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Cu-Fe sulphides with minor Zn, Au and Ag occur as massive, disseminated and vein mineralisations in volcanosedimentary rocks, volcanics and occasionally associated intrusions of a sheeted dyke complex in ophiolites in Albania. The ophiolites form two sub-parallel units, the Western Ophiolite and Eastern Ophiolite Belts, stretching across the country from north-west to south-east, and have mid-ocean-ridge and island-arc (boninite supra-subduction type) affinities, respectively. The Western Ophiolite Belt comprises a volcano-sedimentary series, pillow basalts, ultramafic rocks, gabbros and plagiogranites. The orebodies with massive chalcopyrite-pyrite ores vary in shape occurring between haematised radiolarian chert and tholeiitic basalt pillow lavas. The Eastern Ophiolite Belt consists of a basalt-andesite-rhyolite series cut by a sheeted dyke complex and underlain by quartz diorite-plagiogranite, gabbro, gabbronorite and harzburgite. Massive sulphide ores underlain by disseminated veins and stockworks are hosted by a Middle-Upper Jurassic lower basalt-andesite succession. Alteration includes chloritisation, epidotisation, silicification, argillisation, zeolitisation and carbonatisation. The Upper Jurassic, upper dacite volcanoclastic, andesite-dacite, boninite succession hosts massive pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite ore underlain by few or no disseminated veins or stockworks. The Eastern Ophiolite Belt offers the greatest potential for locating future orebodies, possibly beneath thrust planes., Cu-Fe sulphides with minor Zn, Au and Ag occur as massive, disseminated and vein mineralisations in volcanosedimentary rocks, volcanics and occasionally associated intrusions of a sheeted dyke complex in ophiolites in Albania. The ophiolites form two sub-parallel units, the Western Ophiolite and Eastern Ophiolite Belts, stretching across the country from north-west to south-east, and have mid-ocean-ridge and island-arc (boninite supra-subduction type) affinities, respectively. The Western Ophiolite Belt comprises a volcano-sedimentary series, pillow basalts, ultramafic rocks, gabbros and plagiogranites. The orebodies with massive chalcopyrite-pyrite ores vary in shape occurring between haematised radiolarian chert and tholeiitic basalt pillow lavas. The Eastern Ophiolite Belt consists of a basalt-andesite-rhyolite series cut by a sheeted dyke complex and underlain by quartz diorite-plagiogranite, gabbro, gabbronorite and harzburgite. Massive sulphide ores underlain by disseminated veins and stockworks are hosted by a Middle-Upper Jurassic lower basalt-andesite succession. Alteration includes chloritisation, epidotisation, silicification, argillisation, zeolitisation and carbonatisation. The Upper Jurassic, upper dacite volcanoclastic, andesite-dacite, boninite succession hosts massive pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite ore underlain by few or no disseminated veins or stockworks. The Eastern Ophiolite Belt offers the greatest potential for locating future orebodies, possibly beneath thrust planes.

Prior to 1991 mineral commodities generated the main contribution to Albania's foreign exchange earnings, but political upheaval ended the state mining enterprises. The deposits of bauxite, chromite, copper, nickel and industrial and construction materials now offer opportunities for reviving the minerals industry with Western participation. The legislative framework for this was established by laws passed in 1991 and 1994 but attitudes inherited from the Communist regime need to change further to facilitate the entry of foreign developers. Bauxite resources, currently unworked, are estimated as around 12 000 000 t. Some 36 900 000 t of chromium ore averaging 28% Cr2O3 has been identified and reconstruction is being started by Turkish and Italian companies. A Turkish company has also submitted a feasibility study for a Cu concession. Ni production ceased in 1994 but a Canadian company may be planning to revive mining of laterites. A British-Lebanese joint venture is interested in cement and a US group has briefly considered aggregates., Prior to 1991 mineral commodities generated the main contribution to Albania's foreign exchange earnings, but political upheaval ended the state mining enterprises. The deposits of bauxite, chromite, copper, nickel and industrial and construction materials now offer opportunities for reviving the minerals industry with Western participation. The legislative framework for this was established by laws passed in 1991 and 1994 but attitudes inherited from the Communist regime need to change further to facilitate the entry of foreign developers. Bauxite resources, currently unworked, are estimated as around 12 000 000 t. Some 36 900 000 t of chromium ore averaging 28% Cr2O3 has been identified and reconstruction is being started by Turkish and Italian companies. A Turkish company has also submitted a feasibility study for a Cu concession. Ni production ceased in 1994 but a Canadian company may be planning to revive mining of laterites. A British-Lebanese joint venture is interested in cement and a US group has briefly considered aggregates.

As well as long-standing natural hazards such as earthquakes, Albania has in the last 30 years acquired additional problems associated with the mining and processing industries and the pollution they have left, particularly in the north-east of the country where chromite tailings, old underground workings and abandoned copper plants are located. Chromite, copper, ferro-chromium, nickeliferous iron ore and petroleum refinery products were the main mineral commodities prior to 1991 and the main sources of industrial pollution. In the late 1980s around 1 000 000 t/a Cu ore were produced from underground mines and were processed, smelted and refined. All the mines except Munella Cu-Zn-Au are now inactive or worked out. Lateritic nickeliferous Fe reached 1 200 000 t/a ore, half of which fed the Elbasan iron and steel works to produce steel, pig iron, nickel salts and a little cobalt. In 1994, when ore production ceased and the Ni-Co refinery closed, a large stockpile of ore was abandoned. Renewal, especially of the copper industries, would require not only extensive rehabilitation plans but also the introduction of appropriate limits to bring pollution into line with European standards., As well as long-standing natural hazards such as earthquakes, Albania has in the last 30 years acquired additional problems associated with the mining and processing industries and the pollution they have left, particularly in the north-east of the country where chromite tailings, old underground workings and abandoned copper plants are located. Chromite, copper, ferro-chromium, nickeliferous iron ore and petroleum refinery products were the main mineral commodities prior to 1991 and the main sources of industrial pollution. In the late 1980s around 1 000 000 t/a Cu ore were produced from underground mines and were processed, smelted and refined. All the mines except Munella Cu-Zn-Au are now inactive or worked out. Lateritic nickeliferous Fe reached 1 200 000 t/a ore, half of which fed the Elbasan iron and steel works to produce steel, pig iron, nickel salts and a little cobalt. In 1994, when ore production ceased and the Ni-Co refinery closed, a large stockpile of ore was abandoned. Renewal, especially of the copper industries, would require not only extensive rehabilitation plans but also the introduction of appropriate limits to bring pollution into line with European standards.