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Petrographic Examination of the Southeast Anatolian Asphaltite Occurrences
and Their Utilisation
Selami Toprak 1 , Orhan Kavak 2
1 General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara
2 Dicle University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mining Engineering, Diyarbakır
Asphaltite is a form of natural organic material, which is solid, hard, black, black-brownish colored,
and of petroleum source (Kavak, 2011). Its fusion temperature is about 200-315°C. It is soluble in
Carbon Disulfide. It is also defined as a solid petroleum based mine formed with metamorphism.
Liquid and semi liquid component of heavy petroleum solidifies in a suitable environment (as
fracture, void etc.) and settles with effects of migration controlled with hydrostatic pressure,
gas pressure, capillarity, gravitation and heat. Mobile asphalt passes through various fractures
and cracks up to surface. There are various forms of asphaltites in nature and it is mostly
observed in Sirnak region in Turkey and settled within fault and fracture cavities. In spite of high
sulphure, ash and volatile matter content, asphaltite is utilized as heating fuel and even has
been known as “coal”. It is possible to produce a great deal of material from asphaltite and also
used in production of paint, varnish, car-tires, electric insulation, battery preservation, expanded
natural rubber, floor tiles and waterproof cables. Asphaltite has recently taken lots of attentions
to be counted as a source for production synthetic crude oil. But the production of synthetic
oil from asphaltites has never set in application due to being assumed as small reserves and
being consumed immensely. Asphaltite term is used synonymously with many names. These are;
migrabitumen, natural solid petroleum bitumen, pitch and tar. Since it includes about 20% of
liquid products, like petroleum, it takes interests economically as well. In this study, totally about
30 samples were taken from the twelve known individual asphaltite veins in South East Anatolia,
the biggest reserves, Avgamasya and Harbol occurrences were taken into considerations with
detail. Rmax reflection values of asphaltitic material were measured and the organic as well
as inorganic ingredients of them were scrutinized. In the study, Rmax values of Seridahli,
Avgamasya, Milli and Segürük samples display much higher values (>0.35%) than the others.
With this result, it is assumed that the high Rmax showing regions have witnessed higher paleo-
thermometric heat values (> 1000 C). The region’s occurrences were ones found to display less
solution in Carbon Disulphide (Orhun, 1969). Furthermore, it is estimated that the occurrences
associated mainly with Cudi units have undergone much more severe actions. These occurrences
comprising of more than 35% mineral matter (ash) content, and are called as “pyrobitumens”
as well (Lebküchner, 1969). The asphaltites comprise considerably high amount of pyrite (>7%)
and, resultantly, sulphure content, this cause to produce environmental concerns when used as
fuel. Getting rid of the micron sized pyrites from the material seems costly due to high grinding
costs. Although they contain of low amount of nickel, molybdenum, vanadium and uranium, it is
possible to produce them with acid leaching before they are used as fuels (Seferinoğlu vd., 1982).
It is advised that such studies to be continued in applications, and the material, to be leached
before they are used as fuel raw material.
Keywords: Asphaltite, Petrography of asphaltites, Mineral matter content of asphaltites,
Environmentally responsive utilization of Southeast Anatolian asphaltite
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