Mining in Croatia

Mining in Croatia at a glance

First recorded mining

Roman period (Salona mining procuratorship; Brac building stone). The encyclopedia also notes prehistoric gold washing in the Drava and Mura and iron smelting in Slavonia, without dates. Source: Hrvatska enciklopedija

Mining since

Prehistoric (gold washing, iron smelting). Traces of prehistoric gold washing and iron ore mining are reported, with no precise date. Source: Hrvatska enciklopedija

Defining moment

First Croatian coal mine opens at Rasa, Istria, 1807. Rasa later led the region in staffing, equipment and safety measures against flooding, dust explosions, methane and rock bursts. Source: Hrvatska enciklopedija

Mining law

Mining Act (Official Gazette 56/13, 14/14) (2013). Hydrocarbons are covered by the separate Hydrocarbon Exploration and Exploitation Act (Official Gazette 28/13, 14/14). Source: USGS

Key mining regions

Istria (Rasa coal); Samobor hills (Rude copper and iron); Brac (building stone); Hrvatsko zagorje (coal) Source: Hrvatska enciklopedija

Main mines

Rasa (coal, Istria), Rude (copper and iron, Samobor), Straza near Krapina (coal) Source: Hrvatska enciklopedija

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.