Mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical properties of Başalan (Bozdoğan, Aydın) marbles and veins associated with the Menderes Massive

In this study, the mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical properties of the Jurassic-Cratese aged marbles associated with the Menderes Massif and their veins located around Başalan (Bozdoğan, Aydın) were investigated. In order to determine the units outcropping in the study area, a 1:25.000 scaled geological map was drawn. Accordingly; 4 basic units, schists which are the cover series of the Menderes massif, phyllites, marbles, and terrestrial detritus are observed in the study area. As can be clearly seen in the drilling activities carried out in the field, the Permian aged schists, which are the cover series of the Menderes Massif, are overlain by the marbles outcropping in the region. Schists, which are in almost all shades of gray and green, are in incompatible contacts with marble. The gneisses, which are high grade products of the massif in the NE direction of Başalan Village, cropped out locally in a small area. According to petrographic studies, the dominant texture of Başalan marbles is granoblastic texture. In addition, intricate and mosaic textures are also seen. Mineral paragenesis of marbles includes calcite, biotite, epidote, chlorite, hornblende, quartz and rarely pyroxene. According to the results of the chemical analysis, the marbles exposed in the study area are of 2 main types, siliceous marble and quartzite. The high amount of loss of ignition in the samples indicates that Başalan marbles are rich in volatile gases and water content. After SiO2 and CaO, the most abundant oxides in the analyzed sample are Al2O3 (6.40%) and Fe2O3 (5.70%), respectively. The MgO content remained at 3.30%. This shows that the dolomitic contribution is quite low in Başalan marbles. Considering the trace element contents of Başalan marbles, it can be said that they are poor in terms of trace elements. According to REE contents, Başalan siliceous marbles are enriched in all rare earth elements except Ho according to chondrite values.