Deposits In Poland Research Articles

Prioritization of Source Data Necessary for the Valuation of Real Estate with Mineral Deposits: The Case of Poland

Real estate valuation with mineral deposits in Poland can be conducted using comparative, income, and cost approaches. When determining the value of such real estate, a property valuer must obtain information from multiple sources. These sources not only help to establish the legal status but also allow for determining the type of geological and mining asset of the deposit, characterizing and assessing the quality of the deposit, describing the deposit's resources, and evaluating the exploitation potential. Analysis of the source documentation also enables the assessment of the environmental state post-exploitation and helps determine the external conditions related to the liquidation of deposits after exploitation. The need to include the above information in the appraisal report requires the property valuer to gather a large amount of source information scattered across private and institutional resources. Therefore, this study aims to identify and prioritize the source data necessary for the valuation process of land properties with mineral deposits in Poland using selected business techniques. As part of achieving the research goal, the method of valuing the subject special property will be recognized, and the source materials will be identified. Their prioritization will be performed using two business techniques: the MoSCoW method and the Action Priority Matrix. In the final stage of the study, utility classes of the source materials for the valuation of the subject property will be developed

The Diatomite Grinding Technology Concept for the Protection of Diatomite Shells and the Control of Product Grading.

Diatomite deposits in Poland are located in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, and the only active deposit is in Jawornik Ruski. Therefore, it is a unique material. Improved rock processing methods are constantly in demand. In the research presented here, we have used research methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle shape analysis, and appropriate sets of crushing machines. Diatomite comminution tests were carried out on test stands in different crushers (jaw crusher, hammer crusher, high-pressure roller press, ball mill) using different elementary crushing force actions: crushing, abrasion, and impact, occurring separately or in combination. The machines were tested with selected variable parameters to obtain products with a wide range of grain sizes ranging from 0 to 10 mm. The ball mill (yield 87%, system C3) and the hammer crusher with HPGR (high-pressure grinding roller) (yield 79%, system D2 + D3) have the greatest impact on diatom shell release and accumulation in the finest 0-5 μm and 5-10 μm fractions. For commercial purposes, it is important to obtain very fine fractions while keeping the shells undisturbed.

Isotopic metal compositions of Viking and medieval tin artifacts from Poland reveal expansive trade network

The lack of historically known tin deposits in Poland requires that the source of tin metal in ancient artifacts must be derived from foreign sources. To identify these external sources in the Viking Period, a combination of Pb and Sn isotope compositions and trace element analyses on a group of tin and tin rich alloys from three settlements in Poland was conducted. The integration of the chemical techniques reveals several sources for the tin rich artifacts, where group: 1) possesses Pb isotope values that overlap the Europe array which possess the highest (+1.6 ‰) and lowest (−1.1 ‰) Sn isotope values coupled with elevated In concentrations 2) has Pb isotope values that overlap the Slovakian array which possess lower Sn isotope values (+0.1 ‰ to + 0.3 ‰) coupled with low In and Te concentrations 3) has a Pb isotope value that is radiogenic which possesses a high Sn isotope value (+1.1 ‰). Group 1 artifacts are split into two sources designated by the higher Sn isotope values from Cornwall and the lower Sn isotope values from Brittany and are found in the two coastal settlements. Group two artifacts match a Slovakian origin, while one artifact labeled in group three possesses an Anatolian source. Defining the tin rich artifact sources allows constraint of the tin sources for the mixed alloys like bronze and pewter. In this instance the tin isotope values fall within two sources defined by the tin metal artifacts, Brittany and Cornwall. The chemical approach presented here defines distal metal sources to reveal a geographically expansive interconnected tin trade network that was predominantly European, in Viking times through chemical analysis of ornaments, coins, and beads.

Influence of Basalt Aggregate Crushing Technology on Its Geometrical Properties-Preliminary Studies.

