Precious metals are still found in abundance on or beneath Kosovan soil today.

According to current estimates, the Artana mine is likely to be one of the most productive, with an estimated 2,700 kg of gold reserves, However, these are bound in ores, e.g. lead-zinc compounds, which necessitates complex extraction using a process known as flotation (flotation is a three-phase (solid-liquid-gaseous) physical-chemical process for separating mineral types by selectively attaching mineral particles to air bubbles using special equipment). According to sources, the gold concentration in the Artana mine is 1.6 g per tonne of rock, while in Stantërg it is only 0.6 g/t.

On our first visit many years ago, the mine seemed abandoned; for some time now, there has been renewed activity there, and we haven't tested how close you can get – it remains your adventure!

From the fortress hill, an approximately 2.3 km long, partly unpaved road leads down to the mine. Alternatively, there is a signposted access road from the R309 running north.