Turkish Marble and Natural Stones The very first evaluation of Turkish natural stone reserves was held in 1996 by General Management of MTA and the result was determined as 5x10 9 cubicmeter. The marble and natural stone sector has registered an average annual growth rate twice the world average. There are over 150 marble deposits of different colours, design and quality in 80 districts. Turkey is one of the leading countries in the world, having considerable amounts of natural stone reserves. Marble, granite, composed stone or cotto which are all known as natural stones, are being used as a floor covering material for years.
NATURAL STONES Production Natural stone is the oldest construction material used by man. From ancient times until today, natural stones have played an important role in Turkish industry and architecture. Marble has been processed and used by all civilizations in Anatolia. Since ancient times
marble has been used as an architectural decoration in order to beautify The Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman empires in particular used marble in their buildings. The most famous was the Temple of Artemis, which was one of Seven Wonders of the World. It was the first temple in ancient world that was made of marble. The Aspendos theatre in Side, in the south of Turkey is the bestpreserved Roman theatre. It was made of calcareous stone. It seats 15,000 persons and has remained perfectly intact for 1800 years while earthquakes; wars and time have destroyed most of the surrounding monuments. Natural stone industry consists of basic stones such as marble, granite and other natural building stones such as limestone, travertine, serpentine, diabase, and slate stone. Today natural stone and natural stone products can be distinguished by the different endusers. The main endusers are the natural stone processing industry, the building industry and the consumer market. Turkey is a land of marble …. In terms of natural stones and especially marble, Turkey is one of the richest resources since it is located in the Alp’s mountain range. Turkey has immense reserves of marble, travertine, onyx, conglomerate, breccia and magmatic rocks. Turkey’s total probable marble reserves are about 5.2 billion m3 –13.9 million tons. According to some estimates, Turkey has 40 percent of the world’s total marble reserves. Turkey is among the world’s most important natural stone manufacturers with its huge reserves and welldeveloped processing industry. Common characteristic properties of Turkish marbles are: - Quality free
from any cracks or other defects Besides these common properties every marble has its specific colors and composition, which make it possible to use them in the production of exclusive products. Important reserves of marble are located in all regions of Anatolia and Thrace. Reserves are concentrated in Afyon, Balıkesir, Denizli, Tokat, Muğla and Çanakkale. The bestknown varieties of Turkish marble are:
Elazıg Cherry : Elazıg cherry is made of serpentinised and carbonated ultra basic rocks. Redgreen pebbles are attached with the same colored cement. It can be used in interior /exterior plating and decoration. Also some structural fissures are found in blocks. Supren : It generally shows catalastic texture and graywhite colors which have redpink and yellow veins, zones and patches. It can be used in interior / exterior plating, floor covering and decoration. Leopard (Salome): This marble of generally catacalastic texture has redyellow veins, knots and zones in a white background. It can be used in interior/exterior plating, floor covering and decoration. Milas Kavaklıdere: It has a white color and occasional purple veins. There are some localized fractures in blocks. Aegean Bordeaux: It can be used in interior/exterior plating and decoration. There are some localized fractures in the block, gives good plates. The cutting sides and corners and shaping are difficult. It can be split at the fissures during polishing. Aksehir Black: This marble showing catalastic texture in general, has white calcite veins and brown styoliths and can be used in interior /exterior plating or decorative arrangements. It can be easily cut and polished. Thracian Granite: It can be used in interior / exterior plating, floor covering or decoration. The suitability for taking blocks and plates and cutting sides and corners is good; while the shape ability and polish ability are normal. The cutting rate is slow. Ayvalık Granite: It can be used in interior / exterior plating, floor covering or decoration. Their suitability for taking blocks and plates and cutting sides and corners are good; while the shape ability and polish ability are normal. Cutting can be slow. Afyon White: It contains occasional yellow veins. Its suitability for taking blocks and plates and cutting sides and corners, polishing and the shape ability and the cutting rate are all excellent . There is no risk of rusting. Afyon Tigerskin: The suitability for taking blocks and plates, and cutting sides and corners, the shape ability, and the cutting rate are all good. There is no any rusting risk. Suitability to polish is normal. This marble has breccia like formations including light