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SIX CENTURIES OF THE POLISH SULPHUR MINING. PAST, TODAY AND FUTURE
Abstract
The deposits in Poland are appearing in the Miocene gypsum sediments located on the northern, marginal part of the Carpathians Foredeep subsidence basin. Up to the fifties of 20th century and the discover of the biggest sulphur deposits in all the world, the sulphuric mining existed only in Swoszowice near Krakow, Czarkowy near Stasz?w, Psz?w near Rybnik and also Pos?dza, located about 30 km northeast of Krakow. The first record of organised mining in Swoszowice appears in document dated 1415. It was a licence for mining exploitation given by the Polish king W?adys?aw Jagie??o. This mine, seven kilometers from the Wawel royal castle at the heart of Krakow was in activity up until 1886. The deposits at Swoszowice were one party to the biggest sulphur deposits in Europe. The spa at Swoszowice which ultimately built upon these rich deposits should be accompanied by the promotion of this ancient mining splendour. At the beginning of 20th century, the Pos?dza mine was opened in 1915 in the complex of limestones and compact gypsum and the State Sulphur Mine functioned there in 1919-1921. The old mine is in Pos?dza (shafts incline and gallery) is a good example of using this area for tourist purposes and also for research on the influence of sulphur exploitation on the natural environment. The period after the Second World War was ?The Golden Age? for the Polish sulphur industry (intensive exploitation, chemical factories ? i.a. production of sulphuric acid, artificial fertilizers etc.). First open pits ? Piaseczno and Mach?w ? functioned 1958-1992. Borehole mines (exploitation with underground smelting method) Grzyb?w, Jezi?rko, Basznia and Mach?w II were operated 1966-1993. The Jezi?rko mine was the largest worldwide sulphur mine, it gave the annual output from all Polish deposits of native sulphur reched almost 5 mln tonnes. From 1993 until today an only one borehole sulphur mine ? the Osiek mine ? is functioning in the world. This mine will exist about 10-15 years. Also resuming of the use of the Basznia deposit and developing the Rudniki deposit predicted. Actual reserves of native sulphur deposits in Poland are about 500 mln tonnes, but the review of all explored deposits reveals their limited accessibility. It is due to existing land use, areas of protected environment, as well as the planned land use designation. History over 600 years of the Polish sulphur mining is still not closed.
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References6
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