A SURVEY ON ELEMENTAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF VOLCANIC TUFF QUARRIES IN TURKEY

Volcanic tuff stones are widely used as coating materials for insulation and/or ornamental purposes in the construction sectors in Turkey. Some volcanic tuff quarries are close to the residential areas, water resources and agricultural lands. The study presents the results of analyses of twenty-eight elements in seventy-six volcanic tuff stone samples collected from seventeen quarries generally located Cappadocia region which is a popular tourist destination. Nine major oxides (SiO2, CaO, TiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, MgO, Na2O, P2O5 and K2O) and nineteen minor elements (V, Sc, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Ce, Pb, Th and U) were analyzed by using a wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The highest average concentration of environmental polluting elements V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Pb, Th and U analyzed in volcanic tuff samples are 117.7, 256.4, 1578.0, 71.1, 300.5, 60.2, 141.6, 2452.2, 99.7, 102.8 and 40.1 mg/kg, respectively.