Pinargozu and Horzum’s passive margin setting with inversion and collisional orogeny is favourable for the formation of MVT and Irish-type zinc deposits. The post-collisional Neogene magmatism on the Anatolian plateau is permissive of skarn/manto (or CRD) type deposits; CRD deposits typically form distal from porphyritic intrusions in magmatic arc or back-arc settings.

Pinargozu and Horzum occur within the Tufanbeyli–Horzum Zinc Belt, where mineralisation has generally been interpreted as MVT deposits, formed within the passive- margin platform carbonate sequences with fluid-flow systems related to the Cimmerian or Alpine orogenic compression and uplift. However, the deposits in the Nigde, Zamanti, Keban district have been described as intrusive-related.

Mining to date at Pinargozu has mainly been of secondary zinc mineralisation, formed through supergene oxidation of massive sulphide mineralisation. Primary massive sulphide mineralisation is becoming more dominant as the mine becomes deeper.

Sulphide Mineralisation
The primary mineralisation is characterised by coarse massive sphalerite-rich sulphide with subordinate pyrite. Massive galena also occurs and typically post-dates sphalerite, cutting and replacing sphalerite and associated with more abundant carbonate gangue. The carbonate weathers brown and is interpreted to be iron-rich and potentially manganoan. The absence of a black weathering patina suggests that manganese is subsidia ........

Pinargozu is an underground mining operation that is currently producing high-grade zinc oxide and sulphide material of direct shipping grade. The mine currently produces from 3 adits with over 5.5 km of underground development.

90% of mining activity is via cut and fill(CAF) with the remaining 10% via shrinkage stoping. This flexibility is effective in response to changes in orebody geometry and technical limitations.

Production utilises semi mechanized CAF stoping by hand held phnomatic drillers, mini loaders and mini trucks, where the orebody is wider. Here, drifts are cut from the decline. In areas of narrower orebody geometry, a stope is driven flat with full wooden support and blasted material is mucked outside and the stope subsequently backfilled.

Some locations in the mine utilise shrinkage stoping, generally in areas where 1-3 m thick ore veins are limit the raises between drifts, to 2.0 x 2.0 m dimensions. The vein is blasted from the bottom to the top.

The Pinargozu mine has three zones defined, reflecting mining domains:

• The Upper Level (811 to 690 level), largely oxide material.
• The Middle Level (690 to 670 level), the transitional zone.
• The lower Level (670 to 550 level), fresh sulphide material.

The average dilution is 6% per wet tonne. There are good visible ore indicators.

The production schedule is based on seven days per week and 365 days per year. Crews work in ........

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Water for the Horzum mine site facility is provided from the subterranean aquifer water supply of the local area. Pumps are located in a disused part of the old underground Horzum mine.

Water for the Pinargozu mine site comes from a small creek about 2 kms from the mine site. Both regular water and potable water for Adana comes from the Adana reticulated city water supply. Potable water at Horzum mine site facility and Pinargozu mine are provided by a contractor from Kozan in 19 l barrels daily.