The use of mineral aggregates is related to the increasing demand in construction, railway and road infrastructures. However, mineral aggregates can appear to be of variable quality, directly affecting their suitability for respective earthwork applications. Since the production of mineral aggregates should ensure the standardized, high-quality requirements of the final product, rock-crushing mechanisms should be investigated in a detailed manner. In this context, the aim of the present study is to evaluate and analyze the geometric parameters of basalt aggregates as a result of several rock comminution processes. Basalt aggregates from two deposits in Poland were used in the study. The samples are differentiated regarding both lithological variances, mineral composition as well as the host rock's tuff content. The rock comminution processes were conducted using two types of crushers, namely the laboratory-scale jaw and cone crushers. The feed for crushing was designed based on the original geometric grain composition and the separated feed in the form of flaky and non-flaky particles. The crushability test results demonstrated that the interparticle compression in the jaw crusher resulted in finer products compared to the one in the cone crusher. It was also observed that the flakiness and shape indexes decreased after crushing, both in the feed with the original geometric composition of the grains and those with flaky and non-flaky particles. Nevertheless, a higher flakiness index was obtained after the crushing of non-flaky particles and a lower one after the crushing of flaky particles. The flakiness index for grains below 16 mm after the crushing process was less than 10%, which indicates a more favorable result compared to the original feed. In addition, it was shown that flaky and non-cubical particles were accumulated in the finest (below 8 mm) and coarsest (above 20 mm) fractions in jaw and cone crushing processes, receiving flakiness and shape indexes ranging up to 80-100%. Finally, it was also observed that the lithological variances of the feed material have a significant impact on the particle size distribution of the product. More profoundly, basalt aggregates with a higher tuff content and weathering degree have a higher degree of crushing. The present study, in this context, provides accurate and satisfying information on understanding the crushing mechanisms of two important crushing equipment as well as their rock-crusher interactions.

Research on diatomite from Polish deposits and the possibilities of its use

Diatomite from a deposit in Jawornik Ruski (Poland) has been selected as the material for study. The paper aimeds to show the possibility of using diatomite from the Carpathian Foothills as a sorbent of petroleum substances.Diatomite in the delivery condition (DC) and diatomite after calcination were used for this study. The material was calcined at 600, 650, 750, 850 and 1000°C. The diatomaceous earth was then granulated. The morphology of diatomite was observed using SEM. Particle size distribution was determined by Laser Particle Analyzer, chemical composition was determined by XRF, and mineralogical composition by XRD. Specific surface area, pore volume and pore size were determined. Thermal analysis (TG, DTA) was carried out. Absorption capacity tests were performed and the effect of diatomite addition on water absorption of concrete samples was determined.Within the framework of the study, it was shown that diatomite from the Jawornik deposit could be successfully used as a sorbent for petroleum substances. The absorption capacity of calcined at 1000°C diatomaceous earth was 77%. The obtained result exceeds the effectiveness of previously used absorbents, for which the sorption level is 60-70%. This allows commercial use of diatomite from deposits in Poland. In addition, water absorption tests have shown that diatomaceous earth can successfully replace cement used in concrete productione. The most favourablee effect on the reduction of water absorption is the addition of diatomite in the amount of 10%.The properties of diatomaceous earth from the Jawornik Ruski deposit indicate its high potential for use in the synthesis of geopolymers, which is important not only from an economic but also from an ecological point of view.The novelty of this work is the demonstration of the possibility of using diatomite as a sorbent of petroleum substances with high efficiency, exceeding the previously used sorbents.

The Effect of Mining Remnants on Elastic Strain Energy Arising in the Tremor-Inducing Layer

