Zagubica Has Not Just Gold, But Also Semi-Precious Stones – Calcite Also to Be Extracted from Potaj Cuka Site

The Municipality of Zagubica has put the study for the preparation of the detailed regulation plan for the exploitation of calcite from the Potaj Cuka site up for an early public review.

The planning documentation says that the area of the exploitation field “Potaj Cuka North”, under the decision of the Ministry of Mining and Energy from 2009, is defined as an area where calcite can be exploited as a carbonate raw material.

Calcite is a mineral from the carbonates group which belongs to the category of semi-precious stones. It is a shiny, translucent and usually has a yellowish color. Considering that it is part of the makeup of limestone, it is used in the production of this raw material, but also for the production of jewelry.

The plan covers the cadaster parcels in the cadaster municipality Laznica-Seliste, on the road route Zagubica-Bor, at around 10.5 km from Zagubica itself and 14 km away from Crni Vrh.

The planning solution of the mine at the Potaj Cuka site, called Vis, encompasses the planned exploitation field, an access road, a part of the non-categorized road with the planned regulation and connection and spare areas for the mining infrastructure, as well as for the further expansion of the quarry in phases.

In the location of the mining complex, all the mining facilities will be designed in the first phase of the exploitation, and the second and third phases are planned as backup surfaces for the further development of the mine.

The structure of the open-pit mine Potaj Cuka, as said, was prepared based on the authenticated mining reserves of the A, B and C1 categories, which belong to the categories which are profitable for exploitation.

The open-pit mine is of a hill type, constructed for a period of 10 years, so that the reserves of the minerals are extracted in as great quantities as possible with minimal amounts of waste-rock. In the final year, as said, an underground level will be established as well.

The methods of drilling and blasting are planned to be used for the excavation of the minerals.

As said, the area covered by the plan also features forest and agricultural land, and the nearest residential facilities are around 8 km away from the future exploitation field.

It is pointed out that there are no underground waters or river flows in the mine area and that the exploitation cannot cause significant pollution of the environment, that is, that it is not a big risk to people’s health, but that a strategic assessment of the impact of the plan on the environment will be prepared.

The plan was commissioned by the Bor Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and it was prepared by Infoplan doo Arandjelovac.

The early public review lasts until January 10.

Let us remind that, in the exploration area Potaj Cuka-Tisnica in the southeast part of the municipality of Zagubica, the Canadian company Dundee Precious Metals plans the exploitation of gold.

B. P.

Opština Žagubica

Institut za rudarstvo i metalurgiju Bor

Infoplan d.o.o. Aranđelovac

DPM Avala doo Beograd

Potaj čuka

Dundee Precious metals

Potaj čuka Tisnica

Crni vrh

KO Laznica Selište

open pit mine Vis

calcite

semiprecious stones

carbonate raw materials

limestone

gold

exploitation

quarry

mine