The mining industry in Bulgaria is mainly concentrated in The Srednogorie metallogenic zone (Fig. 1). It is part of the global Tethyan-Eurasian copper belt. The Panagyuirishte ore region, the most important element of the Srednogorie metallogenic zone, contains characteristic calc-alkaline magmatism that hosts the Bulgaria's most important economic porphyry and epithermal ore deposits. Significant examples of discrete Upper Cretaceous volcano-plutonic centres with porphyry-copper deposits (Elatsite, Medet, Assarel, Tsar Assen, Vlaykov Vruh) closely associated with intermediate- to high-sulphidation Cu-Au epithermal deposits (Chelopech, Krassen, Radka, Elshitsa) occur in the Panagyurishte ore district (Fig. 1).
The copper ore deposits in Bulgaria have been known since ancient times. One of the oldest known copper mines in Europe, which dates from the 4th century B.C., was located in the central part of the Srednogorie metallogenic zone near the town of Stara Zagora. Copper-gold epithermal ore deposits (Radka, Elshitsa, Krassen) attracted geological studies and exploration during the twentieth century. Modern geological exploration and mining exploitation started in 1922. During the last 50 years active mining operations have been carried out in the Elatsite, Medet, Assarel, Tsar Assen, and Vlaikov Vruh porphyry deposits as well as in the Chelopech, Krassen, Elshitsa, and Radka Cu-Au epithermal deposits. Operations at present are in decline, and most of the deposit sites are being abandoned. Since 1950 more than 460 Mt of ore have been mined from these deposits, which have produced about 2 Mt Cu and 2.5 million oz of gold.
