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The surface exploitation of mineral raw materials is realized in the natural environment, causing the degradation of the narrower and wider space: the change of the physical appearance of the terrain and the degradation of the soil and autochthonous vegetation cover. The recultivation of the surface mine area, after the exploitation of mineral raw materials, is an important and mandatory measure in the function of environmental protection. In a biologically empty space, with damaged or destroyed natural content, in parallel with the slow and long-lasting process of spontaneous self-revitalization, technical and biological reclamation measures and procedures are applied to control and accelerate the revitalization process.The subject of this work is the design of reclamation on the surfaces affected by the exploitation of clay, on the example of the Garajevac Istok surface mine near Novi Bečej, with the aim of creating habitats for plant and animal life. The planned goals of the reclamation of the post-exploitation area of the Garajevac Istok surface mine will be realized by applying a combination of afforestation measures and spontaneous self-reclamation.

In this paper, the latest geological study of the "Garajevac Istok" brick clay deposit near Novi Bečej is presented. The clay of the overlying productive layer of this deposit has been exploited by Polet from Novi Bečej since 2008 as raw material for the production of roof tiles. This study is focused on the underlying productive layer of soil, which has not yet been exploited due to the abundance of water in the working environment. Detailed studies by depth of the second silt-clay complex planned for exploitation were carried out. The obtained results confirm that the quality of the raw mineral materials meets the standards for tile production. This paper summarizes the results of the studies.

The primary aim of this research is the investigation of natural and artificial radioactivity in protected areas of Kopaonik, Vlasina, and Rila Mountains. Soil samples (including lake sediment), drinkable spring water and conifers at mentioned locations of Southeast Europe, are chosen as study objects due to their importance for people and the environment in global. Specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 238U, 235U, 137Cs, 210Pb, and 7Be are determined using gamma spectrometry and the obtained values compared with literature and mean world values. Risk assessment parameters and the soil-plant transfer factor were determined for 226Ra, 40K, 137Cs, and 210Pb. This is the first radioactivity study of high mountain areas of Vlasina and Kopaonik in Serbia and Rila in Bulgaria and as such a baseline measurement and foundation for future research. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III43009]