Ržanovo metamorphosed lateritic Fe-Ni deposit, Republic of Macedonia

The R?anovo deposit is a unique example of metamorphosed lateritic Fe-Ni deposits in the wellknown Vardar ophiolitic belt of the Balkans, where Fe-Ni mineralization is a product of the Early Cretaceous lateritic weathering mantle after Jurassic ultramafic rocks subsequently redeposited into the Cretaceous shallow-water marine basin. As a result, a layer of Fe-Ni ore 30–50 m thick with an average Ni grade of ～1% was formed at the R?anovo deposit; this layer is traced for more than 4 km along the strike and 500 m down the dip. At the end of the Late Cretaceous, intense Alpine tectonic faulting and folding resulted in overturning of the initially horizontal ore layer, which is now nearly vertical. The most abundant fissile hematite ore contains 0.70–1.27% Ni, whereas the economically most important massive hematite ore with 0.93–1.49% Ni occurs locally. The major Ni-bearing minerals are magnetite, hematite, chromite, sulfides, talc, chlorite, amphibole, and stilpnomelane.     

The Dudica Epithermal Cu–Au Deposit (Republic of North Macedonia)

Geology of Ore Deposits - The Dudica deposit is located in the southern part of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM), not far from the border with Greece in the Kozuf–Aridean volcanic...     

The Alshar epithermal Au-As-Sb-Tl deposit, southern Macedonia

The results of tectono-metallogenic, geological-structural, mineralogical, isotopic, and thermobarogeochemical studies at the Alshar deposit and in the adjacent area are discussed. The data obtained show that the gold mineralization at the deposit is similar to that observed at the Carlin-type deposits in the western United States. Similar characteristics include the Au-As-Sb-Tl-Hg geochemical assemblage; low Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ag contents in ore; widespread jasperoid and argillic metasomatic alterations of host siliciclastic-carbonate sedimentary rocks; and the spatial relations to fault zones. At the same time, the Alshar deposit differs from the Carlin-type deposits by the following features: (1) Pliocene age of mineralization, (2) expansion of mineralization over younger volcanics, (3) a high Tl grade in ore, and (4) localization of the ore field in a long-lived central-type magmatic structure. The results obtained can be used as an exploration model.     

Distribution and mobility of heavy metals in paddy soils of the Kočani Field in Macedonia

Contamination of soils with heavy metals is widespread and poses a long-term risk to ecosystem health. Abandoned and active mining sites contain residues from ore-processing operations that are characterised by high concentrations of heavy metals. The distribution and mobility characteristics of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in paddy soil samples from Kočani Field (Macedonia) using ICP-EAS and a sequential extraction procedure was evaluated. The results indicate that highly elevated concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were detected in the paddy soil sample from location VII-2 in the vicinity of Zletovo mine and Zletovska river in the western part of Kočani Field, which drains the untreated acid mine waters and mine wastes from the active Zletovo mine. The degree of contamination based on index of geoaccumulation (I _geo) from strong to weak in the paddy soils samples is Pb > As > Cd > Zn > Cu. The mobility potential of heavy metals in all paddy soil samples increases in the order As < Cu < Pb < Zn < Cd. According to the results of the anthropogenic impact on the paddy soils, a further study on the heavy metal concentrations in rice and other edible crops, the remediation process of the paddy soils and a dietary study of the local population are needed.     

Plavica epithermal Au–Ag–Cu deposit in eastern Macedonia: Geology and 3D model of valuable component distribution in ore

The Plavica Au–Ag–Cu deposit is related to the large Neogene volcanic center, which complicates the paleocaldera in the central Kratovo–Zletovo ore district of eastern Macedonia. Based on the geology, ore mineralogy, wall-rock alteration, and fluid inclusions, the Plavica deposit has been referred to the epithermal high-sulfidation type. The general 3D model of orebody at this deposit is based on its general geological structure and complex distribution of metal contents. The framework of the 3D model, which has been constructed in the ArcGIS System, comprises 195 exploration boreholes 47295.8 m in total length. The 3D model allows to a better understanding of distribution of mineralization and supplements the geological data on the deposit.