Trepça Ore Belt and Stan Terg mine – Geological overview and interpretation, Kosovo (SE Europe)

Sylejman Hyseni,Duncan Large,Avdulhah Berisha,Bedri Durmishaj,Bislim Fetahaj,Ferat Shala

doi:10.5474/geologija.2010.006

Abstract

The Trepça Belt of Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization is located within the NNW-SSE trending Vardar zone. The Belt extends for over 80 km, and supported five mines during the period 1930-2008. It contains a number of the other Pb-Zn occurrences too. The replacement and vein type mineralization is hosted primarily by Mesozoic carbonates, but also occasionally by amphibolites, and displays a clear structural control. Mineralization is spatially and genetically related to Neogene andesite-dacite extrusives and sub-volcanic intrusives. Only Stan Terg mine is presented in this paper.

Highlights

The history of silver, lead and zinc mining in Kosovo is woven into with the history of Kosovo itself
The production of silver, lead and zinc has been synonymous with Trepça
The Roman and Ottoman Empires fought to take control of the silver mines in Kosovo and at a later stage the Serbian Middle Kingdom produced much of its coinage from silver mined at Artana/Novo Berdo

Summary

Introduction

The history of silver, lead and zinc mining in Kosovo is woven into with the history of Kosovo itself. The production of silver, lead and zinc has been synonymous with Trepça. This briefing note describes the current situation at Trepça and examines its future outlook. From the Roman period to the Middle Ages, the area between Serbia and Greece especially the southern part of Kosovo was intensively exploited for its lead-zinc and silver ores and at that time was one of most important sources of its kind. Recent geological work strongly indicates that the deposits within the Trepça Mineral Belt are considered highly prospective with regard to additional reserves and resources as the mineralization is structurally and/or fault controlled. The Trepça Mineral Belts (HYSENI & LARGE, 2003) hold great potential, for lead, zinc and silver, and for copper and gold

Trepça Mineral Belt regional geology

Stan Terg mine Exploration and mining history

Mine Geology

Stan Terg regional geology

Reserve estimation