A vast majority of hard coal deposits in Poland have a multi-seam structure, hence the presence of mining remnants left from previous operations. The impact of those remnants (exploitation edges or residual pillars) can further intensify geomechanical phenomena occurring in the rock mass, leading to changes in the original state of stress. This applies to all layers within the rock strata, including thick and coherent ones (referred to as tremor-inducing layers) where the impacts of mining remnants are likely to trigger tremors, thus enhancing the rock bursts hazard. In the light of the geomechanical model of rock strata recalled in the study, it is assumed that homogeneous and isotropic elastic layers are found between the considered mining remnant (which is revealed as the stress distribution), and the rock medium modelled as a homogeneous and isotropic half-plane. Development of the state of stress in the bedded medium was brought down to the analysis of interacting elastic layers, where the biharmonic equation is satisfied for each layer and for each respective half-plane. This equation can be solved by the integral Fourrier transform method. The impacts of the exploitation edge and the residual pillar on the elastic strain energy in the tremor-inducing layer is illustrated by recalling the Burzyński’s stress criterion. Strain energy in the tremor-inducing layer was analysed for various deformation properties of the surrounding strata and for various methods of coal extraction from the seam underneath the tremor-inducing layer. The results of the study evidence that a change in deformation properties of strata in the vicinity of the tremor-inducing layer may affect the state of stress and strain energy, which impacts on the tremor hazard levels in the vicinity of mining remnants areas.

Trace Elements and Mineralogy of Upper Permian (Zechstein) Potash Deposits in Poland

Mineral composition and content analysis of selected trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, I, La, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn; 308 rock samples) were studied in the Upper Permian (Zechstein) potash-bearing deposits in Poland. They represented K–Mg chlorides of PZ2 and PZ3 cyclothems from four salt domes and stratiform K–Mg sulphates of PZ1 cyclothem. The dominant mineral components of K–Mg sulphates (polyhalite) are anhydrite and polyhalite. The most common minerals of the K–Mg salts of PZ2 cyclothem are halite, sylvite, kieserite, and anhydrite, and the most common of PZ3 cyclothem are halite, carnallite, kieserite, and anhydrite. Most analysed trace elements in the Zechstein potash-bearing deposits show a low content (up to 26 mg/kg) that eliminates them as potential profitable source rocks of such required elements as Ce, Cs, La, Li, or Rb. Common elements, such as Br, Fe, and Sr, are more easily exploited from natural brines, sulphate, and ore deposits.

Forecasting of Natural Gas Consumption in Poland Based on ARIMA-LSTM Hybrid Model

Natural gas is one of the main energy sources in Poland and accounts for about 15% of the primary energy consumed in the country. Poland covers only 1/5 of its demand from domestic deposits. The rest is imported from Russia, Germany, Norway, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Central Asia. An important issue concerning the market of energy resources is the question of the direct impact of the prices of energy resources on the income of exporting and importing countries. It should also be remembered that unexpected and large fluctuations are detrimental to both exporters and importers of primary fuels. The article analyzes natural gas deposits in Poland, raw material trade and proposes a model for forecasting the volume of its consumption, which takes into account historical consumption, prices of energy resources and assumptions of Poland’s energy policy until 2040. A hybrid model was built by combining ARIMA with LSTM artificial neural networks. The validity of the constructed model was assessed using ME, MAE, RMSE and MSE. The average percentage error is 2%, which means that the model largely represents the real gas consumption course. The obtained forecasts indicate an increase in consumption by 2040.

The role of mineral resources knowledge in the economic planning and development in Poland

Geological reconnaissance of the country and gathering knowledge on the occurrences of mineral deposits is a permanent task of geological survey carried out in cooperation with academia and mineral industry. In Poland, a fundamental role in this process is played by the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute (PGI-NRI) operating as the geological survey under the supervision of the Ministry of Climate and Environment. PGI-NRI creates concepts of geological structures of the country, conducts independent prospecting studies, archives geological documentations made by mineral companies and verifies geological forecasts. The results of these works carried out for over 50 years are periodically published in the form of scientific monographs entitled The balance of prospective mineral resources in Poland. Presented in The balance of prospective mineral resources in Poland data on prognostic and perspective areas, as well as on the documented deposits are indispensable for country planning of economic development through, among others, protection of mineral deposits in the process of spatial management of the country. Polish prospective mineral resource studies include archival geological data reprocessing, mineral deposit modelling and new geological exploration projects. The synthesis of this research is The balance of prospective mineral resources in Poland which is a unique publication in terms of scope and content, because such data are not published in similar form and with the same scope of geological information in other countries. Therefore, authors would like to familiar international geological opinion with Polish experience and to widespread knowledge about mineral resources in Poland. The last edition (2020) of The balance of prospective mineral resources in Poland was prepared, edited and written among others by the authors of this article. In agreement with the conclusions presented in The balance of prospective mineral resources in Poland, our country is still of high geological potential, especially as regards the deposits of Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn ores, chemical and rock minerals. Thanks to this information mineral companies can plan and realize projects to document deposits and then finally develop the deposits. It is necessary to underline that proved and prospective deposits should be protected against such land development which would limit or eliminate mining activity in the future. Unfortunately, the current legal protection of undeveloped deposits in Poland is insufficient and requires new legislative solutions.

