PLATE TECTONIC CLASSIFICATION OF ORE DEPOSITS ASSOCIATED WITH ALBANIAN OPHIOLITES

The Albanian Ophiolite complexes are constituent part of NE Mediterranean ophiolite metallogenic province formed essentially during Jurassic metallogenic epoch. They comprise two NNW-SSE trending sub-parallel belts named a) the western ophiolite belt (WOB) and; (b) Eastern ophiolite belt (EOB) hosting various classes of ore types or ore occurrences, some of them of world size. Based on the principles of the Plate Tectonics can be distinguished various economic deposits on both belts.

In western ophiolite belt ore deposits are associated with oceanic crust formation Volcanic- Oceanic crust, Layer 1

A. Late Triassic-early Jurassic VMS hosted by volcano sedimentary series, formed during initial stages of rifting (e.g. Rubik, Palaj-Karme, Poravi) and Middle Jurassic VMS hosted by MOR basalts (e.g. Kacinar, Fushe Arres, Derven, Rehova)

B. Plutonic, Oceanic crust Layer 3, titanium-vanadium bearing gabbro, industrial minerals for dimension and ornamental stones (troctolite, serpentinite, gabbro, volcanic glass, chert, kaolin and asbestos.

In eastern ophiolite belt ore deposits are associated with suprasubduction zone. Volcanic- Ocenaic crust, Layer 1

A. (a) VMS hosted by Middle Jurassic lower basalt-andesite lava dominated succession(e.g.Spaci), (b) VMS hosted by upper basalt-andesite and dacite (rhyolite) pyroclastic succession (e.g.Gurth Spac, Munella, Qafe Bari, Lak Roshi).

B. Plutonic- Oceanic crust Layer 3: sulfide orebodies hosted by intrusions (mainly in gabbro and to a lesser extent in quartzdiorite-plagiogranites). Oceanic crust Layer 4: Chromite deposits (e.g.Tropoja, Kukesi, Bulqiza, Shebenik massifs) and PGM occurrences.

Oceanic crust Layer 3 and 4: industrial minerals for dimension and ornamental stones (serpentinite, olivinite, troctolite, quartzdiorite-plagiogranite), volcanic glass, chert. C. Sea breach- Oceanic crust Layer 3 with supergene activity: Fe- Ni, nickel laterite(e.g. Kukesi, Pogradeci).