THE PREPARATION OF THE GEOLOGICAL MAP 1:50000

OF THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA (SHEETS ZVORNIK AND PRAČA)

Ljubomir Gajić1, Evica Divković-Golić1

1)
Geological Survey of the Republic of Srpska, e/mail: lj.gajic@geozavodrs.com,
e.golic@geozavodrs.com

Key words: geological map 1:50 000, sheet Zvornik, sheet Prača, the Republic of Srpska

INTRUDUCTION
In accordance with the Long-term Strategy of geological explorations of the Republic of
Srpska, works on the Basic geological map, ratio 1:50.0000, were planned. Even during the works on
the Basic geological map in the scale 1:100.000, the decision about creation of the map in scale
1:50.000 was made. This map needs to present the basic map for determination of the development of
geological processes. Geological map of the Republic of Srpska in the scale 1:50.000 represents the
second stage of regional geological explorations. Its aim is detail and comprehensive introduction
about geological setting and total geological potentials of the territory of the Republic of Srpska.
During 2011 the Guidance document which defines appearance, purpose and method of the
mapping, methodology of mapping of metamorphic, magmatic and sedimentary rocks, methodology
of tectonic explorations, as well as method and quantity of special explorations, has been created.

GEOLOGICAL MAP 1:50000

The Geological map represents a base for geological explorations of the setting and structure
of the Earth crust, for mineral resource detection, hydrogeological and engineergeological
explorations, tests, planning and other kinds of works on and within the soil.
Preparation of the Geological map in the scale 1:50000 started in the territory of the Bosnia
and Herzegovina, respectively the Republic of Srpska, at the end of ninth decade of XX century, in the
Prača area and within the Middle Bosnian Paleosoic complex (in the area of Zenica).
Mapping of the above-mentioned areas were interupted, caused by unfarable social-political
circumstances. Today, taking into account the existence of the Geological Survey of the Republic of
Srpska and the adoption of the Long-term strategy of geological explorations, prerequisites for further
explorations and making of the map are established.
The Geological map in the scale 1:50000, besides the fundamental scientific importance,
presents the directly applicable document, regarding increasing of the knowledge of mineral resources
and planning of all other kinds of geological explorations in the territory of the Republic of Srpska.
This map will present the base for making of all other maps which are planed: hydrogeological,
engineergeological, metalogenical, geochemical etc. The map also presents an unavoidable part of
„The Geological Information System of the Republic of Srpska“.
The decision to start Geological mapping of the Republic of Srpska from the sheets Zvornik
and Prača (Figure 1) has practical sense. The most part of the sheet Zvornik belongs to the territory of
Serbia. Its creation for the territory of Serbia is in the final stage. Between two geological surveys
exists strong cooperation and possibility on data exchange in the aim of comparison of
lythostratigraphic units.
The Geological Survey of the Republic of Srpska is located in Zvornik and it presents a
favourable fact regarding efficiency and also in economic sense. The direct motive for making the
sheet Zvornik are numerous new data obtained as results of other geological projects, elaborates on the
reserves and geological studies which deal with this area.
Regarding the Prača sheet situation is different. Mapping of the sheet has been started and
there are many papers about explorations.
The program for the geological map in scale 1:50000 was done based on existing, acceptable
level of data from earlier period and in accordance with the appropriate legal policy. The legal policy
comprises the Rule on the content of the programs and projects of the results of performed geological

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explorations (Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska 112/12) and the Law on geological
explorations (Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska 112/12). The main goal of the planned
explorations is creation of the Formation geological map in the scale 1:50000, with prescribed
standards and accompanying contents for the terrains covered by the sheets Zvornik and Prača
(1:100000) which belong to the territory of the Republic of Srpska. The realization of the program is
planned in the three stages. During the first stage activities regarding the collection of the existing data
and preliminary desk works are planned. This stage is currently in progress. In the second stage field
and laboratory explorations and tests need to be finished, laboratory and the desk works as well. In the
third stage desk works will be finalized with overall synthesis of the obtained results.
The aim of the geological exploration is a supplement of existing knowledge on the geological
setting of the area with the detail division of lithostratigraphyc units, respectively formations, within
the Paleozoic, the Mesozoic and the Neogene rocks. The Geological map 1:100000 is based on the
chronostratigraphic division. On the geological map 1:50000 lithostratigraphyc units-formations will
be defined. Furthermore, the new complex analyses of the structures will be performed. The aim of
this activity is to obtain a wide picture on tectonic relations which resulted in current arrangement of
the geological units as well as in the corresponding relations with neighbouring structures. For the
defined lithostratigraphic units possible occurrences of mineral resources will be registered. The
obtained results of the explorations will upgrade available knowledge and obtain a new quality
regarding the further explorations in the other areas of geology and related scientific disciplines.
Defining of the formation characteristics in the area will be carried out by the application of the
modern methods of explorations. Besides that, on the sheet Zvornik, the correlation of the Paleozoic
and the Mesozoic rocks with well-known rocks in the wider area of the Jadar block, the Drina-Ivanjica
entity and the Vardar zone will be carried out. Parallel with it, some new analyses of the structure
setting will be provided, with the aim to obtain wider picture on the tectonic relations which were
originated current distribution of the geological and tectonic units.
Geological explorations are conceived to provide a synthesis of all explorations on the work
map in the scale 1:25.000 and the finalisation of the map in the scale 1:50000. The essence of the
exploration is based on the construction of the detail cross-sections for reconstruction of local
geological columns, respectively synthesis of the unique geological column with accompanying
special tests and mapping methods, up to the level of obvious space arrangement. This concept of
making of the geological map 1:50000 requests relatively robust laboratory and other explorations
which need to be provided in the aim of the sheet creation.
As the result of cooperation between the Geological survey of the Republic of Serbia and the
Geological survey of the Republic of Srpska, in the mid of 2013, geological mapping of the western
part of the Zvornik sheet (which belongs to the territory of the Republic of Srpksa) has been starting.
The terrain reconnaissance covered northern and central parts of the sheet Zvornik 1. On this way it
was possible to study the characteristics of the Paleozoic and the Triassic rocks of the Drina-Ivanjica
entity, the Jurassic and the Lower Cretaceous rocks of the Vardar zone and the Cretaceous and
Neocene overlaying sequences and make its correlation from the both sides of the Drina river as well.
During the mapping a significant number of new data were collected. With these new data the
geological setting of the area was significantly completed.

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