Today’s Turkey occupies an important geopolitical location: the junction of Europe and Asia. Geographically, Turkey is composed of Anatolia (the so-called Asia Minor) and Thrace, an eastern section of Europe. The Sea of Marmara, which is an inland sea, together with the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus separates Anatolia from Thrace and, at the same time, Asia from Europe. Being surrounded on three sides – by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west and the Black Sea to the north – Turkey offers the characteristics of a peninsula. Turkey is one of the charter members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20 (the Group of 20) where the world’s leading industrialised and developing countries meet to gather and discuss international affairs. The Customs Union Agreement between Turkey and the European Union plays a significant role in the development of the foreign tradecapability of the country. Construction, automotive, electronics, banking, textiles, petrochemistry, food, mining, agriculture and machinery industries are currently the leading sectors of Turkey’s economy <...>

The Antarctic Research Series: Statement of Objectives

The Mineral Resources of Gondwanaland

Toward a Quantitative Mineral Resource Assessment of Antarctica From a Gondwana Perspective

The Dufek Intrusion of Antarctica

The Economic Potential of the Dufek Complex

An Engineering Economic Evaluation of Mining in Antarctica: A Case Study of Platinum

Investigation of Mineralization in the South Shetland Islands, Gerlache Strait, and Anvers Island, Northern Antarctic Peninsula

Uranium Resource Evaluation in Antarctica

Geothermal Resources of Antarctica

Banded Iron Formations in East Antarctica

This volume discusses the mineral resources upon which modern civilization is built. Take away these minerals and humanity will rapidly return to the stone age, with its greatest concern the depletion of flint (also a mineral). It would, of course, result in about a 99% reduction in population. In other words, approximately 99% of the worlds' population is dependent on minerals for its existence.

In contrast to the recognized man/machine system of industry, the production process of mineral resources brings about a man/machine/nature system. The dynamic evolution of this system is characterized by a steady increase in the level of human labour. This also means that labour becomes increasingly complex and complicated due to the interaction with increased automation and mechanization.