Kalimashi 1 mine

The Kalimashi 1 mine is a large mine located near the village Kalimash in northern Albania in Kukës County, 80 km north-east of the capital, Tirana. Kalimashi 1 represents the fourth largest chromium reserve in Albania and one of the largest in Europe having estimated reserves of 1.9 million tonnes of ore grading 20% chromium metal. The mine is part of the Kukës Massif, a 108 km2 area which has a rock thickness between 4 km and 6 km and contains 54 verified chromium deposits and occurrences. The deposit has been explored to depths of up to 300 m and the geological reserves amount to 6.8 million tonnes grading 21.4% chromium metal.

The Kalimashi 1 mine began operating in 1978. The total combined chromium ore production from the mine between 1986 and 1998 amounted to 860,000 tonnes. The deepest level of the mine is the + 600 Level which reaches a depth of 300 m. The chromium ore reserves of the mine are split into two categories above and below + 600 Level. The proven ore reserves located above the + 600 Level amount to 1,900,000 tonnes of ore grading 20% chromium metal. The proven ore reserves located below the + 600 Level are currently not estimated or calculated but are expected to be grading over 30% chromium metal. The mine's total reserves amount to 1.9 million tonnes of ore grading 20% chromium metal. The chromium ore exploitation complex is located completely underground and has been shut down since 2000 due to financial difficulties. The Kalimashi 1 mine is one of the eight Albanian chromium mines to have reserves of over 1 million tonnes of chromium ore.