Magmatism and geodynamics of the Balkan Peninsula from Mesozoic to present day: significance for the formation of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits

The Project proposes investigations of Mesozoic and Cenozoic igneous provinces of Serbia, which are related to metallic and non-metallic ore deposits. It addresses three thematic/regional objectives: (1) Late Cretaceous/Paleogene complexes of the East Serbian Carpatho-Balkanides, (2) Paleogene/Neogene provinces of the central Balkan Peninsula, and (3) Neogene provinces of the southern Pannonian margin. The Project invokes a multidisciplinary approach of combined petrological, mineralogical, crystallographic, geochemical, structural geological, geophysical and thermochronological investigations on key localities. This research focuses on studying spatial distribution, fabric, structure and facial development of rocks and associated mineralization as well as on determining the time and physical-chemical conditions of their formation. Up-to-date laboratory methods will be applied and many of them are now available in Serbia. The Project provides new data that are inevitable for better understanding the geodynamic style in this region from Mesozoic to present day. This will shed new light on the role that a wide geodynamic context and specific and local tectonomagmatic conditions play for the formation of ore deposits. The expected results will be clearly applicable because they will essentially contribute in refining the prospecting criteria and economic indicators of different geological units and that is crucial for discovering new mineral deposits in Serbia.