Mining design is usually evaluated with different multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods when it comes to large open pit or underground ore mines, but it is not used on quarry sites. Since Croatia is mostly mining stone, the implementation of such methods in decision making of the quarry mine design is imperative but left out. In this paper, the PROMETHEE II and AHP decision-making methods are implemented on the quarry site to find out the best final quarry design contour. By implementing the MCDM methods, the best quarry model was chosen based on 22 different criteria parameters out of three final quarry designs. The chosen model is not only financially sound but also has the least environmental impact.

The objective of this paper is the study of the life cycle inventory (LCI) for underground mining of small, clustered deposits of Dinaric Alps-type bauxites, mined in the mountains near Jajce, a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the...

In response to increasing energy demands, driven by the constant need for energy commodities, a strategic shift towards adopting alternative renewable energy is today's reality. In pursuit of enhancing the efficacy of renewable energy production, with a primary focus on solar energy, the idea of using mineral exploitation fields as prospective domains for solar power plant deployment has emerged. These sites span from tens to hundreds of hectares and are presenting opportune terrains for the installation of large-scale solar infrastructure. To underscore the potential for multifunctional spatial utilization and the augmentation of solar energy integration, this research undertakes a comprehensive analysis encompassing legislative frameworks and technological modalities governing the integration of solar power facilities within exploitation fields. Drawing upon this analysis, different variants and models for solar power plant installation are presented.

This paper introduces a novel method for determining the optimal exploitation contour, that is, the point of transition from surface to underground exploitation of dimension stone. Exploitation of dimension stone is primarily carried out using surface mining from the main plateau, but it can also be done by underground or combined methods. The decision regarding the mining method—surface, underground, or combined—is made before mining operations commence. This occurs during preliminary, pre-investment, and investment studies. The choice of mining method primarily depends on natural, technological, environmental, and economic factors, which together form a group referred to as techno-economic factors that influence the decision in varying proportions. Using the novel method for comparing techno-economic factors, the optimal transition point (OTP) from surface to underground exploitation of dimension stone deposits was determined. The position of the OTP from surface to underground mining of dimension stone is not a constant value; it changes over time and space according to techno-economic factors.

The aim of the research is to assess the technical, environmental, and legal suitability of mining areas for dual purposes: both mineral exploitation and solar energy production. A comprehensive analysis of the Croatian legislative framework in the areas of mining, energy, spatial planning, and environmental protection was carried out. Spatial, environmental, and technical suitability were assessed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in combination with a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model (MCDM) applying the TOPSIS method. A total of 565 exploitation fields were analyzed based on twenty technical, environmental, and legal parameters. Three installation variants (Variant 1, Variant 2, Variant 3) correspond to different phases of mining operations, and three energy use models (Model 1, Model 2, Model 3) were proposed. The results confirm that exploitation fields represent a valuable but underutilized resource for the development of renewable energy sources, i.e., solar power plants installation.