MineGuessr – Elatsite, Bulgaria: Porphyry Copper-Gold Open Pit in the Srednogorie Zone

MineGuessr Advent Calendar 2025 – Door 24

Elatsite is one of the mines featured in our 2025 MineGuessr mining advent calendar. Each December day, we reveal a new mining satellite timelapse and invite you to guess the mine from satellite imagery of mines across the Nordics and Europe.

On this page, we provide a concise, professional overview of Elatsite – its location, geology, operational history and role in the raw materials value chain. The satellite timelapse highlights how one of Eastern Europe’s largest porphyry copper–gold deposits has evolved since the early 1980s and supports raw materials education around long-life open pits in the Srednogorie copper belt.

Aerial view of the Elatsite open-pit copper–gold mine above Etropole, Bulgaria, with benches, waste dumps and processing facilities in the Srednogorie zone

Overview & location

Elatsite (often written Ellatzite) is a large porphyry copper–gold open-pit mine in western Bulgaria. The open pit is located in the Etropole and Chelopech Municipalities in Sofia Province, high on the northern ridge of the Stara Planina (Balkan) Mountains, around 70 km east of Sofia. The operation is owned by Ellatzite-Med AD, part of the Geotechmin Group, and is one of Bulgaria’s largest copper producers. ^[1][2]

Elatsite is part of the broader Srednogorie zone, a classic Late Cretaceous porphyry–epithermal belt that also hosts the Assarel, Medet and Chelopech deposits. In terms of scale, Elatsite is recognised as one of the largest porphyry copper deposits in Eastern Europe, with ore reserves on the order of several hundred million tonnes at around 0.3% Cu, plus gold and molybdenum by-products. ^[1][3]

Where in the world is Elatsite?

Country & region: Sofia Province, western Bulgaria, in the northern part of the Panagyurishte–Etropole ore region of the Srednogorie zone. ^[3][4]
Physiographic setting: The open pit lies between about 1,100 and 1,450 m above sea level on the main northern ridge of the Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains). ^[5]
Mine layout:
- Elatsite open pit: high-altitude porphyry copper–gold pit above Etropole.
- Mirkovo Flotation Complex: ore is transported via a 6.5 km underground rubber-belt conveyor driven beneath Stara Planina to a concentrator and tailings facilities near Mirkovo village on the southern side of the range. ^[2][6]
Workforce & role: Ellatzite-Med employs around 1,700+ staff and is a major taxpayer, investor and copper–gold concentrate producer in Bulgaria. ^[2][7]

Geology & deposit type

Elatsite is a porphyry copper–gold–molybdenum deposit with notable precious and critical metal by-products.

Key geological features:

The deposit is hosted in a Late Cretaceous porphyry intrusion within the Srednogorie magmatic arc, emplaced along the Elatsite–Chelopech ore field. ^[3][4][8]
Mineralisation is dominated by stockwork and disseminated chalcopyrite, bornite and pyrite, with significant gold and silver and trace molybdenum.
Research has documented enrichment in Au–Ag–Te–Se and platinum-group elements in some parts of the system, making Elatsite an important case study for by-products in porphyry copper deposits. ^[4][9][10]
Elatsite is closely associated with the nearby Chelopech high-sulphidation epithermal deposit, located roughly 10 km to the south, highlighting the porphyry–epithermal link in the belt. ^[4][8]

For MineGuessr, Elatsite represents the high-altitude porphyry copper–gold endmember of the Srednogorie series, complementing Assarel–Medet and Chelopech in the same region.

What the mining satellite timelapse shows

The mining satellite timelapse for Elatsite (1984–2022) is particularly interesting because the mine is split into two main footprints: the high-altitude open pit above Etropole and the flotation–tailings complex near Mirkovo, connected by an underground conveyor that cannot be seen from space.

1980s–early 1990s – open-pit start-up on the Balkan ridge

Ore mining began in 1983, making Elatsite one of the newer large open pits in the Panagyurishte–Etropole region. ^[6][11]
The initial mine design envisaged around 220 Mt of ore and a life-of-mine ending near 2006, with a nominal capacity of 10 Mtpa ore. ^[11]

On the timelapse:

You see a compact open pit carved into forested high ground on the Stara Planina ridge.
Early waste dumps begin to spread along the slopes below the pit benches.
South of the ridge, near Mirkovo, a small concentrator–tailings footprint appears and starts to grow.

Mid-1990s–2000s – rapid expansion and two-site footprint

The pit deepens and widens as Elatsite ramps to full capacity, supplying copper–gold concentrates to the Aurubis Pirdop smelter in the Zlatitsa–Pirdop valley. ^[2][6][12]
Waste dumps grow on the northern slopes, while the Mirkovo tailings impoundments are raised and extended, creating a multi-cell TMF on the southern side of the mountain. ^[2][5]

In satellite imagery:

The Elatsite pit becomes a distinctive high-altitude bowl with concentric benches overlooking Etropole.
The Mirkovo complex transforms into a series of tailings cells and embankments occupying the valley floor.
Roads and infrastructure link the flotation plant, tailings dam and regional road network, even though the ore itself travels underground.

