Slovenia - Mining

Slovenia's nonfuel mineral resources included lead-zinc (from Mezica) and mercury (mined and smelted in Idrija). The country relied heavily on ferrous ores and metals, and other mining and quarrying products, for, among others, an aluminum plant at Kidricevo, and the iron-and steel-producing facilities at Jesenice, Ravne, and Store. The mining and quarrying share of industrial output declined by 2.7% in 2000, as did that of industrial mineral products, which declined by 3.6%. Apart from being a substantial producer of glass sand (200,000 tons in 2000), Slovenia was also a modest producer of ceramic clay, kaolin, gypsum, lime, pumice, quartz, quartzite, salt, sand and gravel, silica, and dimension stone, mostly for domestic uses.