Lignite Basin Research Articles

Перспективы восстановления и комплексного развития Подмосковного буроугольного бассейна

Перспективы восстановления и комплексного развития Подмосковного буроугольного бассейна

Evolution of Çan-Etili (Çanakkale-NW Turkey) lignite basin: Sedimentology, petrology, palynology and lignite characterization

This study examines the development and sedimentology of Çan-Etili lignite basin in Biga Peninsula (NW Turkey) along with the palynologic and petrographic properties of the coals in this region. The Çan-Etili lignite basin discordantly overlies Oligocene-aged Çan volcanics. The basin consists of caldera type sedimentation developed by the combined effects of volcanism and tectonics. The volcanic rocks forming the basement of the basin consist of andesitic, dacitic and basaltic lava flows as well as agglomerates, tuff and silicified tuffs, and kaolin which is their alteration product. The basement volcanic rocks cooled from high potassium and calc-alkaline magma. The trace element geochemistry of different rocks within the volcanics reveals that they are from a volcanic arc. The Çan Formation contains lignites and consists of 6 lithofacies representing alluvial, fluvial, marsh and lacustrine environments. These lithofacies are the lower volcanogenic conglomerate, the claystone, the lignite, the laminated organic claystone, the tuff intercalated sandstone–siltstone and the upper volcanogenic conglomerate. The lignite in the basin is limnic and is formed in a non-fluvial marsh and marsh-lake environment. An abundant percentage of vegetation (Engelhardia, Sapotaceae, Cyrillaceae) is compatible with temperate and subtropical climatic conditions in the basin during sedimentation of lignite.The coals of Çan-Etili basin are humic with high sulfur content (6–6.5% average) mostly containing huminite compounds belonging to the class of lignite-low bituminous (C-A) coal. Their coalification rank is between 0.38% and 0.56% Ro. The coals are formed in limnic-limnotelmatic marsh zones based on their microlithotype components. The inorganic components of the coal mostly consist of pyrite and clay. The trace elements, As, Th, U and V, are higher than international coal standards. The coal quality is adversely affected by high sulfur content and sulfur driven trace element enrichments. The lignite reserve (possible-proved) of Çan-Etili basin is greater than a hundred million tons, and the average coal seam thickness is 17m. The lignite production in the basin is 3mt/year and 1.8 million tons of this are used in the local thermal power plant.

Morphometric evaluation of the Afşin-Elbistan lignite basin using kernel density estimation and Getis-Ord’s statistics of DEM derived indices, SE Turkey

A morphometric analysis of river network, basins and relief using geomorphic indices and geostatistical analyses of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) are useful tools for discussing the morphometric evolution of the basin area. In this study, three different indices including valley floor width to height ratio (Vf), stream gradient (SL), and stream sinuosity were applied to Afşin-Elbistan lignite basin to test the imprints of tectonic activity. Perturbations of these indices are usually indicative of differences in the resistance of outcropping lithological units to erosion and active faulting.To map the clusters of high and low indices values, the Kernel density estimation (K) and the Getis-Ord Gi∗ statistics were applied to the DEM-derived indices. The K method and Gi∗ statistic highlighting hot spots and cold spots of the SL index, the stream sinuosity and the Vf index values helped to identify the relative tectonic activity of the basin area. The results indicated that the estimation by the K and Gi∗ including three conceptualization of spatial relationships (CSR) for hot spots (percent volume contours 50 and 95 categorized as high and low respectively) yielded almost similar results in regions of high tectonic activity and low tectonic activity. According to the K and Getis-Ord Gi∗ statistics, the northern, northwestern and southern parts of the basin indicates a high tectonic activity. On the other hand, low elevation plain in the central part of the basin area shows a relatively low tectonic activity.

Investigation the applicability of eggshell for the treatment of a contaminated mining site

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major environmental problem particularly for abandoned mining site, and many approaches and techniques have been developed for its management and rehabilitation. The abandoned Çan lignite basin enriched with sulfur minerals bearing rocks located in the NW Turkey, and its vicinity has been known as an AMD contaminated mining site for fifty years. Therefore, in order to investigate the applicability of eggshells for rehabilitation of this region, acidic water and solid samples were collected from acidic ponds and waste deposits for performing laboratory experiments. Besides sampling, pH and conductivity were also measured from different acidic ponds, and they are generally around 3 and 5717μS/cm, respectively. In addition, the dissolved heavy metals as contaminants have been identified. In order to remove heavy metals and other pollutants from these contaminated ponds and stop further AMD generation, the grinded eggshell (−0.125mm) was used as a low-cost material in batch experiments and column tests. During batch tests, the effects of the amount of the eggshell, the amount of contaminated water and contact time on adsorption were investigated by monitoring rising in pH value until 6.5, as well as by comparing initial and final concentrations of dissolved contaminants. Consequently, after all of testing and related analyses, the required amount of eggshells was determined for acidic ponds found at abandoned Çan mining site. The outcomes of the present study reveal the applicability and removal efficiency of eggshell technique as a low cost material for remediation abandoned mining sites under AMD hazard.

