22.06.2026 11:51
MTA General Director Vedat Yanık announced that the Turkey Active Fault Map has been updated after 13 years, with the support of MTA's data accumulation from detailed field studies and academic research. Accordingly, the number of active faults, determined as 485 in 2013, has increased to 700 in light of new data.
General Director of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) Vedat Yanık announced that the Türkiye Active Fault Map has been updated after 13 years, supported by MTA's accumulated data from detailed field studies and academic research.
Speaking at the "Türkiye Active Fault Map-2026" introduction program as part of Scientific Events Week and MTA's 91st Anniversary, Yanık expressed his satisfaction with sharing the new map version with the public.
Yanık stated that MTA, founded in 1935 under the vision of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and now 91 years old, is increasingly gaining strategic value. He said, "When Ghazi Mustafa Kemal announced the founding of our institution, he said, 'We have entrusted the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute with the task of geologically examining one by one the other undiscovered riches of our country. They will work. We wish for happy surprises.' This statement has left us not just a job description for 91 years, but also the excitement of seeking those 'happy surprises' and an inexhaustible passion for discovery."
TÜRKİYE ACTIVE FAULT MAP-2026 VERSION PUBLISHED
Yanık noted that over nearly a century, MTA has achieved numerous discoveries, from the first oil discovery in Batman to the world's most strategic Rare Earth Elements fields in Eskişehir-Beylikova, and from rich copper deposits in Elazığ-Maden, Sinop-Boyabat, and Kahramanmaraş to hundreds of industrial raw material sources vital for industry.
Emphasizing that global balances are changing and the need for minerals is increasing, Yanık continued: "The increasing energy demand, sustainable resource management, climate change, and fierce competition for critical raw materials are enhancing the strategic importance of geosciences every day. MTA, taking the forefront in this new world order, continues its exploration activities resolutely, supported by modern technologies, domestic innovation, and environmental sensitivity. Today, we share the pride of publishing a vital national data infrastructure, the 'Türkiye Active Fault Map-2026' version, crowning our anniversary. For our country, located in the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt, revealing the current and accurate data of the active tectonic structure is not just a scientific study but a strategic necessity for national security, sustainable development, and disaster risk reduction."
FAULT MAP UPDATED AFTER 13 YEARS
Yanık highlighted that in the 13 years since the map was published in 2013, significant data accumulation was achieved through detailed field studies and academic work.
Pointing out that the update project, included in the investment program in 2022, has been completed after intense effort, Yanık evaluated: "The number of active faults, which was 485 in the 2013 edition, has increased to 700 in this map based on new data. This map and the digital database we have prepared will serve as a fundamental reference source for earthquake hazard analyses, critical infrastructure investments, and our national loss reduction policies."
TÜRKİYE'S MOST ESTABLISHED GEOSCIENCES SCHOOL
Yanık stated that MTA is not only a field exploration institution but also Türkiye's most established geosciences school.
Noting that sharing scientific production and improving inter-institutional cooperation has always been a top priority, Yanık recorded: "The 'MTA Scientific Events Week-2026,' which we are opening today and will last for 5 days, is one of the finest fruits of this school. The 48 oral and 20 poster presentations within the event will bring the results of projects conducted within our institution together with academia, public, and industry representatives. I know well that this glorious 91-year history is the product of the sweat shed in mountains, valleys, and laboratories day and night, and the sacrifices of our engineers, researchers, and other employees. As we walk confidently into the second century of our Republic, towards our 100th year, I sincerely believe that we will together achieve our goal of making Türkiye a leader in the world's geosciences and mining sector."