2010s – life extension and tailings optimisation

Re-evaluation of reserves and resources under Geotechmin extends the mine’s life well beyond the original 2006 closure date, with current plans to operate into the 2040s. ^[11][13]
One tailings dam is closed and reclaimed, with portions reforested, while the remaining facility continues to receive new tailings and is viewed as a potential future resource in its own right. ^[2][14]

On the timelapse:

Pit pushbacks continue, but the overall footprint stabilises into a mature open pit.
One tailings cell appears to green over as reclamation advances, while active cells adjust in geometry as deposition patterns change.

2020s – mature open pit, ESG focus and regional clustering

Elatsite remains one of Bulgaria’s largest open-pit mines, providing copper–gold concentrates to Aurubis Bulgaria amid broader investments in ESG, decarbonisation and slag/tailings optimisation across the regional value chain. ^{[3][12][14][15]}
Ellatzite-Med and Aurubis collaborate on sharing ESG practices and long-term development plans, reflecting the strategic importance of the Srednogorie cluster. ^[14][15]

From a MineGuessr lens: the recent frames show a steady-state open pit at altitude and a reconfigured tailings complex, illustrating how long-life porphyry operations evolve over decades rather than in sudden steps.

Mining method & processing – how the ore moves

Elatsite is a truck-and-shovel open-pit operation with a geographically separated concentrator:

Open-pit mining: Drill-and-blast benches in porphyry host rocks, followed by loading with shovels and excavators into haul trucks for the short trip to the pit crusher.
Underground conveyor: Crushed ore is transferred to a 6.5 km underground rubber-belt conveyor driven beneath the Stara Planina ridge, transporting ore from the Elatsite pit to the Mirkovo flotation plant. ^[2][6]
Processing:
- Crushing and grinding to liberate sulphides.
- Flotation to produce a copper–gold concentrate, with potential recovery of molybdenum and other by-products.
Products & logistics: Concentrate is trucked or railed to the Aurubis Pirdop smelter, where it joins other concentrates from Srednogorie mines and international sources. ^[6][12]

Role in the raw materials value chain & energy transition

Elatsite is a key node in Bulgaria’s and Europe’s copper value chain:

It supplies copper–gold concentrate to Aurubis Bulgaria, which produces copper anodes, cathodes and other semi-finished products for European and global markets. ^[6][12]
By-products such as gold, silver, molybdenum and selenium from Elatsite-style deposits enhance value and contribute to specialist alloy, electronics and chemical applications. ^[9][10][16]

In an energy transition context:

Copper from Elatsite ultimately feeds power grids, renewable generation, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, where copper’s conductivity and durability are critical.
The mine’s long life makes it a useful case study in tailings management, water stewardship, land reclamation and decarbonisation of haulage and processing in mountainous terrain.

For MineGuessr, Elatsite helps link what players see from space to underlying questions about secure copper supply, ESG performance and the resilience of European copper clusters.

What to look for in the MineGuessr timelapse

As a MineGuessr player, see if you can identify:

The high-altitude open pit at Elatsite above Etropole, with benches and waste dumps set into the northern ridge of the Balkan Mountains.
The separate Mirkovo flotation and tailings complex to the south – a second industrial footprint connected to the mine by an underground conveyor rather than a visible haul road.
The growth and partial reclamation of tailings cells, including areas that transition from bare tailings to vegetated surfaces.
The contrast between rugged mountain topography and a carefully engineered open pit that has been progressively deepened and widened over four decades.

MineGuessr perspective – why this mine was included

We selected Elatsite for the MineGuessr mining advent calendar because it:

Is one of Eastern Europe’s largest operating porphyry copper–gold deposits, with a long track record of supplying copper to regional smelters.
Shows a clear dual-footprint architecture in satellite imagery – a high-altitude open pit linked by underground conveyor to a separate flotation–tailings complex.
Represents the Srednogorie copper cluster alongside Assarel, Medet and Chelopech, highlighting how regional geology underpins modern copper supply for the energy transition.

In our GeoGuessr-style mine guessing game, Elatsite helps spark conversations about porphyry copper deposits, by-products and the engineering of long-life open pits in mountainous terrain.

Throughout December, keep opening a new door every day and explore all 24 mines featured this year on the main MineGuessr mining advent calendar page.