knots and elements embedded in darkgray masses. Marmara White: The suitability for taking blocks and plates and cutting sides and corners, shape ability; and cutting rate are all good . It is normally polishable. There is no rusting risk . Mustafa Kemalpasa White: This marble is made of large calcite crystals manifesting grano blasting texture and pressure twinning and has a white color. It can be used in interior / exterior plating, floor covering and decoration . Its suitability for taking blocks and plates, cutting sides and corners, the shape ability and the cutting rate are all good. There is no rusting. Karacabey Black: Some structural fissures have been observed in blocks. It can be used in interior plating and decoration. Its suitability for taking plate and the cutting rate are normal. The suitability for cutting sides and corners; the shape ability and the polish ability are all good. There is no risk of rusting. PRODUCTION: Quality and exclusivity are the major characteristics of Turkish marbles….. More than 1000 marble quarries, 1500 factories and about 7500 workshops operate in the sector. 90 % of quarries are located in the west of Anatolia, mainly in the Aegean and Marmara Regions . Production of natural stones in Turkey faced a rapid growth during the recent years. Large scale private companies invested in integrated processing plants, which resulted in developments in the local market. With the introduction of modern production equipment and methods Turkey has taken its place among the world’s seven large natural stone manufacturers. The production capacity of natural stones in Turkish market for marble is 6.5 million m2 and for granite 10,5 million m2. The increase in production, the vitality of the construction sector in the domestic market and the presence of new technologies have contributed to widespread use of natural stone as a construction material. Parallel to the increase in both domestic and foreign/international demand, the Turkish marble industry has shown very good performance in terms of quality and production capacity. Today Turkish natural stone products are highly competitive in international markets, particularly in terms of exclusivity and quality. Turkish marble manufacturers are aware of the importance of quality. They use the world’s most advanced, fully electronic and completely automatic machines. Most companies have a large machinery park and in the marble quarry the latest technology and hightech machines are being used. The processing plants are capable of producing tiles, cutting to size order in all commercially required sizes and quality standards. Granite, generally used in developed countries because of its characteristic properties, has begun to be widely used in Turkey, too. Today it is extensively used for the inner and outer decorations of buildings because of its appearance, durability against external conditions and high resistance to wear. In Turkey, in addition to large marble reserves there are also granite reserves in many cities such as Ordu, Rize, Trabzon, Balıkesir, Kırklareli, Kırşehir, Bolu, İzmit, Çanakkale and İzmir. Though the natural stone quarrying and processing sector in Turkey is mainly composed of small and mediumsized companies, these companies are well organized under producers associations and exporters’ unions. With its vast reserves, advanced processing techniques and capacity, Turkey is one of the world’s important centers of the natural stone industry. These stones are exhibited in international and local fairs organized in Turkey. Two fairs related to the natural stone industry will be held in Turkey. · “The International Marble & Natural Stone Technologies Fair” which is organized by IZFAŞ, Izmir Fair Services in Izmir every year in March, is a meeting place for the international natural stone industry. · “Natural Stone, International Marble, Natural Stone Products and Technologies Exhibition Fair” which is organized by CNR International Trade Fairs Inc, in İstanbul. Fast Growth in EXPORTS….. Natural stone exports have developed rapidly in the last ten years. The total value of natural stone exports reached 801 million dollars in 2005. The most valueaddedproduct in exports is processed marble, which is cut and polished marble. Processed marble ranks first with a 603 million dollars export value. In 2005, the main countries that Turkey exported processed marble were the USA, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Canada. Block marble is in the second place with 159 million dollars in 2005. China, Syria, Greece, Italy, and Spain are the major buyers of block marble from Turkey. Granite and hard rock exports reached 12 million dollars in 2005. The most important markets for these items are Germany, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland. source: export promotion center of Turkey |
the floors and
walls of palaces, temples and public areas. The statues and monuments dating back to the
Hittites; Greek and Roman amphitheaters, arenas and other works of art; the palaces,
baths, caravanserais, mosques and medreses of the Seljuk Turks; and Ottoman mosques,
minarets and fountains all prove that marble has been extensively used in Anatolia. 
