Several state owned and private sector companies produce copper, lead and zinc.
Changing mining and exploration laws have encouraged exploration for base and precious metals. Although several foreign investors have been evaluating several potential gold and base metal deposits, there has been some stiff resistance from environmental groups regarding the proposed use of sodium cyanide for gold extraction. Eldorado Gold are currently investigating the Kisladag and Efemcuru gold deposits located in the Usak Province in west central Turkey. Kisladag will be developed as an open pit operation producing gold using heap leach techniques. The Efemcuru deposit, located 200km to the west of Kisladag has outlined a resource containing over 1Moz gold.