The mineral deposit type at Ilovica is “Alkaline Copper-Gold Porphyry”. The deposit has characteristics which are typical for this deposit type. The mineralisation is spatially, temporally and genetically associated with hydrothermal alteration of the intrusive bodies and host rocks.

As is typical of this deposit type, stockworks, veinlets and disseminations of pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite and magnetite occur in large zones of mineralisation in and adjoining porphyritic intrusions of diorite composition.

Subsequent supergene leaching/enrichment and advanced argillic alteration have overprinted the typical hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation pattern in the upper portion of the deposit.

Ilovica is a porphyry copper-gold deposit, located in a northwest-southeast striking Cenozoic magmatic arc, that covers large areas of Central Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Southern Bulgaria, Northern Greece and Eastern Turkey.

The Ilovica porphyry system is approximately 1.5 km in diameter and is associated with a poorly exposed dacite-granodiorite plug, emplaced along the north-eastern border of the northwest-southeast elongate Strumica graben. The exact location of the deposit is controlled by major north-south cross cutting faults and minor northwest-southeast faulting, parallel to the faulted border of the graben.

The Strumica graben is a typical post-collision extension structure, approximately 30 km by 10 km in size, and up ........

Ilovica is a combination of open pit and hillside quarry type mining, with an elevation range of 830 m to 240 m, the split between the two occurring at 480 m. The open pit portion will require an internal switchback ramp that starts at 240 m and exits at 515 m. The hillside portion requires a system of internal ramps, working bench haul routes and temporary haul roads that connect with an external system of haul roads that follow the contours and switchbacks that meet the pit rim at intervals.

A crusher and ROM pad are located on the western side of the open pit at an elevation of 520 m. Access to this in the early years is via haul roads running along the topography. Later, an oxide stockpile adjacent to the ROM pad will allow access as the open pit is extended. A conveyor runs from the crusher to the processing plant at the top of the hill. The mining infrastructure is located on the downhill side of the open pit with an access haul road that connects it with the crusher, ROM pad and principal haul roads.

The mining infrastructure is located on the downhill side of the open pit with an access haul road that connects it with the crusher, ROM pad and principal haul roads.

Currently it is envisaged that mining will be undertaken by owner operated equipment and labour. The practicality of involving a mining contractor will be investigated in more detail in the next phase of engineering design.

The working and final pits designed by DM ........

- subscription is required.

- subscription is required.