TYPIZATION OF HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATIONS IN THE BOROV DOL DEPOSIT

For the study of hydrothermal alterations in the Borov Dol deposit, a total of 12 samples were taken, of which 10 samples from boreholes BD-335, BD-320 and BD-322, and 2 samples from the open pit mining Borov Dol. The material for the X-ray diffraction analyses was also prepared from the samples from which petrographic preparations were made. The following types of alterations have been determined from the conducted investigations: propylitization, chloritization, epidotization, argillitization, kaolinization, calcitization, silification, sericitization, bio-titization, adularization, and K-feldsparization. Some of the alterations are pre-ore or follow the formation of copper mineralization (silicification, sericitization and K-feldsparization), and some are post-ore (argillitization, calcitization, and kaolinization). The model of alterations follows the examples of porphyry systems, and the most significant alter-ations for the spatial distribution of copper mineralization in the Borov Dol deposit are sericitization, silicification, and K-metasomatism. Surface alterations are due mainly to limonitization and in places to argillite alteration. Propylitization gives the segment of the outer halo of alterations in this area

RADON AND RADIUM CONCENTRATION IN SELF-BOTTLED MINERAL SPRING WATER FROM THE PUBLIC FOUNTAIN “ELIXIR” AT THE MOKLIŠTE AREA, REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Within this paper is presented information about current study of radon and radium analysis in self-bottled drinking water from the public water fountain “Elixir” in the Moklište area, city of Kavadarci. Obtained results for the radon in water measurements, for the preventive method taken samples, ranged from 3.40 up to 3.69 Bq·l–1, while values for the typical method taken samples ranged from 2.60 up to 3.62 Bq·l–1. Radon concentration measured from samples obtained in typical way showed lower than the corresponding values obtained using the preventive sampling method, where comparison of respective samples P1-T1, P2-T2 and P3-T3 have shown lower values of 1.09 %, 17.62 % and 23.53 % for typical method. Obtained results for the radium in water, for the preventive method taken samples, ranged from 0.08 up to 0.19 Bq·l–1 while values for the typical method taken samples ranged from 0.11 up to 0.14 Bq·l -1. Radium concentration measured from samples obtained in typical way showed lower than the corresponding values obtained using the preventive sampling method, where comparison of respective samples P1- T1, P2-T2 and P3-T3 have shown differences in respective values of of 8.33 %, 42.11 % and 42.86 % for typical method. The committed effective dose for the population consuming the self-bottled water from the Moklište public drinking water fountain of the region was estimated using the concentration of 222Rn and 226Ra in water samples, which ranges from 21.09 to 33.43 Sv y–1 for preventive method and from 22.79 to 26.01 Sv y–1 for traditional method

Techno-economic parameters related to the Bunardzik Cu-Au ore body, Buchim copper mine, Eastern Macedonia

The calculated ore-bearing coefficient in the Bunardzik ore body was 0.82%, meaning that within the ore body boundaries only 18% of the mass is not mineralized somehow, which is highly compatible with the remaining three ore bodies within the Buchim porphyry copper mine. The calculated value of the variation coefficient (V) has shown a value of 54% that is in the range of 43- 100%, which displays that this ore body belongs to the third group of ore bodies with uneven mineralization. Average copper, gold and silver concentrations were determined as 0.30% Cu, 0.35 g/t Au and 1.0 g/t Ag, respectively. Minimal economic content (MEC) within the Bunardzik ore body, as a representation of this kind of mineralization, was determined as 0.2099% Cu. In a similar manner was calculated the lowest copper boundary (cutoff grade), which has shown a value of 0.1399% Cu thus allowing a certain decrease in the contents of the exploited ore. Also, the so called copper monometal values were calculated, which included the influence of the present gold and silver in the ore. The calculated copper monometal was set at relatively fair 0.399% Cu that represents solid mainstay for exploitation of copper in these low percentage ores. Thee calculated ore reserves in this particular ore body were 24 042 751 t of ore with 0.257% Cu, 0.35 g/t Au and 0.91 g/t Ag and increased mine life for additional 4.4 years

Fossil flora from Paleogene sediments of the Serta locality in the Tikveš basin, Republic of North Macedonia

The Tikveš Paleogene basin is located in the central part of the territory of Macedonia and belongs to the central part of the Vardar zone. The flora collected in the sandstone-clay sediments from the lower flysch lithozone from the Serta locality (Tikveš basin) has been recorded and described for the first time in Macedonia. One species from the fossil flora has been identified as Equisetum parlatorii. These new findings provide information on the past and present distribution and history of Equisetum and exemplify the importance of biogeographic and evolutionary processes in the geological past. As one of the reasons for the reduction in the size of today's Equisetum from the recent vegetation, the significant climatic changes that were the result of the Himalayan orogeny during the Late Miocene are assumed

Radon and radium concentration in water from public fountains at the central parts of the Kratovo-Zletovo volcanic area, Republic of North Macedonia

The paper presents information about our latest study of radon and radium in drinking water from the public water fountains situated in central parts of the Kratovo-Zletovo volcanic area. Results for the radon in water measurements were as follows: Fountain 1 to Fountain 4 samples, ranged from 6.63 up to 157.73 Bq l–1. Obtained results for the radium in water, Fountain 1 to Fountain 4 samples, ranged from 0.20 up to 1.08 Bq l–1. Both, radon and radium measurements, in water samples from certain fountains have shown significantly higher values than the strictest standards given by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO). The committed effective doses for the population consuming the water directly from the fountains or as selfbottled waters from the Kratovo-Zletovo volcanic area were estimated using the concentration of 222Rn and 226Ra in water samples, ranged from 45.47 μSv y–1 to 709.36 μSv y–1, which once again for some fountains were higher than the WHO recommended values of max. 100 μSv y–1

