Optical remote sensing application of Kızılcaören-Sivrihisar (Eskişehir) REE-Thorium Deposit

Abstract

The Kızılcaören-Sivrihisar rare earth element (REE)-Thorium deposit is situated within the Eskişehir Province of Türkiye. The deposit in question represents the sole commercially viable rare earth element-thorium (REE-Th) source within Türkiye, thus rendering it a significant supplier of these crucial minerals. The Kızılcaören-Sivrihisar REE-Thorium deposit exhibits a captivating mineral assemblage that possesses the potential to unlock valuable resources. Within the geological composition, a complex interplay of minerals takes place, involving fluorite, bastnäsite, and barite. The Kızılcaören-Sivrihisar deposit can be effectively mapped using optical remote sensing techniques. This phenomenon can be attributed to the fact that the deposit exhibits several discernible characteristics that can be identified through the utilization of optical remote sensing techniques. This study demonstrates the presence of fluorite-bearing zones, which are characterized by the fluorite index. The present investigation provides evidence for the concurrent presence of divalent iron alongside fluorite. Quartz is also present within this ore-bearing zone. Magnesite and calcite are also found within the serpentinitic-mafic zone in the study area. In conclusion, the study area successfully identified the ore-bearing fluoritic zone through the application of remote sensing processing using ASTER L1T data. The aforementioned studies have demonstrated that optical remote sensing possesses significant potential as a valuable instrument for the examination and assessment of the Kızılcaören-Sivrihisar REE-Th deposit. The utilization of optical remote sensing enables the mapping of deposits, the identification of their extent, and the evaluation of their economic development potential.