Professional Visit to UNIPROM METALI’s Štitovo II and Biočki Stan Mines

On Wednesday, 26 August, a group of students and professionals visited the Štitovo II and Biočki Stan mines in Nikšić, operated by UNIPROM METALI.

These deposits represent important examples of karst-type bauxite developed on Mesozoic carbonate platforms within the High Karst zone of the Dinaric Alps. The visit offered participants an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into high-grade red karst bauxite mineralisation, characteristic weathering textures and residual clay desilicification processes within an active mining environment. The programme began with a brief overview of the regional geology of Montenegro, presented by Slobodan Radusinović from the Geological Survey of Montenegro. His expert presentation provided valuable geological context for the visit, and gifts were also presented for the university library.

The group then continued to the Štitovo II open-pit mine, where Chief Technical Officer Radoš Lacman and mining engineer Veselin Nikolić introduced the mining process and provided an overview of production and export activities. The visit continued at the Biočki Stan underground mine, where mining engineer Radovan Jaredić guided the group through the site and provided direct insight into the geology of the deposit.

The Biočki Stan bauxite deposit occurs within Jurassic–Triassic karst pockets, directly overlying an eroded Mesozoic limestone footwall and sealed by Cretaceous to Paleogene, or Eocene, limestone in the hanging wall. This geological setting requires underground mining methods. The ore at Biočki Stan contains approximately 50–60% alumina, with a low iron content that does not create significant processing difficulties. Silica content at Biočki Stan is relatively favourable, ranging from approximately 2–4%, while at Štitovo II it reaches around 12–15%, creating a greater challenge for subsequent ore processing.

The professional visit concluded with a joint lunch, during which the participants expressed their appreciation to the UNIPROM METALI team for their warm hospitality, excellent organisation and openness to professional knowledge exchange. Special thanks were extended to Radoš Lacman for organising the visit and accompanying the group throughout the programme, as well as to Veselin Nikolić, Radovan Jaredić and Slobodan Radusinović for their expert guidance, patience and willingness to share their knowledge and experience in the fields of geology and mining.

The activities of the visiting group are supported by the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University, the Department of Geological Sciences at Masaryk University, the Society of Economic Geologists, Aurum Discovery, Aurum Exploration Services and GET s.r.o.

Additionally, information about the recent visit of Czech students to the Štitovo II and Biočki Stan bauxite deposits near Nikšić can be found on the website of the University of Montenegro, at the following link.