ORIGINAL PAPER Geochemical evidence for the genesis of the Sarical-Yavu hematite mineralizations (Sivas, Central Turkey) Nursel Oksuz 1 & Ismail Kocak 1 Received: 26 August 2015 /Accepted: 9 March 2016 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2016 Abstract The hematite mineralization under investigation is located 11 km NE of Sarical (Yavu) village of the Yildizeli town (Sivas Province) in central Turkey. The region is within the Central Anatolian Thrust Zone and is comprised of meta- morphic units, ophiolitic rocks and overlying Tertiary volca- nic and volcanosedimentary rocks in addition to Neogene ter- restrial deposits. The mineralization occurs as lenticular or bedded bodies and is composed chiefly of hematite and a lesser amount of goethite. Quartz, calcite, and dolomite are the gangue minerals. Kaolinite and zeolite are the common alteration products. In this study, geochemical and mineralog- ical investigations were carried out using an X-ray diffractom- eter analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning elec- tron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM- EDX). The V/(V + Ni) ratio increases in parallel to the detritic contribution, and when this ratio is less than 0.60, deposition conditions are said to be anoxic. Considering the V/(V + Ni) ratio and Ce anom values of the studied samples, we suggest that the environment is both oxic and anoxic in character. The overall assessment of the field observations, mineral para- genesis, major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) data indi- cates that the Sarical hematite mineralization is of a hydrothermal-sedimentary type. Keywords Sarical . Hematite . Geochemistry . Hydrothermal . Sivas (Yildizeli) Introduction The Sarical hematite mineralization is located 80 km NW of Sivas city in central Turkey. Iron mineralization exhibits a different deposit type structurally and genetically. There are several iron deposits in the Sivas region, which are mined for economic purposes (Unlu and Stendal 1986; Unlu and Stendal 1991; Unlu et al. 1995 and Kuscu et al. 2002). The subject of this study, the Sarical hematite mineralization has not been investigated in detail. Previous studies in this region are relat- ed to its general geology and tectonics. (Baykal and Erentoz 1966; Kurtman 1973; Tatar 1982, 2004; Ozcan et al. 1980; Yilmaz and Ozer 1984; Bingol 1989; Alparslan 1993; Gokten 1993; Poisson et al. 1986; KaIkan 1997; Ercanli 1997; CerikciogIu 1997 and Kocbulut 1998). The hematite mineralization associated with the volcanosedimentary units in the Sarical area is the subject of this study. The relationship of the mineralization with the geologic units, the conditions of deposition, and the genesis of the hema- tite ore was investigated. Moreover, the major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) contents of the Sarical mineralization are discussed in relation to ore genesis. Furthermore, interrelations among the element concentrations are displayed graphically. Using ore microscopy supported by X-ray diffractometer analy- sis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and Raman spectroscopy techniques, the researchers examined the ore paragenesis. Geological setting The study area is located within the Central Anatolian Thrust Zone and is comprised of metamorphic units, ophiolitic rocks which are overlain by Tertiary volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks, and Neogene terrestrial deposits (Fig. 1). During the * Nursel Oksuz nursel.oksuz@bozok.edu.tr 1 Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Bozok University, 66100 Yozgat, Turkey Arab J Geosci (2016) 9:479 DOI 10.1007/s12517-016-2432-8