Extensive platinum sources discovered in chrome deposits owned by the Eti Electrometallurgy Corp in Dalaman, Turkey will be privatised by the Prime Ministry Privatisation Board (OIB).

The deposits were discovered by researchers from the Sivas Republic University and Nevada Mining and Geology Department during the Platinum Group Element Chromite Association joint project, which has been centred around Western Anatolia, Turkey.

Nato is supporting the venture, which has been in operation for three years.

The first data to be processed suggested the existence of rich platinum sources in the Eti Corp's chrome fields (15-17 grams a ton, three times more than the economic value required for processing).

Confirming the presence of platinum in Dalaman, Professor Ali Ucurum said there was still some confusion as to the true amount of platinum present: 'we could not correlate the data from the first analysis with the second analysis. Findings in the second analysis were very low.'

Three samples taken from the Eti Electrometallurgy Corp's fields have been taken abroad for further tests, said Professor Ucurum.