In Terms Of Economic Activity: Tuzluca Kaya

Rock salt is basically made as a result of evaporazation of seas in geological areas or closed inner river basin. Salt deposits which occur with the effect of various inner and external processes in different geological areas are located in Tuzluca, a district of Iğdır, 2km. İn the northern part. The mentioned Tuzluca Rock Saline is located in a salt deposit line which stretches out to Iran and Nakhcivan in Northeast Anatolia. These salt deposits have always carried a special importance in the framework of meeting the salt needs of local people in various areas since the ancient times. Tuzluca Rock Saline which has been thought to be working since the time of Urartus, was heavily used by Ottomans and Russians. But as the region was ceded to Turkey in 1920, salines were handed over to the government. Saline which had been managed previously by directorates of Erzurum and then Kars, was being managed by government until 2004. Tuzluca Rock Saline, was turned over to a local Sürkit Gıda Petrol Üretim İç-Dış Ticaret Anonim Şirketi by making it private. According to Mineral Research and Exploration Directorate, Tuzluca Rock Saline deposits are far from supplying the national salt needs, whose probable rock salt reserve is determined at 226.688.000 tons and %91.4 NaCI tenor in its deposit and 613.449.573 tons. But, Tuzluca Rock Saline has gained an importance since ancient times by supplying local and regional needs. However, the following have negative effects on saline production process and output of Tuzluca Rock Saline: the enterprise being far from the markets, the seasonal demand for salt, the region’s depriving of industrial plants where salt is used, the old technique of making salt is still used.