Ore enrichment facilities in Turkey are designed for the floatation method. Most of these facilities have mineralogical problems besides technological problems. Therefore, production of bulk concentration is preferred to the selective products. Furthermore, the efficiency of these facilities is between 60 to 90%, which is far below the 85-95% efficiency in European Union.

 The concentration facilities can produce only 100 to 150 tons/day because of the small reserves. This capacity is regarded as pilot facility in the World. Low capacity effects the prices. Therefore, production of ores higher in quality than the World standards is preferred.

 Enrichment of oxide ores is made by Çinkur Waelz furnaces. Although the Waelz method is the latest technology in refining low quality (12% Zn) oxide ores, it did not find much of a use because of its high energy inputs, and low efficiency.

 Çinkur is the largest facility in the sector with 33x10³ tons of zinc metal and 125 tons of cadmium. But the facility is stopped after it was sold to private enterprise.

 In Turkey, there are facilities with capacities of 1.1x10⁶ tons of sulphuric tuvenane ore production, 100x10³ tons/year selective zinc production, 25x10³ tons/year lead concentration and 51x10³ tons/year bulk concentration production.

 3.6 Organizations in the Sector

 Although lead-zinc mining is very complex, they are the most commonly mined. In the sector, there are a total of 40 companies and 21 enrichment facilities. 16 of these facilities are for sulphuric ores and 5 of them are for carbonated ores.

 Metal zinc production from ore has been conducted by Çinkur until 1999. It’s capacity was 33.5x10³ tons of zinc metal and 125 tons of cadmium, using 200x10³ tons of oxide ore. But the facility has stopped in 1999.

 Çanakkale Madencilik, Adana Madencilik, Barit Madencilik and  Ber-Oner facilities, which are founded in 1993, are still functioning, using ores suitable for producing selective concentration. Rize Çayeli Facilities refine sulphuric ores to produce selective zinc concentration. It refines 650x10³ tons of ore to produce 75x10³ tons of zinc concentration per year.

 4. Conclusion

 There are copper and zinc ores in the Siirt Madenköy mining area. This area is owned by Eti Holdings. When the production begins in this area, 100x10³ tons of zinc concentration will be produced with copper concentrations. In the Northern Black Sea region, zinc, lead and copper are found together. With the mining in this area, zinc and lead concentrations will be produces selectively. 30x10³ tons of zinc and 20x10³ tons of lead concentration can be produced. The ore beds in Balya and Yenice in Northwest Turkey, will produce 40x10³ tons of zinc and 20x10³ tons of lead concentration.

 When the production begins in the Siirt Madenköy mining area, 100x10³ tons of zinc concentration will be produced with copper concentrations. 

With the mining in the Northern Black Sea region, 30x10³ tons of zinc and 20x10³ tons of lead concentration can be produced.

 The ore beds in Balya and Yenice in Northwest Turkey, will produce 40x10³ tons of zinc and 20x10³ tons of lead concentration.

 With the improvement of the Yozgat Akdağmadeni and Kayseri Zamantı areas, an increase of 20x10³ tons of zinc and 10x10³ tons of lead concentration can be achieved. 

North and Middle Turkey metal tracks must be explored for base ores. Ore beds that have 5% Pb-Zn can be operated with feasibly with accordance to their gold and silver content.

 Lead-zinc production is currently 130x10³ tons/year. This must be increased to 250x10³ tons/year. For this an Imperial Smelting facility must be founded in Northeastern Turkey around Hopa. This facility must have a capacity of 100x10³ tons/year zinc metal and 50x10³ tons lead metal.

 Çinkur must be operated again.

 Çinkur must operate mainly with the oxide lead-zinc ores from Middle Anatolia. Sulphuric Pb-Zn ores must be refined in the facility that will be founded in Hopa. This facility can also operate ores from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

 Relations between Turkish mining organizations and Caucasian Countries must be improved. Pb-Zn ore facilities and liquidification facilities in Turkic Republics and the Balkans should be bought and operated.

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