Preliminary organic geochemical study of lignite from the Smederevsko Pomoravlje field (Kostolac basin, Serbia): Reconstruction of geological evolution and potential for rational utilization

The paper is aimed to determine the origin and geological evolution of lignites from Smederevsko Pomoravlje field (Kostolac Basin, Serbia). Possible rational utilization of coal is also considered. For this purpose numerous organic geochemical analyses have been applied to representative lignite samples. Obtained results showed that coal from the Smederevsko Pomoravlje field is typical humic coal. Peat-forming vegetation is dominated by gymnosperm plants. Coal forming plants belonged to the gymnosperm families Taxodiaceae, Cupressaceae, Phyllocladaceae and Pinaceae. Other precursors of organic matter (OM) were microbial biomass, ferns and angiosperms. It is established that peatification was performed in neutral to slightly acidic, fresh water environment under anoxic to suboxic redox conditions. Maturity of OM is low in the phase of intense diagenetic processes. Biomarker compositions and values of corresponding parameters revealed that Smederevsko Pomoravlje field, Drmno field (Kostolac Basin) and ?A? field (Kovin deposit) represent a part of the unique lignite basin. Results of this study suggest possible rational utilization of the Smederevsko Pomoravlje lignites in thermal power plants. This is particularly related to samples from coal seam I. Significant amount of gas could be generated from lignites at higher maturities. Eight samples meet basic assumptions for effective gasification.

Development of a GIS-based information system for mining activities: Afsin-Elbistan lignite surface mine case study

In this study, it was aimed to monitor mining activities and product movements by establishing a mine information system and to give the optimum decision by conducting the necessary inquiries and analyses. For this purpose, at first the map materials used in the mining activities in Afsin-Elbistan lignite basin were converted to digital maps by means of GIS techniques, and after that the lignite deposit was modelled in 3D, by utilising drill holes data and geostatistical methods. With the integration of the table and graphical data obtained in this way in GIS environment, performance of location-dependent analysis, such as the determination of reserve-quality distributions, was made possible. Within this scope, it was demonstrated that the reserve quantities and statistical information of all attributes included in the databases selected from the screen or of any other databases generated through inquiries are accessible, and also thematic maps can be generated.

Reprint of “Petrological and organic geochemical properties of lignite from the Kolubara and Kostolac basins, Serbia: Implication on Grindability Index”

The influence of different coal lithotypes on grindability has been investigated using lignite from two of the most important Upper Miocene lignite basins in Serbia (Kolubara and Kostolac). Yellow xylite-rich types demonstrated the most negative impact on Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI). All different types of xylite-rich coal, as well as total xylite-rich coal from the Kolubara basin have a negative influence on the grindability properties, while only the yellow type of xylite-rich coal from the Kostolac showed a negative impact on HGI. Matrix coal does not show a clear effect on HGI.A negative correlation between textinite content and HGI is observed in both basins, whereas contents of other macerals do not show influence on grindability properties.Content of total organic carbon demonstrated the negative impact on HGI. Correlation analysis indicates that the negative impact of the yellow type of xylite-rich coal and the sum of total xylite-rich coal on the grindability properties partly can be related to content of total organic carbon and high amount of soluble organic matter. Matrix lithotype does not show any significant correlation with bulk geochemical parameters in both basins.The peat-forming vegetation of all samples from both basins were dominated by decay-resistant gymnosperm (coniferous) plants, belonging to one or several of the families Taxodiaceae, Podocarpaceae, Cupressaceae, Araucariaceae, Phyllocladaceae and Pinaceae. Lignite from the Kolubara basin is characterized by a higher contribution of angiosperm vegetation than coal from the Kostolac basin. Peatification of the Kolubara coal occurred under more oxic conditions than the Kostolac one.Analysis of biomarkers indicated that the negative impact of all types of xylite-rich coal from the Kolubara on HGI can be related to the higher proportion of angiosperms, abundance of mid-chain n-alkanes and sesquiterpenoids, aromatization of non-hopanoid triterpenoids and hopanoids, and intense degradation of wood tissues in a more oxic environment. The positive impact of matrix coal on HGI in the Kolubara samples can be attributed to elevated content of non-aromatic hopanoids and low amounts of aromatic non-hopanoid triterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, which seems to hinder the grindability properties.

