Decorative Stones of Albania

Prof.Dr. Bashkim LLESHI

Prof.Dr. Defrim SHKUPI
Albanian Association of Engineering
Geology and Geoenvironment

Albanides are part of the chain Dinarides – Albanides – Hellenides -

Taurides of the Alpine belt. From the east towards the west, in the Albanides the fol-
lowing geotectonic units have been distinguished;
Korabi (Ko), Mirdita(M), Alpet (A), Krasta-Cukali (Kc), Kruja (K), Jonike (J),Sazani (S) and
Gashi (G) Fig. 1.

GEOLOGICAL LOCATION OF ALBANIAN DECORATIVE STONES

Albanian decorative stones resources are represented

mainly by “marble” limestone as a result of dinamomet-
amorphism processes. They are distributed mainly at
Korabi Zone and at Mirdita Zone periferic areas. Car-
bonatic roks of other zones are evaluated as decorative
stones in concern with their colour, good decorative,
features, dimension blocks etc. Conglomeratic rocks of
Depressions, tabulated limestones, gypsum, anhydrite,
to preferable ophiolitic rocks as troctolite, gabbros,
dunite, plagiogranite, gabrosienite, pyroxenes etc. Are
evaluated as decorative stones too.
1. CALCAREOUS ORNAMENTAL STONES

Calcareous ornamental stones occur mainly in zona Ko-

rabi, in the pheripherical parts of Mirdita, in zones Alpet,
Krasta–Cukali,Kruja and Jonika, fromTropoja and Kukesi
in north, up to Dibra, Bulqiza, Mati, Librazhdi, Pogradeci,
Korca, Kolonja, Lezha,Tirana, Kruja, Elbasani,Vlora, Lushnja,Tepelena,Gjirokastra and
Saranda in south. Fig. 2
Korabi Zone
The are deposits of these ornamental rocks lie in the lime stones of Triass-jurassic. Such
are deposits are the ones of Muhurri, Kepi i Qytetit in Dibra district, Gjurasi, Kovashica

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in Bulqiza district, Kolesjani (Kukes), and Vrenjti, Prroi i Grames, Radomire, area Permo-
Triassic, gypsum and anhydrite are evaluated as decorative stones.

Muhurri decorative stones

Kovashica decorative stones

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Gjurasi decorative stones Shtushani decorative stones Kolesjani decorative stones

Muhurri Kovashica Anhydrite - Vrenjt, prroi i Grames, Radomire

Mirdita Zone
Mirdita zone is constituted by limestone’s frame of ophiolites and Cretaceous cov-
erage.The are deposits of these ornamental rocks lie in the lime stones of Triass-
jurassic, frame of ophiolites, are Qafe Shtama (Mati), Miraka and Derstila (Elbasani),
Lini (Pogradec), Mali i Thate (Devolli) and other out corps in the areas of Tropoja (
Qyteze e Pelkave, Shumica) etc.

Miraka Decorative stones(Elbazan) Lini Decorative stones (Pogradec) Pretusha Decorative stones
Cretaceous coverage consist of limestones of upper Cretaceous, where are found
a lot of decorative stones occurences.
Lisi, Qaf Kishe –Linos and Burgajeti ( Mat), Kodra e Keqe and Munella (Puke), Po-
lena, Vithkuqi (Korce), Germenji (Kolonje) etc.
Good decorative feature have also the congomerates of Munella (Puke), Pretusha
(Pogradeci), Bitincka (Bilisht),etc

Decorative stones of Lisi (Mat) Decorative stones of Treni (Bilisht)

Alps Zone
In Alps Zone geological Construct are included mainly carbonates deposits from
paleozoic and Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous mainly in Malesia e Madhe sub

