CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MAGNESITE DEPOSITS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Magnesite is an industrial mineral of magnesium, which most often occurs in the form of crystalline, massive and amorphous forms. Mineral magnesite has a wide and varied application in the production of high-strength materials: powder (flour), sinter, bricks (magnesite, magnesite-chromite, forsteric, etc.). In the construction industry it is used for the production of magnesium cement. In smaller quantities it is used in chemical, pharmaceutical, rubber and other industrial branches. The area of the so-called "Bosnian Serpentine Zone" are stand out in the area of the inner Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina, among numerous phenomena and larger deposits of magnesite. In terms of quality, the variability from high quality to those that can not be used in the refractory industry is determined. Magnesite deposits mostly require certain preparation procedures in order to achieve higher quality magnesite. The paper presents deposits and the appearance of magnesite in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with emphasis on the results of previous research, quality, reserves, usability and laboratory testing, and the results of the latest X - ray examinations from one site have been presented.