Arhitektonsko-građevinski kamen Bosne.

The history of processed stone usage on the territory of Bosnia dates back even before the Ancient period. Throughout the Antiquity, Middle Age and Turkish rule, the most enduring cultural and historical monuments were built of stone. The Austro-Hungarian period represents beginning of modern way of exploiting and using stone in our country. At that time stone from Bosnia begins to export to many European countries. In the decades after World War II, intensive geological explorations have begun, with the goal of finding deposits of a good quality architectural and construction stone. As a result of these activities, new quarries were opened and production was increased. "Bihacit", "Hresha", "Romanit" become famous stone brands throughout the former Yugoslavia. At the beganning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), the exploitation and the processing industry of architectural and construction stone cease to work on the territory of Bosnia. After the war, some quarries gradually renewed production. New quarries are opening. Some survive on the market, and some of them not. Nowadays, on the territory of Bosnia there are seven quarries of architectural and construction stone. Some others are in the process of opening. On these quarries exploited are following rocks: limestones, gabbro, carbonate breccias and freshwater limestones. In order to survive on the market, it is necessary to modernize the processes of exploitation and processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]