What Minerals Are Extracted in the Marmara Region?

What is the Place of the Marmara Region in the Turkish Economy?

Located in the Northwest of Turkey, the region gets its name from the Sea of Marmara, which lies between the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas within its borders. Being the gateway of Turkey to the Balkans, and thus to Western civilizations, the region has the largest population among the 7 regions. The region, with its high cultural level, has many universities, especially in Istanbul. The region, which plays a significant role in carrying the economic burden of Turkey, is of critical importance in terms of transportation and location. The value of the region, which hosts Istanbul, the focal point of every state from past to present, is increasing day by day. The region, which acts as a bridge between Asia and Europe, has always been at the center of trade routes from past to present. With the accumulation brought by its location as a meeting point of civilizations, it has become a city with a high general cultural level. The region, which leads in land, air, and sea transportation, has not neglected to use the advantages of its location in the economy. The concentration of a large part of Turkey's industry in 3-4 provinces within the region, and the control and efficient use of industry through organized industrial zones, have made the region prominent in the industrial sector. The region, which offers employment opportunities to many people with its diversified sectors thanks to industry, has always been among the regions where people living in other regions migrate to work. The region, which has a cosmopolitan structure due to the diversification of the population structure by those who migrate to earn money, has not been able to preserve its unique culture, especially in areas where industry is concentrated, and could not prevent it from changing and shaping. The region has made and continues to make a considerable contribution to the economy not only with its industry but also with its mineral deposits.

What are the Minerals Extracted in the Marmara Region?

Although the region is not very rich in terms of underground resources; it has sufficient knowledge, experience, and therefore technology to process the minerals it extracts. Due to the sea within the region and the mountains encountered as one goes north, mining cannot be carried out intensively. Boron mineral, of which Turkey has the largest number compared to all other countries in the world, is extracted in settlements such as Bursa and Susurluk. With developing technology and implemented policies, boron mineral is increasingly processed and started to be used in various fields. Natural gas, which occupies a large part of Turkey's imports and sometimes causes it to confront Russia or Iran, can be extracted in Hamitabat; however, the amount extracted can only reduce imports. Iron ore, which is the main raw material for industry and manufactured products, can be extracted in the Çatalca area and can also be processed and used in industrial facilities within the region. Despite its unfavorable conditions, the region has used its technology on the few minerals it possesses and has managed to make them productive. In the coming years, as industry will be the main source of livelihood for the region and its people, exploration for minerals used in industry may be initiated.