The genesis and economic characteristics of the sütleğen region (Kaş, Antalya) bauxite deposits

Bauxite is made up of metallic enrichment and silicification. The formation mechanism, regional geology, paleoclimate and geochemical evaluation of bauxite that took place around Sütleğen village has been tried to be understood. About XRD, XRF, ICP-MS analysis and microscope examinations of bauxite, limestone and terra-rossa samples compiled from the field. In interpretations, under multivariable alternative methods (SPSS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Bauxites are found in a sedimentary basin consisting of Upper Lutetian-Lower Burdigalian aged sandstone, claystone, silt stone and limestone, which are settled as a result of tectonic movements in Yeşilbarak nappe. Geochemical analysis data show that the major components in the ore composition are Al2O3, Fe2O3, TiO2, major minerals, boehmite, kaolinite, hematite, gibsite, goethite and anatase; The minor minerals were found to be anortite, quartz and quartzite. While Al2O3, SiO2, Fe2O3, Cr, Mn, Co, As, Se, Au, Hg, Pb, Th, U are enriched in bauxite formation processes; P2O5, K2O, CaO, SO3, TiO2, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Sn, Te are depleted. MgO, Cd, In, Ta, Pt, Ir, TI, on the other hand, were found by mass change calculations in which they are inactive elements. ∑REE values of bauxite samples were found to very between 297.5-26.7 ppm. LREE concentrations of bauxite samples tended to increase compared to the HREE group. Using the Log Cr-Ni diagram of the bauxites, the geological genesis was found karstic and ultrabasic. It has been revealed that the bauxites have undergone moderate and strong laterization as a result of the separation of iron from the medium and they are collected under 4 groups as lateritic, ferritic, kaolinitic and bauxite. Formation characterization of bauxite is as follows; With the superficial transport phenomena of the lateritic material occurring in the environment, with the filling of the karstic type limestones and sedimentary units in the region into the cavities and pores, bauxytophil minerals have undergone metamorphism processes and formed karstic type bauxites. According to the classification of Al2O3/SiO2 module value, industrial bauxite and aluminum raw material have fallen into the range of bauxite. The region, which contains bauxitic material that can be used in a wide scale in industrial use, is economically important.