Not Mining Sterilization of Explored Mineral Resources. The Example of Native Sulfur Deposits in Poland Case History

The sterilization of mineral resources makes considerable amounts inaccessible for future use and may be a barrier to the free supply of commodities. During the exploitation of mineral deposits, some parts of their resources become sterilized as inaccessible because of natural hazards or unfavorable economic conditions. Not mining land use and the social opposition against mining is the purpose of sterilization of considerable demonstrated mineral resources of deposits not yet engaged in exploitation. The native sulfur deposits in Poland are a good example of such “not mining” sterilization, which makes a considerable part of known resources inaccessible. On the northern border of the Carpathian Foredeep within the Miocene gypsum formation, the systematic exploration had demonstrated about 1 billion tons of sulfur resources located in the deposits of varied dimensions. The sulfur opencast mining and underground melting (the modified Frasch method) flourished from 1958 up to 1993. The increasing sulfur supply, recoverable from hydrocarbons, caused the closing down of sulfur mines, leaving a place with considerable untouched resources. About 67% of sulfur resources left by closed mines and of other explored but not exploited deposits are sterilized by the advancement of settlements, industrial plants, road construction, and by social opposition against mining.

The prospecting strategy for a deep Cu-Ag ore deposit in Poland – An anatomy of success

The article presents the prospecting strategy implemented by Miedzi Copper Corporation in search for new Cu-Ag ore deposits of the Kupferschiefer type. Sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits in Poland occur mostly in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, in the contact zone between the continental red beds (Rotliegend) and Zechstein marine sediments. The ore-bearing series consists of white sandstone (Weissliegend), copper-bearing shale (Kupferschiefer) and carbonates (Zechstein Limestone). The southern-central part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline is a well-known Lubin-Sieroszowice mining area, where mining operations are conducted at the depths up to 1300 m below surface. However, due to significant depletion of shallower reserves, deep Cu-Ag mineralisation have recently become a subject of interest. Several basic problems had to be resolved in order to reach for such deposits: finding indicators suggesting the presence of rich mineralisation; more precise identification of the current geothermal field in the area of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline; and the availability of modern technologies which would allow safe and economic operation of a deep underground mine. In 2011, Miedzi Copper Corporation initiated its exploration programme focused on deep Cu-Ag ore deposits, based on known prognostic areas in the vicinity of palaeorises and contacts between oxidised and reduced facies, as copper mineralization occurs at the rims of oxidised areas, on the reduced side of the redox boundary. Exploration programme has led to the documentation of three new deep deposits: Nowa Sól, Sulmierzyce North and Mozów, two of which were identified in areas previously described as prospective by the Polish Geological Institute.

