Geology and mineral resources of Bulgaria
Geology
Although Bulgaria is not a big country it has very diverse geology. The tectonic settle of the country is presented mainly of four first-order tectonic units and many second and third-order units. Included are the South part of the Moesian platform, folded system of the Balkans, the Rila-Rhodopes massive and the Sakar-Stranja zone.
These tectonic units include very diverse stratigraphic complexes ranging from early Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic and Quaternary. Their lithology comprise of rocks with diverse genesis. At the surface sedimentary, volcanic and metamorphic rocks are observed, holding different mineral composition and petrophisical and geochemical characteristics.
Mineral resources
Regarding natural resources – every rock complex has its potential, which is diverse too. For example in the North Bulgaria, in the Moesian platform, which is build up mostly of sedimentary rocks, sedimentogenetic and hemogenetic resources prevail. Now oil, salt, gypsum, phosphorite, manganese ore; limestone and marlstones for the cement industry; sand and pebbles for building purposes; diverse clays for making bricks; sand for the glass industry are produced.
The Balkanids’ zone is the most diverseone regarding the lithology and the natural resources. In the West Balknids different types of ores (including polymetallic ores, gold, silver, copper,molybdenum, a little Uranium etc) are produced. From non-metal resources, different rock types and sands are important. They comprise mostly of limestone with beautiful texture, some of them build up of shells, other with higher density and differently colored – from black, to white and with hues of yellow and gray. Despite of the tectonic reprocess they are eligible for big blocks to be gained at relatively low cost. In that zone, some intrusive rocks are produced (granites with rapakivi texture and redish hue, marble breccias and differently colored, mostly Triassic, sands). In the region, there are many modern equipped factories for processing that rocks.
In the Central part of the Balkanids mostly copper and copper-gold ore is produced which is relatively poor in metal content, but its low price makes it valuable for many foreign mining companies.
Of great importance for Bulgaria are the mines for black and brown coals in the Central Balkan. The biggest open basin in the Balkan Peninsula for lignit coal is situated in the East Srednogorie.
The Rhodope tectonic zone is rich of ores: polymetallic ore, lead-zinc ore, gold and silver. Of great importance are the non-ore resources: marble, gneisses, schists and tuffs with Paleogene age. There are some big findings of travertine that are processed. Findings of zeolite and benthonite clay are basic for a whole branch of Bulgarian industry – making filters for water and for the brewer industry.
The Sakar-Stranja zone is relatively weak studied. In the most Eastern part Burgas’ mines are operating. Important for the region is the Elhovo’s finding of brown coal. From non-ore resources important are some marbles with pink/gray hue and some types of granites.
The abundance of mineral springs is a Bulgaria’s asset. Everyone of them has its’ characteristics, but the water is, in general, appropriate for drinking and competitive to other world’s distinguished waters.
Mineral Exploitation
In the recent years in period of transition from state planed economy to market economy a lot of mines have been closed. The mines still in operation were privatized with exception of coal mines. The only one oil and gas production company in Bulgaria is also state owned. The main operating mines in Bulgaria are shown on Fig.1. and described bellow:
CHELOPECH -massive sulphide Au-Cu, underground, 165 t proven reserves Au, 3,5 g/t grade, 0,351 Mt Cu, 1,01% grade;calculated up to600 m below the surface
ELATZITE -porphyry Cu-Au, open pit
123,4 Mt ore-0,416% Cu, 0,154 g/t Au
176,0 Mt ore -0,380% Cu total resources - 650 Mt with 0,3%Cu
production 30000 t/d
ASSAREL -porphyry copper, open pit
260 Mt proven reserves, 0,4% Cu grade
total resources 318 Mt, 0,359% Cu grade
production 9,2 Mt/y
MARITZA-IZTOK-lignites, open pit, 2487 Mt reserves;
25,8 Mt/y production in 1996
KREMIKOVTZI -SEDEX iron - hematite, limonite, siderite
195 Mt Fe reserves with 31,5% grade;
24 Mt barite reserves with 44,2% BaSO4 ;
0,757 Mt/y Fe ore production;
0,216 Mt/y barite production;
MIROVO -halite diapir, Permian age;
4357 Mt reserves with 71% NaCl content,
calculated up to 1500 m depth;
single drill-hole up to 4000 m resources;
1,6 Mt/y NaCl production as brines
NE BULGARIA-karst-hosted kaolin-quartz sands deposits;
172,8 Mt total resources and 1,2 Mt/y production of kaolin
MAIN TYPES OF POTENTIAL METAL DEPOSIT PROSPECTS
•PORPHYRY Cu, Cu-Au, Au -Srednogorie zone, West Balkans
•MASSIVE SULPHIDE Cu,-Srednogorie zone, Balkans
Cu-Au, Au-base metal
•MVT Pb-Zn-AgForebalkan, Balkan ridge
•SEDIMENT-HOSTED-East Rhodopes, Strandja mountains
•DISSEMINATED Au -Balkan mountains
CARLIN TYPE&CARLIN LIKE
•EPITHERMAL AU VEINS-East Rhodopes, Balkan ridge,
WITH BONANZAKraishte region, West Rhodopes
•VEIN-METASOMATICREPLACEMENTPb-Zn-Ag-Central Rhodopes, Balkan ridge
LONG LIFE GUARANTEE PRODUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
•KAOLIN- North-East Bulgaria310 Mt total `resources
•HALITE- Varna region6500 Mt“
•QUARTZ SANDS- North-East Bulgaria83 Mt proven reserves
•BENTONITES- East Rhodopes pred.62 Mt total resources
•PERLITES- East Rhodopes24,5 Mt“
•ZEOLITES- East Rhodopes2000 Mt“
•CEMENT STONES- all the regions2000 Mtreserves
•BARITE- Sofia region pred.2200 Mtreserves
•DIATOMITES- South&NE Bulgaria2900 Mtreserves
•VERMICULITE- Sofia region4,7 Mttotal resources
•GYPSUM- NW Bulgaria,Danube r.1116 Mt total resources
DECORATIVE ROCKS
LIMESTONE52 Mqubic m. reserves
MARBLE217 Mqubic m.reserves
GRANITE AND GRANIT DIORITE17 Mqubic m.reserves
QUARTZ MONCONITE27 Mqubic m.reserves
GABBRO, MONCONITE, ANDESITE9 Mqubic m.reserves
EXTRACTION IN 2000
COAL27 Mt
OIL0.04 Mt
GAS15 M qubic m.
Fe ore0.6 Mt
Cu ore23 Mt
Au ore0.6 Mt
Pb-Zn ore0.5 Mt
KAOLIN1 Mt
BENTONITE0.3 Mt
BARITE0.9 Mt
NaCl1.7 Mt
QUARTZ SANDS0.7 Mt
CEMENTS3.5 Mt
LIMESTONE0.07 Mqubic m.
MARBLE0.08 Mqubic m.
GRANITE AND GRANIT DIORITE0.009 Mqubic m.
QUARTZ MONCONITE0.002 Mqubic m.
GABBRO, MONCONITE, ANDESITE0.002 Mqubic m.
Past production activities and abandoned sites.
More than 42 uranium mining sites were closed in 1992 due to the economic and environment reasons(Fig.2). The remediation of these sites is still in progress.
Fig.2 Uranium Production in Bulgaria