Albania sits on a complex, mineral-rich terrain shaped by tectonics and varied rock types, and mining has long been part of its local economy and regional development. Many deposits are small but historically important, while others are of industrial scale — understanding that mix helps when scanning national resource lists.
There are 11 Minerals in Albania, ranging from Bauxite to Silver. For each entry you’ll find the columns Commodity,Location (district/nearest town),Size (t) in the list you’ll find below.
How current is this list and where does the data come from?
The list compiles publicly reported information from geological surveys, government records and company disclosures; timeliness varies by entry, so check the original source for the reporting date and whether figures refer to reserves, resources or past production.
Can I compare the “Size (t)” numbers across different sites?
You can compare them as a rough indicator of scale, but be cautious: reporting standards, measurement methods and whether numbers are inferred resources, proven reserves or cumulative production differ, so use the figures as a starting point and verify methodology before making decisions.
Minerals in Albania
| Name | Commodity | Location (district/nearest town) | Size (t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromite | metal | Bulqizë district | 30,000,000 |
| Copper | metal | Bulqizë-Tropojë belt, central-north | 2,000,000 |
| Nickel | metal | Ophiolite belts (Pogradec, Tropojë) | 1,000,000 |
| Iron | metal | Berat, central Albania | 10,000,000 |
| Lead-Zinc | metal | Central-southern districts (Poliçan, Tepelenë) | 500,000 |
| Gold | precious | Eastern and central Albania | 20 |
| Silver | precious | Associated with Pb-Zn and epithermal veins | 200 |
| Manganese | metal | Near Bulqizë and ultramafic sequences | 200,000 |
| Calcite/Dolomite | industrial | Widespread (Korçë, Pogradec, central Albania) | 100,000,000 |
| Bauxite | industrial | Central and northern karstic areas | 2,000,000 |
| Gypsum | industrial | Maritime plains and southern basins | 500,000 |
Images and Descriptions
Chromite
Chromite is Albania’s flagship mineral, concentrated in the Bulqizë and Pogradec districts. Significant historic production and reserves support stainless-steel industry feedstock; Bulqizë alone hosts the country’s largest chromite bodies and sustained mining since early 20th century, important for export earnings.
Copper
Copper occurs in vein and sediment-hosted deposits across central and northern Albania, notably in the Bulqizë-Tropojë belt and Vlahna areas. Historically mined in small operations, copper resources attract modern exploration for porphyry and skarn-style deposits with economic potential.
Nickel
Nickel occurs mainly in lateritic and ultramafic-hosted orebodies associated with Albania’s ophiolite belts, especially around Pogradec and Tropojë. Small historical production and reported resources make nickel an important strategic metal for stainless steel and battery-sector interest.
Iron
Iron ore in Albania is present in skarn and banded iron formations in central regions near Berat and Krrabë. Historically limited-scale mining supplied domestic needs; some larger resources are reported but remain underexplored for large-scale commercial production.
Lead-Zinc
Lead and zinc occur in polymetallic vein and carbonate-hosted deposits across central-southern Albania. Historical small-scale mining produced concentrates; modern exploration highlights base-metal potential in carbonate-hosted Mississippi Valley-type and vein systems with modest reported resources.
Gold
Native gold and associated sulfide mineralization appear in epithermal veins and skarns across eastern and central Albania. Several exploration projects identified multi-tonne gold targets; historically small placer and vein production indicate economic interest for modern gold exploration.
Silver
Silver is typically associated with lead-zinc and epithermal gold systems in Albania, occurring as native and sulfide minerals. Historically recovered as a byproduct of base-metal operations; exploration highlights modest silver resources tied to polymetallic veins.
Manganese
Manganese occurs in small stratabound deposits and as supergene enrichment in ophiolitic units, historically mined locally. While not a major Albanian commodity, manganese has been reported near Bulqizë and other ultramafic sequences with limited production.
Calcite/Dolomite
Calcite and dolomite are widespread in Albania’s carbonate platforms and metamorphic marbles, quarried for cement, lime, and construction aggregates. Large, well-documented limestone resources supply local industry and road-building; marble also has historical cultural use.
Bauxite
Bauxite deposits, the aluminum ore, occur in karstic lateritic profiles in parts of central and northern Albania. Smaller than global deposits, Albanian bauxite has supported limited domestic alumina and refractory material use and occasional exploration.
Gypsum
Gypsum and anhydrite appear in sedimentary basins, quarried for plaster, cement, and industrial uses near maritime plains and southern basins. Local producers historically supplied construction materials; deposits are moderate in size and regionally important for building industry.