Cobalt resources in Europe and the potential for new discoveries

Global demand for cobalt is increasing rapidly as we transition to a low-carbon economy. In order to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of this critical metal there is considerable interest in Europe in understanding the availability of cobalt from indigenous resources. This study reviews information on cobalt resources in Europe and evaluates the potential for additional discoveries.Based on published information and a survey of national mineral resource agencies, 509 cobalt-bearing deposits and occurrences have been identified in 25 countries in Europe. Harmonised cobalt resources, classified using the United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC), have been estimated for 151 deposits in 12 countries where data are available. The calculated total resource comprises 1342649 tonnes of contained cobalt metal. This includes: 114638 tonnes in commercial projects with current cobalt extraction; 370409 tonnes in potentially commercial projects; 111107 tonnes in historic estimates compliant with modern reporting; and 746495 tonnes in non-compliant historic estimates. Analysis of these data reveals that cobalt resources are widely distributed across Europe in deposits of several different types.Global mine production of cobalt is dominated by stratiform sediment-hosted copper deposits, magmatic nickel-copper deposits and nickel laterite deposits, but other deposit types may also be significantly enriched in cobalt. In Europe, current cobalt production is derived from three mines in Finland: the magmatic sulfide deposit at Kevitsa; the Kylylahti deposit of volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) affinity; and the black shale-hosted deposit at Sotkamo (Talvivaara).This study has identified 104 deposits in Europe that are currently being explored for cobalt, of which 79 are located in Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Fennoscandian Shield and the Caledonian Belt in these countries are high priority exploration terrains for a variety of cobalt-bearing deposits, notably magmatic Ni-Cu-Co deposits. The Svecofennian, Sveconorwegian and the Caledonian orogenies in Fennoscandia also resulted in the formation of several other cobalt-enriched deposit types. These include chiefly metasediment- and metavolcanic-hosted Co-Cu-Au, VMS, skarn and polymetallic vein deposits.The Kupferschiefer deposits in Poland and Germany are stratiform sediment-hosted Cu deposits with some similarities to the Central African Copperbelt, which is the predominant global producer. However, the cobalt grade in the Kupferschiefer deposits is relatively low (0.005–0.008% Co) and not currently economic to exploit without significant improvement in extraction technology.In the Balkans and Turkey cobalt grades and tonnages are known in 27 nickel laterite deposits, with several containing more than 10000 tonnes of cobalt metal. Only nickel is currently recovered from these deposits, but new processing technologies such as high-pressure acid leaching could enable cobalt recovery in the future.Small polymetallic cobalt-bearing vein deposits in several European countries have been historic producers of cobalt. Today most are uneconomic, but new technologies and the drive towards locally-sourced raw materials could make them viable future sources of cobalt.Our analysis suggests that geological availability in Europe is not a problem. However, many economic, technological, environmental and social challenges will have to be overcome for exploration projects to become commercial.

Oil Production by Polish Companies in Poland and Abroad

The article discusses a very important problem of oil production. Oil, recognized as a major source of economic development, is themain energy source of the modern world. Unfortunately, Poland has limited oil reserves. However, the production, which meets onlyabout 4% of the demand, is carried out. Oil deposits in Poland are found in the Carpathians, in the Carpathian Foredeep, in the Polish Lowlands, and in the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea. Initially, deposits in the Carpathians were of the greatesteconomic importance, but these are already depleted to a great extent. Currently, oil deposits in the Polish Lowlands are of the greatesteconomic importance. The largest deposit is BMB (Barnówko-Mostno-Buszewo) near Gorzów Wielkopolski. In total, in Poland oilresources amount to 23 598.46 thousand tons, of which 61.37% accounts for industrial resources (14 482.15 thousand tons). The article presents crude oil resources in Poland by regions, i.e. Polish Lowlands, the Carpathians, the Carpathian Foredeep, and the PolishExclusive Economic Zone The resources were divided into anticipated economic, industrial, undeveloped resources and abandoneddeposits. In addition, the three Polish companies involved in the extraction of oil, namely PGNiG S.A., the LOTOS Group S.A. andORLEN Upstream sp. z o.o., were presented. The locations where exploitation is carried out and the volume of oil production in thelast few years were discussed.

