Deposits and mining potential of bentonite in Croatia

Scientific paper - Review paper

• Title (croatian): Ležišta i mogućnosti eksploatacije bentonita u Hrvatskoj
• Author: Mario Klanfar https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1629-873X
• Author: Branimir Janković
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering; (Department of Mining and Geotechnical Engineering)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: TECHNICAL SCIENCES; Mining, Petroleum and Geology Engineering; Mining

Abstract (english)

Bentonite is one of the materials that is planed to be used for buffering and backfilling in spent nuclear fuel repositories, within deep crystalline rock. There are several locations in Croatia that bentonite deposits and occurrences are found on. Some were exploited in past, and others were more or less explored. This paper presents overview of bentonite deposits, basic properties and potential resources, and mining practices in Croatia. Largest exploited deposits are found in area of Poljanska luka, Gornja Jelenska and Bednja. Surface and underground methods (drift and fill, sublevel caving) were used during exploitation. In the area of Svilaja and Lika are found potentially valuable deposits that were never exploited. Montmorilonite content ranges form 20-50% to 57-89%. Most deposits contain bentonite beds with thickness 0,4-1,6 m, and have plunge 10°-30°. Few exceptions are nearly horizontal and thick more than 5 m and even 12 m. One is declined at 70° and up to 40m thick. Proven reserves are about 2,3 Mt with some level of uncertainty. Average production per mine during exploitation period can be assumed to be several thousands t/y.

Abstract (croatian)

Bentonit je materijal kojim se planira brtviti i zapunjavati podzemna odlagališta nuklearnog otpada u dubokim magmatskim strukturama. U Hrvatskoj postoji više lokacija ležišta ili pojava bentonita. Neka od njih su eksploatirana u prošlosti, dok su druga manje ili više istraživana. U radu je prikazan pregled ležišta bentonita, važnija svojstva i rezerve, te način eksploatacije u Hrvatskoj. Najveća ležišta nalaze se u područjima Poljanske luke, Gornje Jelenske i Bednje. Primjenjivale su se površinske i podzemne (stupno uz zapunjavanje, podetažno otkopavanje) metode eksploatacije. U području Svilaje i Like nađena su potencijalno vrijedna ležišta, koja nisu iskorištavana. Udio montmorilonita se kreće od 20-50% do 57-89%. Većina ležišta čine slojevi bentonita debljine 0,4-1,6 m, i pada 10°-30°. Iznimno su horizontalna i debljine veće od 5 m, pa čak i 12 m. Jedno ležište pada pod 70° i debljine je do 40 m. Dokazane rezeve čini otprilike 2,3 Mt bentonita, uz određenu razinu nesigurnosti. Prosječna proizvodnja po rudniku za vrijeme eksploatacije pretpostavlja se oko nekoliko tisuća tona godišnje.

• Keywords (english): repositories; spent fuel; bentonite; exploitation; resources; Croatia
• Keywords (croatian): odlagališta; nuklearni otpad; bentonit; eksploatacija; rezerve; Hrvatska
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Review paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Rudarsko-geološko-naftni zbornik
• Numbering: vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 35-39
• p-ISSN: 0353-4529
• e-ISSN: 1849-0409
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:169:435395
• Publication: 2012
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/107802
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-03-22 12:44:49