Karmen Peternelj, Sanja Alaber, Miloš Bavec, Stefano Devoto, Stefano Furlani, Goran Glamuzina, Jernej Jež, Tvrtko Korbar, Maja Oven Stanič, Maria Luisa Perissinotto, Fabiana Pieri, Duška Rokavec, Ivan Stanič, Domen Zupančič
Given the complex procedure for the legal exploitation of natural stone (limestone and other rock intended for sculptures and architectural design or construction in the form of monoliths, decorative architectural stone and naturally broken quarried stone) and the fact that many regions are under special restriction for all kinds of mining activities, geologists recommend some exceptions in the permitting procedures.
Over the entire RoofOfRock project area, platy limestone was traditionally exploited for local use. Many abandoned quarries were evidenced, as well as many examples of good practice in local limestone use. Due to the large spatial distribution, quality and reserves of this building stone, the possibility for the further exploitation of platy limestone in many regions in the project area (e.g. the Kras in Slovenia, western Istria (Fig. 5.3), middle Dalmatia and Herzegovina) is estimated as having potential. Therefore, traditional local use is recommended following restricted and controlled exploitation. In each region where the need for the renovation of traditional houses appears, we propose re-opening one abandoned quarry of platy limestone. The exploitation should be restricted to the renovation of local traditional architecture and under the control of (at least local) authorities and with strict monitoring of fossil findings.
Geological conditions allow the opening of such a quarry in almost all the studied project areas with the exception of the project area in Italy. For this area, limestone plates could be provided from the adjacent Kras area in Slovenia.