The Resource Base of Silica Glass Sand versus Glass Industry Development: The Case of Poland

The production of glass in Poland, especially of container and flat glass, has constantly risen for at least 30 years. New investments in this sector, which have recently been completed or are currently in progress, create optimistic prospects for further development of this industry, whose total annual production capacities in the next few years is expected to exceed 4 million tons. This will result in increasing demand for basic glass-making raw materials, especially high-quality silica sand (glass sand), which can be satisfied almost entirely from domestic sources. Poland as a country with a considerable resource base of these mineral raw materials, has noted a constantly growing production level that currently reaches approximately 2.8 million tons per year. This paper aims to characterize and interpret the development trends in the Polish glass industry in an international context, as well as the resulting increase in demand for glass sand. In this context, an attempt was made to answer questions concerning the sufficiency of the Polish domestic resource base for the production of glass sand. For this study, the leading recent international and Polish analyses, related to glass industry development, the resource base of glass silica sand, and the management of these types of sand, were taken into account, and were complemented by official statistical data and surveying of domestic glass producers. The performed analysis showed that when taking into account the available glass sand resources in developed deposits in Poland, it is possible to continue production at the existing or a slightly increasing level for another 20–25 years. Based on a more comprehensive perspective, however, it would be a good approach to continue providing access to those parts of currently extracted deposits of silica sand and sandstone that are now located outside of the existing exploitation licenses, as well as enabling the development of some satellite deposits in the Tomaszów Basin, which may prove difficult due to environmental factors.

Zastosowanie ziemskich izotopów kosmogenicznych w datowaniu glin lodowcowych – potencjał, ograniczenia i perspektywy badawcze

Application of in situ cosmogenic nuclides in dating glacial till – research potential, limitations and prospects. A b s t r a c t. Determination of numerical age for glacial till is one of the most intriguing issues in glacial geology and geomorphology. Till layers are unequivocal evidence of ice sheets advances and retreats, and therefore they are very important for Quaternary palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Herein, we present a review dedicated to the methodology of glacial till dating with in situ cosmogenic nuclides. This relatively novel approach enables direct dating of deposition of till and its exposure after deglaciation. Getting reliable numerical age (in years) of till opens a new prospect for reconstructions of past glaciations and palaeogeographic studies. Despite some limitations of applying in situ cosmogenic exposure and burial dating, we argue that this technique may be successfully employed in studies of glacial deposits in Poland.

Hydrogeochemical modeling of water injection into an oil and gas well under high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) conditions

Approximately 80% of water extracted from oil and gas deposits in Poland is disposed of by injection into the rock matrix. The aim of the model research was to predict both the hydrochemical reactions of water injected into wells for its disposal and the hydrogeochemical processes in the reservoir formation. The purpose of hydrogeochemical modeling of the hydrocarbon formation was also to determine the potential of formation waters, injection waters, and their mixtures to precipitate and form mineral sediments, and to determine the corrosion risk to the well. In order to evaluate saturation indices and corrosion ratios, the geochemical programs PHREEQC and DownHole SAT were used. The results of hydrogeochemical modeling indicate the possible occurrence of clogging in the well and the near-well zone caused mainly by the precipitation of iron compounds (iron hydroxide Fe(OH)3 and siderite FeCO3) from the formation water due to the presence of high pressures and temperatures (HPHT). There is also a high certainty of the precipitation of carbonate sediments (calcite CaCO3, strontianite SrCO3, magnesite MgCO3, siderite FeCO3) from the injection water within the whole range of tested pressures and temperatures. The model simulations show that temperature increase has a much greater impact on the potential for precipitation of mineral phases than pressure increase.

Support for multiple criteria decisions for mineral deposits valorization and protection

