Abstract
In this study, the use areas of diatomites located within the late Miocene-Pliocene volcano sedimentary units, which formed due to the volcanism and outcropped around the Tahar and Güzelöz localities, Nevşehir, were investigated in terms of raw materials. To do this, three stratigraphic sections were measured in the study area, one of which was measured in the Tahar area (TK), and two others were measured in the Güzelöz area (GÜ1 and GÜ2). Various physicomechanical, chemical, mineralogical and analytical methods were applied on the collected samples. The analysis results of diatomites in the investigated area were determined as follows; the amount of acid-insoluble matters; 74,20 - 84,20%, the amount of water-insoluble matters; 99,80 %, the loss on ignition ratios (950 °C de); 8,18 - 22,82 %, whiteness; 80,45 - 84,79%, the particle sizes; 0,7-209 µ , pore sizes; 1,448 e-03A – 5,888 e-04A, pore volumes; 1,148 e-02 – 8,515 e-02 cc/g, specific gravities; 2,33 – 2,49 g/cm3 , total porosities; 57 –60%, cumulative specific surface areas; 4,047 e+01 – 5,160 e+01 m2/g, pH; 5-7 (acid and neutral), filtration rates; 138 – 351 ml/min and SiO2 contents; 38,16 – 67,77%. It was determined that samples did not contain any palynological material and these generally were formed from long and coarse diatom genus and species. The evaluation of analysis results showed that diatomites of none of three locations were suitable as construction material, carrier, abrasive, cleaner and insulating material. At the same time, it was also determined that diatomites of the Tahar and Güzelöz–1 locations could not be used as the filling material. In addition, it was also detected that these diatomites could be used in the manufacture of silicate and as percolator by the SiO2 enrichment. Also, the diatomites of Güzelöz-2 can be used as the filling material in rubber and paper industries.