A method of mining the Kumtepe lignite deposit of Turkey

Author

Hilmi Dokuzoglu

Abstract

"The Agacle lignite deposit, as a potential source of fuel, near Istanbul, Turkey has been used in this study to apply the principles of strip mining operations. The details of the deposit upon which this thesis is predicated will be presented later in this paper.

The fuel requirement of the city of Istanbul with a population of nearly a million is considerably greater then can easily be met. Some of the fuel needs are accommodated by electrical energy by producer gas, by bituminous coal brought from Zonguldak (about 200 miles from the city), by charcoal, and by fuel wood. During the winter months, the lack of readily available fuel becomes critical and semi-rationing is necessary. This paper is devoted to an analysis of the lignite deposit which is presently undeveloped but which, being only 30 miles northeast of Istanbul and containing 8 million metric tons, may serve ultimately to supplement the fuel supplies of the city. A small portion of this deposit has been studied with view toward exploitation by open-cut mining methods.

There are other scattered lignite deposits in Turkey. The problem of fuel in central Turkey is similar to that of Istanbul. The dearth of private capital and the seeming lack of initiative on the part of the government has delayed the development of these deposits. The government recently took positive steps toward the utilization of domestic lignite. The underlying reasons for this recent movement are (1) to provide inexpensive fuel, (2) to substitute lignite for wood in cities and towns in order to conserve forests, (3) to supply raw material for the other industrial uses which might be stimulated if sufficient quantities of lignite are assured, (4) to substitute lignite for coking coal in domestic uses. This substitution saves coking coal for industrial uses and possible export in the event there is a surplus to secure foreign exchange and stimulate foreign trade.

All units will be expressed in this paper, unless otherwise stated, in terms of British units. For the Turkish reader conversion factors will be given. It should also be stated that in this study only the major phases of stripping methods, disposal of waste, transporting of coal, method of determining the cost per cubic yard of production, and the general maintenance of the mine will be discussed"--Introduction, pages 1-2.

Advisor(s)

Forrester, James Donald, 1906-1979

Department(s)

Mining Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Mining Engineering

Publisher

Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy

Publication Date

1951

Pagination

vi, 140 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 137-139).

Geographic Coverage

Istanbul, Turkey

Rights

© 1951 Hilmi Dokuzoglu, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

LigniteProspectingMines and mineral resources

Thesis Number

T 972

Print OCLC #

5985113

Electronic OCLC #

954165274

Recommended Citation

Dokuzoglu, Hilmi, "A method of mining the Kumtepe lignite deposit of Turkey" (1951). Masters Theses. 4153.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/4153