TURİSTİK BİR ÜRÜN OLARAK RUS TAŞI (GÜRCİSTAN SİYAH KEHRİBARI) VE ERZURUM OLTU TAŞI SEKTÖRÜNE ETKİLERİ Russian Stone as an Touristic Product (Georgian Black Amber) and Its Effects to Erzurum Oltu Stone Sector
TURİSTİK BİR ÜRÜN OLARAK RUS TAŞI (GÜRCİSTAN SİYAH KEHRİBARI) VE ERZURUM OLTU TAŞI SEKTÖRÜNE ETKİLERİ Russian Stone as an Touristic Product (Georgian Black Amber) and Its Effects to Erzurum Oltu Stone Sector
Yazar: Kocaman, Sinan
Dergi: Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi, Vol. 18 No. 30, 2014
Anahtar kelimeler: Turistik Ürün, Siyah kehribar, Oltu taşı, Rus taşı, Erzurum. ; Touristic Gift, Black amber, Oltu Stone, Russian Stone, Erzurum.

ÖZET: Ülkemizde Oltu taşı ya da Erzurum kehribarı olarak bilinen siyah kehribar; fitolojik (bitkisel) kökenli bir fosil olup, Maden Tetkik ve Arama Genel Müdürlüğü'nün (MTA) maden sınıflandırmasında kıymetli ve yarı kıymetli mineraller; süs taşları sınıflandırmasında ise mat görünümlü değerli taşlar grubuna d&acirc;hildir. Oltu ve çevresinde XIX. yüzyıldan itibaren küçük maden ocaklarında çıkarılarak başta tespih olmak üzere çeşitli takı, süs eşyaları ve hediyelik eşya imal edilen Oltu taşı Erzurum İlinin en önemli turistik ürünleri arasında yer almaktadır. Sovyet Sosyalist Cumhuriyetler Birliği'nin 1991 yılında dağılmasından sonra yeni kurulan Gürcistan Cumhuriyeti ile Sarp Sınır Kapısı'nın açılmasıyla başlayan bavul ticaretiyle Oltu taşına benzer bir taşın Gürcistan'da da çıkarılarak işlendiği fark edilmiştir. Erzurum'da Rus taşı olarak adlandırılan bu taşın görünüm açısından Oltu taşından bir farkı bulunmamasına karşın daha yumuşak ve gevşek bir yapıya sahip olması, daha kolay çıkarılabilir ve işletilebilir olması ile vergiye tabi olmadan illegal olarak getirilmesi gibi nedenlerden dolayı üretim maliyeti açısından daha ekonomiktir. Bavul ticareti yoluyla ham, yarı işlenmiş ya da işlenmiş (tespih yapılmış) olarak Erzurum'a getirilerek Oltu taşının yanında ikinci kalite ürün olarak pazarlanmaya başlanmaya başlanan bu taş, günümüzde Oltu taşı hediyelik eşya pazarının % 80'ininden fazlasını karşılar duruma ulaşmıştır. Gürcistan ile yapılan ve 1 Aralık 2011 tarihinden itibaren uygulanan her iki ülke vatandaşlarının kimlik belgesiyle (pasaportsuz-vizesiz) doğrudan geçebilmesine imk&acirc;n sağlayan anlaşma sonucunda Rus taşının pazar payı oranını daha da artırması muhtemeldir. Bu araştırma ile yörede Rus taşı olarak tanınan Gürcistan siyah kehribarının (ya da ikinci kalite Oltu taşının) tanıtımının yapılması, Erzurum'un turistik ürün pazarındaki yerinin ortaya konulması ile uzun yıllar Erzurum ve Oltu Yörelerinin önemli bir ekonomik faaliyeti olan Oltu taşı madenciliği ve işlemeciliğinin gerilemesinde olan etkisine dikkat çekilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Turistik Ürün, Siyah kehribar, Oltu taşı, Rus taşı, Erzurum. ABSTRACT Black Amber, also known as Oltu stone or Erzurum Amber in our country, is a phytological (botanic) fossil. According to the classification of MTA (General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration), it is a kind of precious and semi-precious mineral and takes place in the precious matt stones in the classification of ornament stones. Oltu stone, after being extracted in the small mines of Oltu Province since 19th century, is mostly used to be produced as jewelry, ornament products, souvenirs and particularly rosary. It has been one of the most significant touristic products of Erzurum province ever since. After the breaking up of USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic) and the opening of Sarp Border Gate with the new founded Georgia Republic, it has been seen that a similar stone to Oltu Stone is also extracted and processed in Georgia as a consequence of the shuttle trade in that region. This stone, also named as Russian Stone in the region, is more economical in terms of production costs when compared to Oltu stone. There are various reasons for that, as it is almost the same with Oltu stone, has a softer and loose structure, has easier extraction and process, and can be brought without paying tax. Besides Oltu stone, Russian stone has started to take place in the markets as a second quality product after being brought to Erzurum illegally as raw material, semi-processed or processed (rosary-made) with shuttle trade. Now it meets 80 % of the need for Oltu stone souvenir market.  It is probable that the market rate of Russian Stone will increase as passing directly with identification cards (without passport-visa) from the border gates between two countries is possible since December 1, 2011 due to an agreement with Georgia. With this research, we aim to introduce Georgian black amber (or second quality Oltu stone) and demonstrate its stake within Erzurum touristic products as well as drawing attention to its impact on the downfall of Oltu stone mining and processing which is a significant economic activity of Erzurum and Oltu regions for years. Key Words: Touristic Gift, Black amber, Oltu Stone, Russian Stone, Erzurum.

Black Amber, also known as Oltu stone or Erzurum Amber in our country, is a phytological (botanic) fossil. According to the classification of MTA (General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration), it is a kind of precious and semi-precious mineral and takes place in the precious matt stones in the classification of ornament stones. Oltu stone, after being extracted in the small mines of Oltu Province since 19th century, is mostly used to be produced as jewelry, ornament products, souvenirs and particularly rosary. It has been one of the most significant touristic products of Erzurum province ever since. After the breaking up of USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic) and the opening of Sarp Border Gate with the new founded Georgia Republic, it has been seen that a similar stone to Oltu Stone is also extracted and processed in Georgia as a consequence of the shuttle trade in that region. This stone, also named as Russian Stone in the region, is more economical in terms of production costs when compared to Oltu stone. There are various reasons for that, as it is almost the same with Oltu stone, has a softer and loose structure, has easier extraction and process, and can be brought without paying tax. Besides Oltu stone, Russian stone has started to take place in the markets as a second quality product after being brought to Erzurum illegally as raw material, semi-processed or processed (rosary-made) with shuttle trade. Now it meets 80 % of the need for Oltu stone souvenir market. It is probable that the market rate of Russian Stone will increase as passing directly with identification cards (without passport-visa) from the border gates between two countries is possible since December 1, 2011 due to an agreement with Georgia. With this research, we aim to introduce Georgian black amber (or second quality Oltu stone) and demonstrate its stake within Erzurum touristic products as well as drawing attention to its impact on the downfall of Oltu stone mining and processing which is a significant economic activity of Erzurum and Oltu regions for years.