Serbia: The future of coal mining in complex conditions, prospects of Kolubara basin

, Investors

The paper “Criteria of perspectives evaluation of Kolubara basin” was presented at the Eleventh International Conference on the surface mining in Zlatibor, nearly two years ago.

The author, Mr Miodag Kezovic, B.Eng, geology engineer, considers a complex evaluation system, elaborated in the study “Potentials of coal basins of Serbia”.
Evaluation of coal basins and coal deposits can be made according to criteria that are divided into three groups. In the first, there are genetic criteria, procedures and considerations of the coal series formation in certain sedimentation areas, while in the second, there are post genetic criteria. The emphasis of the paper regarding the analysis of Kolubara basin is given in the third group of criteria, geological and economic, which include the type and quality of coal basin, coal basin dimensions, coal series and coal seams structure, and other mining-technical criteria.
In the final sentence, the author pointed out that it is necessary to develop such a system of exploitation that will enable the most rational exploitation of deposits and coal placement of the required quality.
Comprehensive analysis and considerations of all relevant parameters for assessing the coal basin made mines ranking possible. In this way we get a clear picture of the potentialities of certain parts of deposits, defines an area for further geological researches and development with the economic justification of the invested funds.
Kolubara basin represents the Pannonian depression developed as part of the tectonic units of the Sava trench. A complex coal series was formed in the upper Pontian and it was created in two sedimentation areas, which are mutually separated by medosevac dislocation. The area of the basin is about 600 square kilometers, while the coal for exploitation coveres about 167 square kilometers, or about 28 percent of the area. Today this area is smaller, and is about 130 square kilometers, or 22 percent of the area of the basin, while the thickness of the coal series is from 20 to 120 meters. Active coal mines B and C, field D, Tamnava West Field and Field Veliki Crljeni. In the fields A and Tamnava-East Field exploitation was completed. Over a billion tons of coal was excavated so far from this area. Basic investigations were completed for the most part, while now, detailed researches are performing. Until now, the established reserves are over 2.7 billion tons.
Based on the given genetic, post genetic and geological-economic criteria, we are clearly led to the conclusion that for the long-term plan for economic development in the area of Kolubara basin, the most important deposits will be E, F, Tamnava West Field and Radljevo, where there is over 71 percent of the total geological and mineable reserves of coal. These are the deposits that are characterized by the most complex geological conditions in the basin.

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