MINERALOGICAL AND PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF AMETHYST FROM HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS IN TÜRKIYE
9. INTERNATIONAL CAPPADOCIA SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONGRESS, Nevşehir, Türkiye, 3 - 05 Temmuz 2026, cilt.1, sa.1, ss.1, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
- Cilt numarası: 1
- Basıldığı Şehir: Nevşehir
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1
- Çukurova Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Amethyst, the purple variety of hydrothermal quartz, is one of the most valuable gemstone varieties owing to its distinctive colour, mineralogical characteristics, and economic importance. Although hydrothermal amethyst deposits have been extensively investigated worldwide, a comprehensive evaluation of Turkish occurrences has remained limited. This review presents an integrated assessment of the mineralogical, petrographic, crystal-chemical, genetic, and economic characteristics of hydrothermal amethyst mineralization in Türkiye based on current international literature. Particular emphasis is placed on the well- documented deposits of Yozgat (Aydıncık) and Balıkesir (Bigadiç–Yukarıgöçek), which are re-evaluated within the framework of modern genetic models of hydrothermal quartz mineralization. The available evidence indicates that the Aydıncık occurrence represents a volcanic-related epithermal system hosted by altered andesitic rocks, whereas the Bigadiç occurrence is characterized by granite-related hydrothermal vein mineralization developed within structurally controlled fracture systems. These contrasting geological settings demonstrate that Turkish amethyst deposits cannot be explained by a single genetic model despite sharing a common hydrothermal origin. The review further highlights that amethyst colouration results from the combined effects of Fe-related defect centres, trace-element substitutions, crystal defects, and natural ionizing radiation rather than from total iron concentration alone. From an economic perspective, Turkish amethyst deposits exhibit considerable potential for gemstone production, mineral collecting, lapidary processing, and geotourism, although their commercial value is strongly influenced by colour zoning, crystal quality, and mining practices. Finally, this review identifies significant research gaps and emphasizes that integrated applications of cathodoluminescence (CL), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA- ICP-MS), Raman spectroscopy, fluid inclusion microthermometry, and stable isotope geochemistry will substantially improve the understanding of hydrothermal fluid evolution, crystal-growth processes, and the genetic evolution of amethyst deposits in Türkiye.