TURKISH NATURAL STONE

Natural stones, after being extracted from nature, are the oldest commercially available building materials. Because of its beauty and durability in buildings and monuments, It has been used by man throughout history. Natural stones using has increased over time, especially construction, coating, flooring, sculpture, tombstone making stone chips, porcelain and glass industry, optical industry and ornaments. Natural stone industry, recently gaining momentum with the entry of new producers into the market; for both our country and world trade. It is among the important sectors. Turkey which is located Alpine belt has 5.1 billion m3 of marble -13.9 billion tonnes of probable reserves. This value corresponds to 33% of the total world reserves estimated to be 15 billion m3 corresponds. Turkish natural stone industry has an important place in the world natural stone market with its technologies , variety and reserve wealth, industry experience, abundance of raw materials, ease of shipping in sea transportation, dynamic sector structure, and wide color scale.

There are marble, limestone, travertine ,formed limestone (onyx), conglomerate, breccia and rocks of magmatic origin (granite, syenite,, diabase, diorite, serpentine etc.) in various colors and patterns in Turkey. Turkey that has qualified natural stone varieties appreciated in the world markets, reserves spread over an area throughout Anatolia and Thrace. Distribution of reserves by regions, Aegean Region 32%, Marmara 26%, Central Anatolia 11%, Eastern Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia, Black Sea and Mediterranean Region 31%. Approximately 1,500 natural stone quarries, about 2,000 facilities operating on a factory scale and 9,000 medium and small-scale workshops operates in the sector. Employed number of people is around 300,000. Provinces with the highest production; Balikesir, Afyon, Bilecik,

Denizli and Muğla. Production in these regions accounts for 65% of all production. Other provinces with economical marble deposits are; Bursa, Kirsehir, Cankiri, Corum, Kastamonu , Nigde, Kayseri, Artvin, Bitlis, Erzincan, Bayburt, Sivas, Tokat, Denizli, Kütahya, Eskişehir, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Çanakkale, Konya, Istanbul and Manisa. In our country, over 80 different structures, over 120 marble reserves in different colors and designs have been identified. Most recognized in the international market marble types; Supren, Rosso Levanto, Akşehir Black, Manyas White, Bilecik Beige, Tiger Post ,Denizli Travertine, Aegean Claret Red, Milas Lilac, Gemlik Diabase and Afyon Sugar. Every year new varieties of marble is identified and being famous on international market.

Turkish marble with its different color scale and quality is used in world-renowned venues in many countries of the world. Afyon İscehisar marbles are used in the columns and coatings at the entrance of the Saint Pierre church that is one of the most important churches of the Vatican. In the US White House, where officials made press statements, the marble used is Elazig Cherry, produced in Elazig. German Parliament, France Parliament and the US House of Representatives are the other venues where Elazig cherry is used. 18 thousand square meters Turkish marble used in Disneyland, one of the most important entertainment centers in the world. In the wet floors of many luxury hotels around the world, Turkish marble is preferred. Sector makes an important contribution to Turkey's economy with high export potential, domestic market consumption, natural stone machinery production and exports. Especially recently, in marble production, by changing classical marble production methods and by using modern production methods based on qualified workforce and advanced technology, It was recorded. large increase in processed marble production.

The number of facilities that prepare products for world natural stone market where competition is intense has increased by applying modern quarry production methods and latest techniques. Turkey has become one of the three biggest producers among world leaders in the production of natural stone.