General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration

The General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) is a public research institution established in the Republic of Turkey with the purpose of conducting exploration, research, and infrastructure activities in the fields of earth sciences and mining, producing knowledge, and contributing to the national economy.

History

Mining activities in Turkey were largely controlled by foreign capital during the Ottoman Empire period. This process, which accelerated starting from the 19th century, became more pronounced especially following the 1838 Balta Limanı Trade Agreement, which introduced a free trade regime and capitulations. In 1902, the share of foreigners and non-Muslim Ottoman subjects in the ownership structure of mining production within Ottoman territories was 57.30%; this ratio increased to 81.14% by 1911. During the same period, the share of the Muslim-Turkish population declined to 18.86%.

After the proclamation of the Republic, during the National Struggle years, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha emphasized that mines should be nationalized by taking them from foreign hands and operated by the state. In his speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on March 1, 1922, he underlined that one of the main objectives of economic policy was the effective and national-interest-oriented utilization of the country's underground resources.

In line with this approach, significant steps were taken in the 1930s within the framework of statist economic policies. The Law No. 2189, enacted on May 20, 1933, established the Gold and Petroleum Exploration and Operating Administrations, and subsequently, Law No. 2804, adopted on June 14, 1935, formally established the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (MTA). On the same date, Etibank was also founded.

Duties and Authorities

According to Article 2 of its founding law, MTA’s duties are defined as follows:

• To identify mineral and quarry sites suitable for commercial exploitation in Turkey,
• To investigate the necessary conditions for more efficient operation of currently exploited mines and quarries,
• To conduct exploration activities, geological and technical surveys,
• To perform chemical analyses and technical experiments,
• To prepare maps, plans, cross-sections, projects, and feasibility reports,
• To train Turkish engineers, technicians, and expert personnel to work in the mining and mineral industry.

MTA Field of Work - (Photo: Berkan Çetin, AA)

Institutional Development and Fields of Activity

In his opening address to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on November 1, 1937, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emphasized the importance of MTA, stating that the institution’s activities must be maximally enhanced and that discovered mineral resources should be subjected to profitability analyses before being systematically put into operation.

Today, the fields of activity of MTA include:

• Exploration of mineral and energy raw materials,
• Drilling operations,
• Laboratory analyses and reporting,
• Feasibility and geotechnical investigations,
• Geological and geophysical surveys,
• Marine geology and related research,
• Environmental geology studies,
• Operations of the Natural History Museum,
• Scientific documentation and publishing,
• Geochemical studies and services.

MTA Today

The General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) continues to be one of the principal institutions in Turkey’s mining sector and earth sciences, conducting activities aimed at the scientific exploration of the country's natural resources and their contribution to the national economy.

Mission

The mission of MTA is to conduct exploration, research, analysis, and infrastructure studies in the fields of earth sciences and mining, to produce knowledge, and to contribute to national prosperity.

Emphasizing the importance of underground resources for sustainable development, the institution operates to uncover the potential offered by Turkey’s rich geological structure and to integrate these resources into the national economy. In a country rich in energy raw materials — notably industrial raw materials, natural stones, certain metallic minerals, lignite, and geothermal resources — key strategies are implemented in line with the National Energy and Mining Policy. These strategies include ensuring energy supply security, promoting the use of domestic resources, and creating predictable markets.

While conducting mineral exploration activities, MTA also studies the geological characteristics of the earth’s crust, producing valuable data for determining natural disaster risks. In this context, the institution has adopted the principle of carrying out its planned exploration and research activities in accordance with environmentally sensitive and sustainable mining policies.

Vision

The vision of the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration is to continually renew itself in the field of earth sciences and to become a leading institution on a global scale.

Within the framework of the National Energy and Mining Policy, reducing foreign dependency on energy raw materials, closely monitoring scientific advancements in mining and earth sciences, and assuming an effective role in the management and planning of natural resources — particularly strategic and critical raw materials — are among the institution's primary objectives.

The growing energy and natural resource demands driven by population growth, industrialization, and urbanization have increased the strategic importance of MTA’s activities. With its qualified personnel, modern exploration and research methods, and innovative practices, MTA aims to integrate the underground resources essential for the development of the national industry into the economy and to adapt to the dynamic structure of the mining sector.

In achieving these objectives, adherence to an environmentally responsible and sustainable mining policy has been embraced as a fundamental principle in all of the institution’s operations.