Development of the lead and zinc mining and metallurgy in the "Trepča" mine-Stari Trg

Abstract

After the migration of Serbs in 1690 and 1735, the exploitation of mines in the area of present-day Serbia ceased, and after a standstill of nearly 200 years, the mining and metallurgical activities in Serbia were activated in the second quarter of the 20th century. The first concessions were bought by England in 1926, then the mines in Stari Trg (1927), Kišnica (1927), Ajvalija (1930), Novo Brdo (1933) were activated, and the Flotation (1930) and Smelter with Lead Refinery began to operate (1939) in Zvečan. In Kosovska Mitrovica, the chemical industry began operating in 1961, the Zinc Metallurgy and Lead Battery Factory in 1967, and all production facilities were expanded and modernized several times. The most intensive production and investment period of the "Trepča" Combine was in the period 1965-1985, when "Trepča" was a well-known producer of lead, zinc, silver, gold, cadmium, bismuth and products made of these metals. After 1990, the production declined for several reasons and, in 1999, the international army stopped production in "Trepča". In the past twenty years, the production has not been completely renewed nor the status of the "Trepča" Combine has not been regulated.