Mineralogical and petrographical examination of karaçayir igneous rocks

Although rare earth elements are found primarily or secondary in many geological environments and rock communities, carbonatite formations represent important target rocks for exploration activities. In the rock group, whose origin is still controversial due to its magmatic origin, there are large calcite crystals in the macroscopic texture, as well as apatite, mica, amphibole, pyroxene and magnetite, etc. There are also minerals. In field observations, this rock type can be found in stock, dyke and vein types that have a cross-cutting relationship with host rocks. The carbonatite formations observed in the Late Cretaceous aged Karaçayır pluton in Karaçayır district, located in the north of Sivas province, contain carbonatite outcrops with very typical texture. Carbonatite formations in the form of dykes and veins cut syenitic rocks as the parent rock and mostly contain medium to large calcite crystals as well as apatite, mica, amphibole and magnetite minerals. The origin, formation and age data of the samples collected from carbonatite outcrops have been confirmed by macroscopic-microscopic observations as well as detailed isotope and geochemistry studies, and the region is home to the most typical carbonatite outcrops of Central Anatolia.​