Extraction from many mineral deposits in Poland is restrained by the actual or planned land use, land property ownership, environmental requirements, social opposition and the NIMBY syndrome (Not In My Back Yard). Legal regulations can help to solve the conflicts which limit the accessibility of mineral deposits for exploration and exploitation. Legal protection of the areas of known and expected mineral deposits occurrence is necessary.The main goal of the article was to develop a universal methodology that would allow for an objective selection of these mineral deposits the protection of which is necessary to ensure access to high-quality minerals. Indicating such deposits is an essential element in the national raw material policies.A decision support methodology was developed for valorization and protection of mineral deposits using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method which takes into account the positive and negative impacts of individual useful minerals deposits by applying a BOCR–benefits (B), opportunities (O), costs (C), and risks (R)–analysis. To this end, four independent hierarchical models were designed.The practical application of the developed methodology was used to valorize lignite deposits in Poland. It allowed to indicate deposits and areas the protection of which would be very highly recommended to ensure access to this high quality mineral not only now but also in the more distant future.The analysis comprised all lignite deposits with resources exceeding 20 Mt. Due to the high capital expenditure that should be incurred before extraction begins as well as to their remote locations with respect to the existing lignite-fired power plants, the management of smaller deposits is irrational under the current conditions.An additive-negative formula b·B + o·O–c·C–r·R was used when individual deposits were assessed. The calculated values were used to create a ranking of lignite deposits and indicate the deposits the protection of which would be very highly recommended. This ranking was linked with the SWOT analysis that allowed for a better selection of deposits for the needs of their valorization. As a result of this procedure, the position of individual deposits was determined, and hence the level of their protection distinguishing four groups: greatest protection deposits, great protection deposits, normal protection deposits, and other deposits. Such a division was intended to introduce appropriate legal provisions which would guarantee deposits availability for economic use.The article introduces a methodology that can be very helpful in creating national raw material policy, in particular when selecting strategic deposits of useful minerals. Such a selection will allow for their protection in the local development plans so that the areas where mineral deposits are known or likely to be present are not used in a way which could prevent future deposit extraction.

Evaluation of the Presence of Methane in Z\u0142oczew Lignite: Comparison with Other Lignite Deposits in Poland

Catastrophic cases of methane explosion during exploratory drilling within the Bełchatów ortholignite deposit have led to testing for methane in other Polish ortholignite mining areas, as well as in the Złoczew deposit, where it is planned to begin mining operations. Initial tests have shown Złoczew lignite to have the highest methane content among the Polish deposits so far studied, comparable with lignite from the Bełchatów deposit, with a methane capacity in excess of 2.5 dcm3/kg at a pressure of 10 bar. Based on the computed values of the Langmuir constant, a determination was made of the quantity of methane that can be desorbed from a pressure of 10 bar to 1 bar, as well as the residual methane content. For all of the tested samples, the residual methane content is between 30 and 50% of the sorption capacity at a pressure of 10 bar. The thermal sorption equations were used to compute values of the limiting isosteric heat of adsorption. Higher values of the heat of adsorption at zero surface capacity may indicate the presence of a small quantity of micro-pores. In the case of the samples with the highest sorption capacity, the limiting isosteric heats of adsorption are low, indicating a low proportion of micro-pores in the lignite. This was confirmed by tests of nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. The proportion of micro-pores in the studied lignites is 2–3%, while the dominant pore fraction is the meso-pores, which in lignite from the Złoczew and Bełchatów deposits account for 50–66% of total pores. It is concluded that the significant adsorption of methane in the ortholignite occurs chiefly in meso-pores because of compression of the gas under increased orogenic pressure. A link is made between the higher methane-bearing capacity of the ortholignite deposits and the degree of gelification of the huminite components, based on simple statistical correlations between the methane sorption capacity and the content of humic gelified maceral. The results concerning methane sorption in lignite from the Złoczew deposit have enabled a preliminary classification of the methane-bearing capacity of Polish ortholignite deposits, which may also be of significance for similar deposits in other countries.

Trace Element Distributions in the Zn-Pb (Mississippi Valley-Type) and Cu-Ag (Kupferschiefer) Sediment-Hosted Deposits in Poland

