The Struganik limestone has been increasingly popular in recent years for interior and exterior building applications, due to easy workability, low cost and multi purpose suitability. The quality of limestone is determined by its mineralogical and textural characteristics and physico-mechanical properties. The Struganik stone corresponds to marl, clayey limestone and limestone (micritic and allochemical). The limestone is commonly layered, either thinly bedded or banked. Chert concretions are present in all varieties. The Upper and the Lower Campanian age were deduced by the abundant foraminifers. Micrite limestone is an autochthonous rock generated in a deep marine environment, whereas allochemical limestone is related to a shallow marine environment but subsequently brought into a deep-water system. The mass quality of the Struganik limestone is controlled by variability of lithology and layering. The values of physico-mechanical properties, such as density, porosity, water absorption and strength, were statistically analyzed and the obtained data were used to assess the rock quality in the quarry. The relationship among the quantified properties is described by regression analyses and the equations of the best-fit line. The Struganik limestone was qualified by its petrological and engineering properties coupled with statistical analysis. It satisfies the majority of the requirements of the Main National Standard as a decorative stone, but with a limiting factor regarding abrasive resistance.

The field, petrological-mineralogical, geochemical and geochronological data of the metamorphic sole rocks recorded beneath the Fruska Gora, Povlen (Tejici), Stolovi and Banjska ophiolites in the Western Vardar Zone (WVZ) and beneath the Zlatibor, Bistrica, Sjenicki Ozren and Brezovica ophiolites in the Dinaridic ophiolite belt (DOB) in Serbia are compared. The focus has been made on metabasic rocks formed in contact with the oceanic crust members: cumulate gabbro and basalts of SSZ-type with E-MORB and OIB-signature and more evolved tholeiitic basalts of MOR-affinity. Amphibole, the major phase formed from the mafic sole components, depending on pressure-temperature conditions exhibits compositional variations. According to mineral assemblages, estimated P-T conditions and ages, the potential P-T paths are given: high pressure - low temperature blueschist facies assemblage (7-9 kbar and ~400?C and 700-850?C), recorded in both domains, the WVZ (Banjska) and the DOB (Bistrica, Sjenicki Ozren, Brezovica) and medium pressure - medium temperature amphibolite facies assemblages (~3.5-7 kbar and >350-650?C) recognized in the WZV (Tejici, Devovici) and the DOB (Zlatibor). The peak metamorphic conditions point to depths of the oceanic lithosphere detachment and its initial cooling at 10-30 km, but the ages and tectonic setting of ophiolites remain poorly constrained. The summarized data may be used as an important key in geodynamic evolution of the Mesozoic Tethyan ophiolites.

Heavy metals as environmental pollutants can have natural or anthropogenic origin. To determine the river sediment pollution status, it is crucial to have appropriate reference samples, free of anthropogenic impact, and natural reference samples should be used wherever and whenever possible. The collection of reference samples should be performed in the vicinity of the research area in a place that belongs to the same geological environment and is undisturbed by human activity. The main purpose of this study was to compare concentrations of heavy metals from different rivers with background values to show that the usage of natural background values is the best option when assessing pollution status, but also to underline that the natural background values have to correspond to the analyzed sediments. In this study, 5 river sediments from Sava, 17 from Great War Island (GWI), 11 from Danube, 24 from Tisa, 47 from Tamiš, and 11 from Timok were evaluated relative to reference samples from the Sava and Tisa Rivers. The results indicate that geological origin has a strong influence on the content of heavy metals in river sediments, primarily regarding concentrations of Ni and Co. Furthermore, Tamiš, Tisa, Sava, and Danube sediments are under strong anthropogenic influence.

The Bosnian Flysch, deposited within the Dinaric foreland basin in eastern Herzegovina, consists of thick deep-sea turbiditic successions represented by the Lower Cretaceous Vranduk Formation and the Upper Cretaceous– Paleogene Ugar Formation. The Vranduk Formation in eastern Herzegovina is predominantly siliciclastic in nature, sourced from the northeasterly positioned Adria-derived continental basement units and Neotethys ophiolites. Biostratigraphic data suggest a Barremian to Albian age for the Vranduk Formation in this area. The Ugar Formation in eastern Herzegovina consists of three members: (i) basal Upper Cretaceous limestone breccias and conglomerates; (ii) Upper Cretaceous carbonate–clastic sediments; and (iii) Paleocene carbonate–siliciclastic sediments, derived from the SW situated Adriatic Carbonate Platform, and redeposited into the foreland basin. Our biostratigraphic data indicate a Turonian to Lower Santonian age for the basal breccias and conglomerates, an Upper Santonian to Maastrichtian age for the Upper Cretaceous carbonates, and a Paleocene age for the carbonate–clastic sediments. Kinematic analysis of faults and the reconstruction of paleostress fields have identified three significant and temporally distinct tectonic phases. Reverse and strike-slip faults were active during the Cretaceous–Paleogene deformation phase, which developed under compression of a general NE–SW orientation. The second deformation is characterized by a regional event, the Oligocene–Miocene extension, during which older reverse structures were reactivated as normal faults, and new normal faults were also developed. Here, normal faults active in extension parallel to the orogen (NW–SE orientation) and those active in extension perpendicular to the orogen (NE–SW orientation) can be distinguished. The youngest, Late Miocene deformation phase is documented by a group of faults active in compression that affected the entire Dinarides. This stress field was characterized by reverse and strike-slip faults active in N–S oriented compression.