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zone up to paleogene one that constitutes section top of this subzone.
The Paleozoic carbonate deposits at Domen, the Triassic one of Ura e Mesit and
Jurassic one in Rapshe are evaluated as decorative stones. Exploration should un-
derway because the early carbonatic deposits mainly Paleozoic and Triassic one
have a “marble” high degree, in Malesia e Shkodres and Tropoja area.
Krasta Cukali Zone
This zone is divided in two sub
zones: Cukali sub zone in north-
ern part is constituted by middle
Triassic, Jurassic, Early Paleogene
Decorative stones of Ura e Mesit (Shkoder)
pelagic sediments and go on at
Krasta Subzone that distributed
from Shkodra up to Gramoz and Greece. This sub zone is represented by Albian-Tu-
ronian pelagic sediments mainly by flitch deposits, Senonian-Mastrihtian deposits
mainly by tabulated lime stones, Upper Mastrihtian –Paleocene mainly by flysch
and Eocene deposits mainly by argilous-sandstone flysch with pelagic thin-lay-
ered limestone.
Upper Cretaceous tabulated limestone of Rasfiku (Mirdita) and the conglomeratic
of Tepe (Shkodra), Fekenit (Tirana), Malit te Rases (Elbasani) are Jurassic, Cretaceous
deposit of Spiteni, Treshi and Monatia (Lezha) etc.

Kruja Zone
In Kruja Zone Geological Con-
struct are included Upper Creta-
ceous deposits ( The earliest de-
posits), Mastrihtian, Paleocene,
Decorative stones of Treshi (Lezhe)
Eocene carbonate deposits pass-
ing to Neogene’s deposits repr sented by Akuitanian and Burdigalian.
Carbonates deposits represented by Upper Cretaceous lime stones and dolomites
and Eocene lime stones are evaluated as decorative stones.
In the Kruja Zone, limestone and dolomite of Miloti, Laci, Mamurrasi, Lumi i Drojes,
Kodra e Shulsit ( Kruja), Zall Dajti, Qaf Priska ( Tirana) etc.

Decorative stones of Miloti (Kurbin) Decorative stones of Gjonemi (Kurbin)

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Ionian Zone
In Ionian Zone Geological Structure are included the early Triassic deposits rep-
resented by dolomites, anhydrite, and gypsum (Dumrea diapir), Triassic- Upper
Jurassic carbonate deposits up to upper carbonate and flyschoidal deposits of
Paleocene-Eocene-Oligocene and Akuitanian-Burdigalian-Helvecian.
In the zone Jonick the plate limestone of Zhitomi (Berat), Lazarati, Dervicani and
Jergucati (Gjirokastra), Labova and Golemi(Gjirokaster),Muzina and Shkalla (Saran-
da), the porose limestones of Kosova (Lushnja), the dolomites of Borshi (Saranda), etc.
Gypsum and Anhydrite of Mengaj(Kavaja), Bistrica(Saranda) etc.
Sazani Zone
Sazani Zone is constituted by Cretaceous neritic carbonatic rocks transgresively
above Eocene deposits up to Oligocene one. Cretaceous carbonatic deposits are
evaluated as decorative
stones.
In the Sazani Zone is Dec-
orative stone occurrence
of Karaburuni (yellow
colored limestone).

2.ORNAMENTAL
Decorative stones of Jergucat Decorative stones of Golem (Gjirokaster) OPHIOLITIC ROCKS

Ornamental ophiolitic rocks occur in the Mirdita zone, from Tropoja and Kukesi in
nord up to Korca and Kolonja in sud.
The known deposits so far are the ones of olivinites in Kalimashi (Kukesi) trokto-
lites in Shkopeti (Mati) and Dragostuni (Librazhd) and several occurrences in the
troctolites,pyroxenites,plagiogranites and dunites in the areas of Tropoja, Puka,
Mirdita, Mati, Dibra, Elbasani, etc.
Troctolites occurrences of Qelza and Livadhet e Hamzit (Puke), Vigut (Shkoder),
Mollez Kacinarit (Mirdite), Cerrujes e Krastes (Mat), piroksenites occurrrence in Laku i
Qershise (Kukes), gabroplagiogranites occurrences in Kurbnesh, Blushar,Shtrungaj
(Mirdite), Laku i Roshit (Puke),dunites and pyroksenites occurrences in Kraste and
Kaptine (Mat), peridotites in Gomsiqe (Shkoder), Shkopet (Mat), Shushice, Gjinar,
Mirake (Elbasan), Perrenjas,Rajce (Librazhd), Hudenisht, Pojske (Pogradec), Morave
, Zemblak (Korce) and Bitincke (Devoll) etc.

Troctolite of Shkopeti( Mat) Troctolite of Vigu ( Shkoder) Lak Roshi decorative stones ( Puke)

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Kalimashi decorative stones Dunite of Krasta (Mat)

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