The Sb–As Lojane Deposit (Republic of North Macedonia): Types of Ores and Conditions of Their Occurrence and Geochemical Features

This article presents the results of comprehensive studies of Sb–As ores from the Lojane deposit, located in the northeastern part of the Republic of North Macedonia, near the border with Serbia. Five types of Sb–As ores are distinguished in the deposit: brecciated realgar orpiment ores; realgar breccias; brecciated antimonite ores; massive, almost monomineral realgar ores; and realgar–antimonite nested ores. The ores are characterized not only by the unusual paragenesis of minerals of nickel, arsenic, and antimony, but also by a very close fusion of antimonite, realgar, and collomorphic quartz. A wide range of elements in ores (As, Sb, Cr, Ti, Mn, Ni, Mo, Co, Ag, Tl, U, etc.) is likely due to the combination of mineralization from multiple distinct parageneses that occurred at different times. Thermometric studies of fluid inclusions in quartz indicate a temperature range of Thom varying from 180 to 220°C, with an average value of 201°C. Studies of the isotopic composition of sulfur in antimonite and realgar showed fairly narrow intervals of δ34S values from – 5.19 to –0.26‰ and from –4.80 to 1.92, respectively, indicating an endogenous sulfur source. Based on these findings, the Lojane deposit can be attributed to the epithermal class

Technogenic Deposits in the Mine Bucim and their Potential Economic and Ecological Effects

The mine for copper and gold Bucim is in exploitation since 1979th, with a temporary closing in the years 2003-2004. The annual production is around 4.000.000 t ore and 4.500.000 t ore dumping. From this amount of sulfide ore a copper concentrate is gained that amounts 30.000 t, the rest is flotation dumping. The accumulated ore dumping from 120.000.000 t in the waste rock dump no. 1 with an average content of copper of 0.080% and the accumulation flotation dumping of around 80.000.000 t in the hydro dumping “Topolnica” with an average content of 0.040% Cu, < 0.3 g/t Au, present significant technogene findings and in this work an effort has been made to define their economical productivity and ecological effects on the environment. The valorization of the copper from the sulfide mine dumping in the waste rock dump no. 1 with the help the hydrometallurgical process with a method of leaching, enables solving the ecology problem with the mining water which drain in the waste rock dump, and at the same time an additional annual production of 2.800 t cathode copper will be added in technological complex for reproduction of the solutions rich with copper located under the postponement no. 1 of the mine Bucim. From the researches made by now on the flotation tailing dump “Topolnica” it is stated that secondary enrichments of gold appear in some levels, where the content is in the frame of 0.1 - 0.7 g/t. The rhythmical separation of the levels rich with gold is a result of cyclic processing of ore with different content of gold. From the phase analysis turns out that the gold can be found in the pyrite, the rest of the chalcopyrite, and it can also be found as natural small grained disperse, included in the silica and free. In the frames of this work results and findings from the performed researches for determining the pollution with heavy metals around the techno gene deposits in the mine Bucim are also given, as well as strategies for solving the problems with the pollution. After the analyses and the interpretation of the data the assumptions for increased values of the following heavy metals were confirmed: Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, As and Co. because the mine Bucim is a mine for exploitation of copper, the results of Cu were especially interesting and which reached values of 0.01 – 704.7 mg/l in the water, 17.8 – 1734 mg/kg in the soil, 2854 mg/kg in a collective sample of green algae from the Bucim lake and its leak, 55 – 875 mg/kg in the roots and young brunches of acacia. The increased concentration of metal was determined in all the analyzed mediums: water, soil and plants. The increased concentrations of metals are often several times higher than maximum allowed standards. The increasing of Cu in the water samples is very distinctive nearby the waste rock dump no. 1, today with the beginning of the work of the plant for producing cathode copper that problem with the drainage mining water is solved. The concentration of the metals in the soil is highest in the surrounding area of the waste rock dump no. 1 and the flotation hydro dumping “Topolnica”. This work is focused on the transfer factor (TF) for the system technogene soil – plant in the flotation telling dump “Topolnica”. The plant acacia (lat. Robina Pseudoacacia) which is used for biological reclamation of the dam of the hydro damping and the nearby surrounding of the mine Bucim has a transfer factor that surmounts the hyper accumulation criterion > 1 for Mo (TF = 1.54 – 3.56)

TECHNO-ECONOMIC PARAMETERS RELATED TO THE BUNARDZIK Cu-Au ORE BODY, BUCHIM COPPER MINE, EASTERN MACEDONIA

Calculated ore-bearing coefficient in the Bunardzik ore body was 0.82%, meaning that within the ore body boundaries only 18% of mass is not mineralized somehow, which is highly compatible with remaining three ore bodies within the Buchim porphyry copper mine.&nbsp; The calculated value of variation coefficient (V) has shown value of 54% that is in the range of 43-100%, which displays that this ore body belongs to the third group of deposits with uneven mineralization. An average copper, gold and silver concentrations were determined as 0.30% Cu, 0.35 g/t Au and 1.0 g/t Ag, respectively. Minimal economic content (MEC) within the Bunardzik ore body, as represent of this kind of mineralization, was determined as 0.2099% Cu. In similar manner was calculated the lowest copper boundary (cutoff grade), which have shown value of 0.1399% Cu and thus allowing certain decrease of contents in exploited ore. Also, there were calculated so called copper monometal values, which included influence of the present gold and silver in the ore. Calculated copper monometal was set at relatively fair 0.399% Cu that represents solid mainstay for exploitation of copper in these low percentage ores. Calculated ore reserves in this particular ore body were 24 042 751 t of ore with 0.257% Cu, 0.35 g/t Au and 0.91 g/t Ag and increased mine life for additional 4.4 years