Mineralogical And Gemological Characteristics Of Metaophiolite Hosted Corundum (Malatya-Türkiye)

The corundum is found in the rocks of the Berit metaophiolite in Eastern Anatolia, near Doğanşehir a province of Malatya. Metaophiolitic rocks consist mainly of garnet metagabbro, granulite, amphibolite, mylonitic amphibolite, garnet amphibolite, amphibole schist, pyroxenite, mylonitic pyroxenite, orthopyroxenite, harzburgite, serpentinized dunite and diorite units. Corundum occurrences are mostly found in pyroxenites, amphibolites, peridotites and granulites. Their colors change in range between reddish pink, pink and light pink. They are usually in structure of translucent, vitreous and sometimes cracked. They are seen scattered or clustered together inside the rocks in which they are found. The size of their crystals ranges from 0.5 cm to 10 cm and their euhedral crystals are observed in pseudohexagonal form. As a result of the petrographic examinations, it was observed that pyroxene, amphibole, garnet and plagioclase minerals accompanied with the corundum. The samples of the rocks containing the corundum has qualifications which will be as an object of gemstone and ornament by means of cutting and shining. Large specimens of corundum can be processed alone. Samples, being as scattered and small granules inside the rock can be processed together with the host rock. In the processed samples, it was obtained patterns like the samples of corundum with zoisite which were in great demand in the world gemstone market.