| Qaf-Buall mine | |
| Pushpin Map: | Albania |
| Pushpin Label: | Qaf-Buall mine |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Albania |
| Coordinates: | 41.4917°N 20.2219°W |
| Place: | Bulqizë |
| Subdivision Type: | County |
| State/Province: | Dibër County |
| Country: | Albania |
| Owner: | State owned |
| Products: | Chromium |
| Opening Year: | 1942 |
| Closing Year: | 2006 |
The Qaf-Buall mine is a large mine located in central Albania in Dibër County, 40km (30miles) east of the capital, Tirana. Qaf-Buall represents one of the largest chromium reserve in Albania and one of the largest in Europe having estimated reserves of 1.5 million tonnes of ore grading 39.44% chromium metal.[1] The mine is part of the Bulqizë Massif, a 370km2 area which has a rock thickness between 4km (02miles) and 6km (04miles) and contains 65 verified chromium deposits and occurrences.[1] The deposit has been explored to depths of up to 1300m (4,300feet) and the geological reserves amount to 12 million tonnes of which 7.5 million tonnes grading over 38% chromium metal.[1]
The Qaf-Buall mine began operating in 1983. Between 1983 and 1985 it produced chromium ore only from occurrences.[1] In 1989 production from the mine started. The total combined chromium ore production from the mine between 1989 and 2006 amounted to 6,000 tonnes.[1] The deepest level of the mine is the Level +420 which reaches a depth of 420m (1,380feet). The chromium ore reserves of the mine are split into two categories above and below Level +420. The proven ore reserves located above the Level +420 amount to 1,500,000 tonnes of ore grading 39.44% chromium metal.[1] The proven ore reserves located below the Level +420 are currently not estimated or calculated but are expected to be grading over 40% chromium metal.[1] The mine's total reserves amount to 1.5 million tonnes of ore grading 39.44% chromium metal.[1] Since 2006 the mine is unoccupied and no economic activity is recorded at the site. The Qaf-Buall mine is one of the eight Albanian chromium mines to have reserves of over 1 million tonnes of chromium ore.[1]