Home›Operations›Mines & Reserves

Mines & Reserves

We carry out our mining operations across our extensive, geologically diverse perlite deposits in Türkiye.

We operate 14 active perlite quarries across a total licensed area of 10,000 hectares in Türkiye. We source all our perlite from our own mining sites.

We select ores from our extensive and geologically diverse mining sites to meet the requirements of different applications. By evaluating expansion potential, color after expansion, softening behavior, particle structure and purity, we identify suitable raw materials for construction, agriculture and horticulture, filtration, cryogenic insulation, foundry applications and advanced functional products.

Aerial view of a terraced perlite quarry with haul trucks on the benches

Exploration and Reserve Management

We continuously explore and develop our reserves to support production continuity and consistent quality. Through geological surveys, shallow excavations using earthmoving equipment and sampling, we identify potential ore zones. Drilling establishes their depth, continuity and ore characteristics.

We incorporate drilling and laboratory data into digital reserve models to estimate reserves, map quality variations and regularly update our production plan for the next ten years. Satellite imagery, mine mapping and reference samples archived with location and depth records ensure traceability.

This ongoing cycle informs ore selection and production planning, helping us use our resources efficiently while supporting uninterrupted supply and consistent product quality.

Excavators and haul trucks working the floor of an open-pit perlite quarry

Quarry Planning and Technology

Each quarry is developed under an engineered operating plan defining bench geometry, haul routes, excavation limits, material movement and extraction sequence.

Total-station and GNSS instruments are combined with unmanned aerial surveys. Photogrammetric data are processed into orthophotos, point clouds and digital terrain models for volume calculations, quarry monitoring, stock control and production planning.

Geological models, survey data, laboratory results and plant requirements are evaluated together. This allows extraction plans to be updated as conditions change and keeps mine output aligned with processing demand.

Aerial view of a benched perlite quarry and haul road surrounded by forest

Selective Extraction and Quality

Perlite is not treated as a uniform raw material. Geological composition and bound-water content influence expansion performance, colour, softening behaviour and impurity profile. The correct ore must therefore be selected before processing begins.

Each deposit is divided into mapped quality zones. Extraction is directed towards the zone that best matches the intended grade, and the material is sampled and analysed throughout production. Ore intended for filter aids, for example, may differ significantly from material selected for cryogenic insulation or construction products.

Raw-material specifications are reviewed against analytical results and plant performance. Selective extraction and controlled blending provide the processing plants with consistent, traceable and application-appropriate feed. Quality is established at the quarry face rather than corrected later in the production process.

Aerial view of two adjoining perlite quarries connected by haul roads

In-House Mining Capability

We carry out excavation, haulage, material handling and rehabilitation with our own fleet of heavy equipment and do not subcontract our mining activities. Our specialist engineering team conducts exploration, drilling, quarry planning and surveying using dedicated equipment.

This integrated structure allows us to manage our operations directly, aligning geological planning, production priorities and quality requirements. We maintain a continuous exchange of information between our quarries, laboratories and processing plants, enabling faster decisions while maintaining production continuity and quality standards.

We conduct our mining activities in accordance with applicable legislation and established engineering practices. We regularly inspect benches, haul roads, excavation faces, stockpile areas and slopes, updating our working methods to reflect site conditions and future production plans.

Aerial view of a perlite quarry on a forested hillside with machinery on the benches

Progressive Rehabilitation

Environmental management is incorporated into quarry planning from the beginning. Worked-out benches are reprofiled and replanted as extraction advances rather than waiting until the end of the licence period.

Rehabilitation is carried out under approved projects and reported annually to the relevant regional forestry authority. Seedlings are raised in an in-house nursery and planted on prepared slopes, with pellet seeding used where conventional planting is not practical.

By combining reserve diversity, digital planning, selective extraction, in-house engineering and progressive rehabilitation, the mines are managed with precision, foresight and long-term responsibility.

Aerial view of a rehabilitated perlite quarry with replanted benches and slopes