We applied geochemical (ICP-MS, WD-XRF, GFAAS, and AMA 254) and mineralogical (EPMA) studies of 137 samples to ore mineralization from Middle-Triassic sediment-hosted Zn-Pb (Mississippi Valley-type MVT) and Lower Zechstein sediment-hosted stratiform (SSC) Cu-Ag (Kupferschiefer-type) deposits in Poland. They contain a number of trace elements which are not recovered during the ore processing. Only Cu, Ag, Pb, Ni, Re, Se, Au, and PGE are extracted from Cu-Ag deposits while Zn and Pb are the only elements produced from Zn-Pb deposits. Zn-Pb deposits contain Cd, Ag, Ga, and Ba in slightly elevated concentrations and have potential to be mineral resources. This applies to a lesser extent to other trace elements (Bi, As, Hf, Tl, Sb, Se, and Re). However, only Cd and Ag show high enrichment factors indicative of potential for recovery. The bulk-rock analyses reveal strong correlations between Zn and Cd and Se, As and Mo, and weaker correlations between Ag and Cd, as well as Ga and Zn. Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite revealed high concentrations of Cd (≤2.6 wt%) and Ag (≤3300 ppm). Zn-Pb deposits have fairly significant estimated resources of Ga and Sc (>1000 tons) and Cd (>10,000 tons). The Cu-Ag deposits have element signatures characterized by high values of Co, V, Ni, and Mo and much lower of Bi, As, Cd, Hg, Mo, Sb, and Tl. Bulk-rock analyses show strong correlations between Se and V; As and Co; Bi and Re; and weaker correlations between, for example, Cu and Mo; V, Ni, Ag and Mo; and Ni, V, and Co and Ni. The EPMA determinations reveal strong enrichments of Ag in Cu sulfides (geerite ≤ 10.1 wt %, chalcocite ≤ 6.28 wt %, bornite ≤ 3.29 wt %, djurleite ≤ 9080 ppm, yarrowite ≤ 6614 ppm, and digenite ≤ 3545 ppm). Silver minerals and alloys, as well as the native Ag and Au, were recorded in the Cu-Ag ores. Large resources of Co, V, and Ni (>100,000 tons) and Sc and Mo (>10,000 tons) are notable in Cu-Ag deposits. A number of trace elements, classified as critical for the economy of the European Union, including Ga and Ba (to a lesser extent Hf, Nb, and Sc) in Zn-Pb deposits, and Co and V in the Cu-Ag deposits, may eventually be recovered in the future from the studied deposits if proper ore-processing circuits and increasing demand are favorable.

Heterobranchia (Gastropoda) from the Jurassic Deposits of Russia

Small gastropods from the Jurassic deposits of the European Russia, united into the lower Heterobranchia or Allogastropoda, are described. The families of Ampezzanildidae, Cimidae, Cornirostridae, Ebalidae, and Stuoraxidae are distinguished, and a set of taxa is given without reference to a definite family. The family Ampezzanildidae from the Jurassic deposits is described for the first time on the basis of the mass material, ascribed to the new genus Zizipupa gen. nov. with the sole species of Z. costata sp. nov. The family Cimidae includes the genera of Cristalloella, Rotfanella, Urlocella, and Unzhispira gen. nov. with species C. spiralocostata (Grundel, 1998), R. gerasimovi sp. nov., R. reticulata sp. nov., Urlocella undulata sp. nov., and Unzhispira minuta sp. nov. The genus Heteronatica gen. nov. is included into the family Cornirostridae. This genus is the first siphonostomatous representative of the given family including the sole long-living species H. globosa sp. nov., which is subdivided into subspecies H. globosa globosa and H. globosapromota subsp. nov. The family Ebalidae is represented by the genus Ebala, shells of which are distributed from the Middle Oxfordian to the Middle Volgian. The family Stuoraxidae is described based on two genera Stuoraxis and Aneudaronia gen. nov., including species of S. crassa sp. nov. and A. elegans sp. nov. The genus Doggerostra, which fits into different families of Heterobranchia in terms of shell morphology is represented by the species D. riedeli Grundel, 1998, which was previously known from the Bathonian and Callowian deposits in Poland and Germany, as well as form the Upper Jurassic interval in the Russian Plate. The Middle Volgian subspecies D. riedeli affinis subsp. nov. is distinguished in the composition of this species. In addition, the genus Masaevia gen. nov. with the sole species of M. sinistra sp. nov. is described. Due to so specific shell morphology of this genus, its position in the Heterobranchia system is unclear. It is not improbable that we deal with small planktonic gastropods of protoconchs of unknown group of planktonic or benthic gastropods.