Day 1 - Aitik (Sweden, copper-gold open pit)
A large, low-grade copper operation south of Gällivare
👉 Open Door 1 - Aitik
Day 2 - Björkdal (Sweden, gold)
Gold mine near Skellefteå, combining open-pit and underground mining.
👉 Open Door 2 - Björkdal
Day 3 - Kemi (Finland, chrome)
Chrome mine in northern Finland, Europe’s only chromite operation.
👉 Open Door 3 - Kemi
Day 4 - Ørtfjell (Norway, iron ore)
Iron ore mine in Norway’s Dunderland Valley, evolving from large open pits to underground mining.
👉 Open Door 4 - Ørtfjell
Day 5 - Trimouns (France, talc)
World’s largest working talc quarry high in the French Pyrenees above Luzenac.
👉 Open Door 5 - Trimouns
Day 6 - Skouries (Greece, copper-gold porphyry)
High-grade copper–gold porphyry project in the forests of Halkidiki, still under construction.
👉 Open Door 6 - Skouries
Day 7 - Las Cruces (Spain, copper)
High-grade hydromet copper mine in the Iberian Pyrite Belt north-west of Seville.
👉 Open Door 7 - Las Cruces
Day 8 - Assarel–Medet (Bulgaria, copper)
Twin porphyry copper open pits in the Panagyurishte district, from Europe’s former largest open-pit copper mine at Medet to today’s modern Assarel operation.
👉 Open Door 8 - Assarel–Medet
Day 9 - Glomel (France, andalusite)
World-class andalusite open-pit quarry in Brittany’s Montagnes Noires, supplying refractory minerals for Europe’s steel, foundry, cement and glass industries.
👉 Open Door 9 - Glomel
Day 10 - Parnassos–Ghiona (Greece, bauxite)
Karst-type bauxite mines in the Parnassos–Ghiona mountains, a historic alumina feedstock district supplying Greece’s aluminium industry.
👉 Open Door 10 - Parnassos–Ghiona
Day 11 - Kittilä (Finland, gold)
Europe’s largest primary gold mine at the Suurikuusikko orogenic gold deposit north of the Arctic Circle.
👉 Open Door 11 - Kittilä
Day 12 - Oltenia Energy Complex (Romania, lignite)
Cluster of large open-pit lignite mines and mine-mouth power plants in Gorj County, now at the centre of Romania’s coal phase-out and just transition plans.
👉 Open Door 12 - Oltenia Energy Complex
Day 13 - Cornwall china clay (UK)
Historic Imerys china clay pits near St Austell, where bright white kaolin benches and tips reshape “Clay Country” over decades of mining and restoration.
👉 Open Door 13 - Cornwall china clay
Day 14 - Aggeria–Agia Irini (Greece, bentonite)
Overlapping bentonite open pits on the volcanic island of Milos, anchoring one of Europe’s key industrial minerals districts.
👉 Open Door 14 - Aggeria–Agia Irini
Day 15 - Skouriotissa (Cyprus, copper & hydromet)
Ancient copper mining district in the Troodos ophiolite, now a hydrometallurgical hub processing copper, gold and battery-metal feed.
👉 Open Door 15 - Skouriotissa
Day 16 - Tunstead (UK, limestone & cement)
The UK’s largest limestone quarry near Buxton, feeding an integrated lime and cement works with long-term restoration and biodiversity plans.
👉 Open Door 16 - Tunstead
Day 17 - Narva (Estonia, oil shale)
Large open-pit oil shale mine in Ida-Viru County, supplying the Narva power plants and reshaping the landscape with strip mining and reclamation.
👉 Open Door 17 - Narva
Day 18 - Sydvaranger (Norway, iron ore)
Arctic banded iron formation at Bjørnevatn near Kirkenes, evolving toward DR-grade magnetite for Europe’s green steel transition.
👉 Open Door 18 - Sydvaranger
Day 19 - Kevitsa (Finland, nickel–copper–PGE)
Multimetal open-pit mine in Finnish Lapland, combining Ni–Cu–PGE production with trolley-assisted haulage for lower-emission mining.
👉 Open Door 19 - Kevitsa
Day 20 - Styrian Erzberg (Austria, iron ore)
Terraced “pyramid” open-pit iron ore mine at Eisenerz, turning 12 Mt of rock into ~3 Mt of ore each year for Austria’s steel industry.
👉 Open Door 20 - Styrian Erzberg
Day 21 - Minas de Alquife (Spain, iron ore)
Europe’s largest open-pit iron ore mine in Granada, restarting in 2020 after two decades of closure to supply high-grade ore to European steelmakers.
👉 Open Door 21 - Minas de Alquife
Day 22 - Siilinjärvi (Finland, phosphate)
EU’s only operating phosphate mine in central Finland, mining an Archean carbonatite for fertiliser-grade apatite and creating distinctive pale tailings and phosphogypsum stacks.
👉 Open Door 22 - Siilinjärvi
Day 23 - Tellnes (Norway, ilmenite/titanium)
World-class ilmenite open pit in the Rogaland Anorthosite Province, supplying TiO₂ pigment feedstock from one of Europe’s largest titanium deposits.
👉 Open Door 23 - Tellnes

About Gosselin Mining

At Gosselin Mining, we work with long-life open pits and critical raw-material value chains like Elatsite: porphyry copper–gold deposits, complex life-of-mine planning, and ESG-driven transformations in established mining regions.

Stress-test your life-of-mine plan, cut-off strategies and pushback design for porphyry copper–gold or polymetallic deposits
Evaluate options for ore transport, tailings and waste management in challenging topography (including conveyors, remote processing plants and regional clustering)
Benchmark your technical performance and ESG profile against Nordic and European peers in the copper value chain

…you’re very welcome to book a meeting with us.