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History of Albanian Geological Survey
Albanian Geological Survey, phases of the existence .
The organized geological activity in Albania is begun at year 1922 with the constitution of the Geological Office near the Ministry of Agriculture and Public Works, under the head of Czech-Austrian geologist, Ernst Nowack. His mission was the exploration of mineral ore bodies and specially the petroleum perspective. But the aim of this mission was the elaboration and publication of the Geological Map of Albania, firstly on 1:300 000 scale that was changed at route in 1:200 000 scale.
Archival data discovered until this moment testimony the 22 March 1922 as date field work begin from Ernst Nowack, but recently new data are carried out that prorogue this date at January of the same year. But the negotiations about the constitution of the Geological Office was initiate about a year before, that testimony that the geological exploration in the Albanian territory was a priority of the Albanian government constituted by the Lushnja Congress at 1920. This can be called as “The Initiative Phase”
After Second World War the priority on geologica exploration is continued. At year 1952 was began the second phase, that can be describe as “The Modern Phase” of the Albanian Geological Survey, activity. At this moment, the Albanian government, decide to establish the Albanian Geological Survey, describe as state institution with obligated to perform the exploration and discover the mineral resources.
The third phase that can be considered as “Postmodern Phase” is begin after year 1990, and is passed through a period of insurance about the further existence of the Albanian Geological Survey, when the institution was converted in GeoAlba s.a., until 2 August 1998, when this structure was annulled by the approving of the low n. 8366 “About Albanian Geological Survey” improved further at 15 April 2004 by the low n. 9221 “About some additions in the Low n 8366 about GSA”. Those lows establish this institution as “
Geological Maps of Albania.
Geological maps of Albania are compiled from foreign explorers from the 19th century.
There are 15 maps that include whole the territory of Albania, from 1:2 000 000 to 1:200 000 scale, from which 6 unpublished, and 9 published in different countries.
The very firs geological exploration of Albania was undertaken by A. Boue (naturalist) and A. Vuquesnel (geologist), both French, that compile the first geological maps during the years 1828-1879.
After that, at 1903, great number of geologists began geological explorations in Albanian territory.
So, the Italian A. Martelli during 1903-1912, carried explorations in Vlora region that have as result a map on 1:200 000 scale published at 1912 in Roma.
Franz Baron von Nopsca, after yearlong studies published in Budapest the geological map od Northern Albania on 1:200 000 scale.
Maps of different regions of Albania have elaborated and published much geologists as Wetters, Hammer, Roth, Telegt, Goebel.
Of great importance was the Geological Map of the Southern Albania on 1:200 000 scale published in Paris at 1921 from J. Bourcard.
For the first time a complete geological map of Albania on 1:200 000 scale is published in Salzburg at 1929 from Ernst Nowack, austro-czheck geologist, contracted by the Albanian government with this scope. The map was a result of the authentic exploration work of Nowack combined with the elaboration and correlation of the maps formerly published.
At 1943 Stanislav Zuber prepared as manuscript the Geological Map of Albania on 1:200 000 scale
At 1950 soviets geologists Z. A. Mishunina and E. A. Ivanova have elaborated the Geological Map of Albania on scale 1:200 000 on help of the petroleum industry. This map with the explanatory text was published in Leningrad at 1957, in limited edition.
A team of geologist (headed by Teki Bicoku) based on the field exploratory work performed during the period 1950-1965, and on the observations carried evolved during the 4th years period (1960-1964), have elaborated and published, at 1967 in Tirana, at Albanian and French languages, The Geological Map of the People Republic of Albania on 1:200 000 scale. The explanatory text was published at 1971-1972. This map was the firs one realized by Albanian geologists.
19 year later was published the third map titled Geological Map of Socialist People Republic of Albania on scale 1:200 000, elaborated by a team of geologists headed by Rexhep Shehu. The Map was published in Tirana, the explanatory text was published at 1990.
By the coordination of Abedin Xhomo etc., finished the manuscript, and is published in Tirana The Geological Map of Albania, at 2002. This map was result of the collaboration between the Institute of Geological Research, in Tirana, Institute of Petroleum and Gas, in Fier and Faculty of Geology and Mine, in Polytechnic University of Tirana. The map is accompanied with explanatory text.
Except the geological Maps on 1:200 000 scale, are elaborated and maps of different scales that are still unpublished and can be founded at the Central Fund of Geology near the geological Survey of Albania
Beginning from year 1997, began the publication of the maps series on scale 1:25 000 based on topographic sheets (in total there are 101 sheets).
Also are published the geological maps of ultramafic massifs of Shebenik, Tropoja and Bulqiza on 1:50 000 scale.
Actually is under way the publishing of the border area maps between Albania-Greece, Albania-Macedonia, Albania-Montenegro, Albania-Kosovo, a collaboration of Albanian Geological Survey with the respective Geological Surveys of those countries.
Also during the years are published and different Hidrogeological, Geophysical, and Metalogenic maps on 1:200 000 scale.
At the moment there are 13 elaborated Metalogenic maps of Albania between the 1:2 500 000 till 1:200 000, from those 7 are unpublished.
At 1971, in Tirana, was published The Map of Minerals of Albania on 1:200 000 scale. (Teki Bicoku etc).
At 1985, in Tirana was published The Hidrogeological Map of Albania (Romeo Eftimi etc)
At 1986 was prepared The Metalogenic Map of Albania on 1:200 000 scale, published at year 2000 in Germany.
For especial regions of Albania, during the first 19th century and first half of 20th century, are prepared 90 geological maps of different scales, from who 21 are published.
We can make mention the Geological Map of Vlora region (1:200 000 scale, A. Martelli, Roma 1912), The Geological Map of Coastal Regions of Albania (G. Dal Piaz, A. de Toni, Roma 1915), The Geological Map of the Southeastern Regions of Albania (J. Bourcart, Paris 1922), The Geological Map of North Albania (F. Nopcsa, Budapest 1929).
The greatest part of the maps remained as manuscript belong to Stanislav Zuber.
From year 1950 to 1998, the whole territory of Albania is covered by conditional geological mapping and have a great scale of exploration. In this frame are mapped 13911 km2 on 1:100000 scale, 16605 km2 on 1:50000 scale, 23753 km2 on 1:25000 scale, and 2650 km2 on 1:10 000scale.
The map publication is a continue process with the aim to make present all the information collected during the years of work at the scientific world ant the public.
Beside this, the Directory of Geo-information near the Albanian Geological Survey, works to digitalize, those maps to create interactive multifunctional maps, that with the help of Geographical Informative Systems will be ready for a online use from users of every age, profession, being able to satisfy the requests of the society from the geological science.