COAL, LEAD-CHROME-ZINC, IRON, AND COPPER MINES IN BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004100340009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 8, 2009
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: May 4, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/08: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004100340009-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Sections 793 and 794, of the U.B. Code, as
INFORMATION C amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
REPORT to or receipt by an unauthorized person Is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Coal, Lead-Chrome-zinc., Iron,
and Copper )Ines :'3n Bulgaria
PLACE ACQUIRED
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL. Of CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Coal
1. Approximately 30 coal mines were in operation in 1953, with a total production of
about 4,070,000 tons. A3iioat all of the coal is lignite, with a 37-43 percent car-
bon content and a calorific value of 3,920 to 1,150. A total of approximately
40,000 workers are employed, including. internees of forced labor camps, Trudovake,.
and specialized workers.
2. In order to raise the production level and to reach the figures specified by the
Five Year Plan, the following pkovisions'are to be inetitutedt
a. Introduction of the Soviet, cyclical method of work;
be Laws'restribting'the m nets.to ruin. on the job longer unless they have
Justifiable reasons for leaving; and
c. Pay according to production..
The location of the various coal mines in operation during 1953 are as follows:
a. Sofia area:
- Pernik.
- Dobroslavtsi.
- Bellovo.
b. Dupnitsa basin::
Bobov Dol.
Zeman.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 4 May 19541.
NO. OF PAGES 4
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
632823
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0'RR ]Z+ X1
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c. Belogradchik basin:
- Stukevitsa.
- Velkovtsi.
d. Ferdinand (now Mikhaylovgrad) basin:
- Dolni Lom.
- Gorna Luka.
- Berkovitsa.
e. Khitos (sic) basins
Khadzhilar (sic, possibly Khadzhiolar, now Malko Dryanovo, Chirpan Okoliya).
f. Dryanovo basins
- Staychov Khan.
- Ne rkovtai .
- Kolibeto.
Stoyevtsi.
Radevtsi.
Gabrovo basins
- Nova Makhala.
- Tryavna.
h. Sliven basins
- Byala.
- Cham Dere.
i. Nova Zagora basin:
- Grankovo.
Kazanlnk basin:
- Zlati Rut.
- Seltse.
- Samodivets.
k. Chirpan basin:
- Kara Atlii.
- Mariyno
- Cherno
- Konevo (2)
1. Khaskovo basin:
- Kayadzhik.
- Bestepe Dag (sic).
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m. Samokov basin:
- Dolna Banya.
- Musala.
n. Teteven basin:
- U6rchin.
- Toros.
o. Burgas basin:
Vurli Bryag.
Lead-Chrome-Zinc
The most important lead-zinc-chrome mining area is located southwest of Kurdzhali,
near the Greek border,, in the triangular area known as the Madan basin. The
following mines form this basins
a. Zlatograd;
b. Rudozem;
c. Ardino;
d. Srednogortsi;
e. Strashimir;
f. Fabrika;
g. Konski Dolj and
he Ribni tsa.
The ore extracted from these mines is 76 percent lead, 18 percent zinc; and six
percent iron. A total of approximately 10,000 civilian workers and 4,000 Trudo-
vaks are employed. The exploitation of the basin is carried out by two Soviet
companies, "Gorubso" and "Sovbolstroi.e Until a short time ago, the director general
was Zhdanov, a Soviet engineer; his two principal assistants were the Soviets Misio
and Galikin.
Other small lead-zinc-chrome basins where extraction is under way are located as
follows:
a. Kyustendil basin:
Dolna Lubata (sic).
be Teteven basin:
- Milkoatsi (sic).
c. Kazanluk basin:
- Stara Zagora.
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d. Negochevo basin (20 kilometers from Sofia):
- Lithographic stone is extracted.
7? The total production of these minerals, according to approximate estimates' is as
follows:
a. Leads 35#000 tons;?
be Zinc, 9,QO0 tons; and
c. Zino and lead, 27,,000 tons.
8. At present, ofly three iron mines are in operations
a. Breznik, northwest of Sofia;
be Yanabat (eio); end
c. Burgas mines,
Copp or
Copper is extracted from the Vurli Bryag ar ?Rosen? Mine near Burgas and the
Ktrdhzali Mine near Podkova.
10. A total of 80,000 tons of copper was extracted in 1953.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/08: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004100340009-0