Albaniai

Regional Level Types
Albania	Country

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Albania is a country in south-eastern Europe, located on the western side of the Balkan Peninsula, with a total area of approximately 28,750 km². It is bordered by Montenegro to the north-west, Kosovo to the north-east, North Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south, with coastlines along the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the south-west. The country is predominantly mountainous, with rugged terrain, narrow coastal plains, and deeply incised river valleys. Major rivers include the Drin, Shkumbin, Vjosë, and Seman, while Tirana is the capital and largest city.

Geologically, Albania lies within the Dinaride–Hellenide orogenic system, one of the most complex tectonic regions in Europe. The country is characterised by a series of north–south-trending tectonic zones, including folded and thrust Mesozoic carbonate platforms, Palaeozoic and Mesozoic clastic sequences, and extensive ophiolitic belts. The Albanian ophiolites, composed mainly of peridotite, gabbro, and basalt, are among the most extensive and best-preserved in Europe and represent remnants of the Neotethys Ocean. Neogene and Quaternary sedimentary basins occur along the coastal plains and major valleys.

Albania has a long and significant mineral and mining heritage, strongly linked to its ophiolitic and carbonate geology. The country is internationally notable for its chromium (chromite) deposits, hosted mainly in ultramafic rocks of the ophiolite belts, and historically Albania was one of Europe’s leading chromite producers. Nickel-bearing laterite deposits, formed by deep weathering of ultramafic rocks under warm, humid conditions, are widespread and economically important, particularly in central and northern Albania. Other mineral resources include copper, iron–nickel, bauxite, bitumen, and a range of industrial minerals such as limestone, gypsum, and construction aggregates.

Hydrocarbon resources also play a role in Albania’s extractive sector, with oil and natural gas produced from Neogene sedimentary basins, particularly in the western lowlands. Many mining operations expanded during the 20th century and later declined or were restructured, but Albania remains an important region for mineral exploration, especially for chromium and nickel.

Administratively, Albania is divided into 12 counties (qarqe), which are further subdivided into municipalities. The country has a distinct cultural and historical identity shaped by its mountainous geography, relative isolation, and long history at the crossroads of the Balkans. Albania’s geology—especially its extensive ophiolite belts and associated mineralisation—makes it one of the most geologically and mineralogically significant countries in south-eastern Europe.

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

103 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities