TREPCA, KOSOVO classic locality

Trepča mine is mentioned in the literature for the first time in 1303, although known even earlier.

Trepča Mine (Serbian: Рудници Трепча/Rudnici, Trepča, Albanian: Miniera e Trepçës) is the richest source of lead and zinc in Europe, contains huge stocks of lignite, copper, gold and uranium. According to the experts Lignite deposites of Kosovo mines are quite rich for the next 13 centuries. The capacities of lead and zinc refineries are the third biggest in the world.

Trepca used to be a conglomerate of 40 mines and factories, mainly in Kosovo, including in particular currently closed Stari Trg Mine. Stari Trg natural riches are legendary. More than 2 000 years ago precious metals were exploited by Greeks and after them by the Romans there. In the 1930s, a British company "Trepca Mines limited" gained the rights to exploit the Stari Trg mine close to Mitrovice. These mines became an important prey under the Nazi occupation of the Balkans, when Germany took over the control over the mines from Britain. After the second world war under socialist management the exploition was dramatically extended. With up to 23,000 employees, Trepča mines were one of the biggest companies in socialist Yugoslavia. Minerals from Trepca are part of the exhibitions in many world famous museums and occupy an important place as very valuable specimens.

Mining in Trepca is today substantially reduced, or completely stopped. To obtain new minerals for a collection from the Trepca locality is almost impossible.

The mineralogical museum began construction of a new building in Trepca-Stantërg in the sekond half of year 2009. The old Museum building is damaged and does not meet the adequate conditions for the Museum building. The new building will meet modern standards and will have an exhibition area of 450m2. All specimens are "digitalised", that is. each mineral gets its own special registration code. The Museum will also have a high level of security: camera monitoring systems, alarm systems, etc. .. It is expected that the new Museum would be prepared to invite the first visitors already in the first half of year 2010.