Qualitative improvement of xylite by mechanical preparation

The experiments were performed to obtain high purity raw material for activated carbon making, by mechanical preparation of xylite recovered from the Oltenia lignite Basin. The study analyzes the most important parameters that involves the selective grinding of a representative amount of 15.7t xylite (moisture, mineral content, botanic origin), using a production equipment (a hammer-crusher of 50t/h) and the yields and characteristics of the fractions obtained for the activated carbon manufacturing, with high usage value. The key objectives of this study are: (1) to establish yields and quality of the fractions obtained by processing a representative amount of xylite; (2) to reveal the decisive role of the preparation stages on the characteristics of the final product; and (3) to reveal the occurrence, selection methods and preliminary assessment of the xylite reserves necessary for designing a capacity for activated carbon commercial-scale processing unit. This paper presents the results obtained at semi-industrial level of xylite preparation (by crushing and volumetric classifying), for obtaining structural unchanged variety sizes suitable for experiments to obtain activated carbon. It was proved that selective crushing and sieving is a very effective technique taking into account also obtaining the convenient output (yields of over 80%) of useful fraction of xylite (greater than 10mm with an ash between 2.0 and 2.5%). The results point out that the higher the selection and preparation go, the more lower the ash in the upper grain size fractions. The xylite fractions represent an appropriate raw material used for activated carbon making, characterized by a pore volume of 0.32cm3/g, developed mainly in the range of very narrow pores (over 70% under 10Å) which give high surface area BET up to 800m2/g for granular type, the average radius of open pores being 6–9Å.

Petrological and organic geochemical properties of lignite from the Kolubara and Kostolac basins, Serbia: Implication on Grindability Index

The influence of different coal lithotypes on grindability has been investigated using lignite from two of the most important Upper Miocene lignite basins in Serbia (Kolubara and Kostolac). Yellow xylite-rich types demonstrated the most negative impact on Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI). All different types of xylite-rich coal, as well as total xylite-rich coal from the Kolubara basin have a negative influence on the grindability properties, while only the yellow type of xylite-rich coal from the Kostolac showed a negative impact on HGI. Matrix coal does not show a clear effect on HGI.A negative correlation between textinite content and HGI is observed in both basins, whereas contents of other macerals do not show influence on grindability properties.Content of total organic carbon demonstrated the negative impact on HGI. Correlation analysis indicates that the negative impact of the yellow type of xylite-rich coal and the sum of total xylite-rich coal on the grindability properties partly can be related to content of total organic carbon and high amount of soluble organic matter. Matrix lithotype does not show any significant correlation with bulk geochemical parameters in both basins.The peat-forming vegetation of all samples from both basins were dominated by decay-resistant gymnosperm (coniferous) plants, belonging to one or several of the families Taxodiaceae, Podocarpaceae, Cupressaceae, Araucariaceae, Phyllocladaceae and Pinaceae. Lignite from the Kolubara basin is characterized by a higher contribution of angiosperm vegetation than coal from the Kostolac basin. Peatification of the Kolubara coal occurred under more oxic conditions than the Kostolac one.Analysis of biomarkers indicated that the negative impact of all types of xylite-rich coal from the Kolubara on HGI can be related to the higher proportion of angiosperms, abundance of mid-chain n-alkanes and sesquiterpenoids, aromatization of non-hopanoid triterpenoids and hopanoids, and intense degradation of wood tissues in a more oxic environment. The positive impact of matrix coal on HGI in the Kolubara samples can be attributed to elevated content of non-aromatic hopanoids and low amounts of aromatic non-hopanoid triterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, which seems to hinder the grindability properties.

Spatial and social changes caused by the continuous exploitation of lignite in the Kolubara lignite basin, the Republic of Serbia

The Kolubara Lignite Basin in the Republic of Serbia is the most important source of this type of fossil energy. Available lignite reserves enable the production of electricity, so the priority, in this region, is its exploitation. This is the reason why all other characteristics of this region have undergone major changes. Since the lignite exploitation started, the land use and river courses have changed in the region, local communities have been moved out, the settlements, infrastructure and human activity have been altered. The whole landscape acquired a completely different image. The social aspect is a sensitive and delicate feature, but the regulation of the region is also significant. Local population in this region has faced a set of social, cultural and economic problems.

Trace elements in some biomass collected from areas associated with the lignite mining and power producing enterprise Maritsa East, Bulgaria

The contents and concentration trends of 53 elements in four vegetation species and their parts have been investigated. The studied samples include culture plants (wheat and sunflower) taken from the areas of Maritsa East-2 and Maritsa East-3 TEPSs as well as wild plants (Hypericum perforatum and Typha) collected from the Troyanovo-3 mine of Maritsa East lignite basin. According to the number of elements that exceed the lower limit of average values of terrestrial vegetation, the analyzed vegetation species could be arranged as follows: Hypericum perforatum > sunflower > Typha ≥ wheat. It has been found that in wheat and sunflower the elements with coefficient of concentration (CC) ≥3 exceeding the average values of terrestrial vegetation are Au and Cr, and Au and Sr, respectively. Most of the trace elements concentrate in wheat and sunflower stem+leaves while in Hypericum perforatum trace elements accumulate in blossoms. It has also been identified that the accumulated trace elements in Typha are equally distributed in all parts of the plant.

Analysis of Suitability for Development of New Mining Field in Northern Part of Kosovo Lignite Basin - Sibovc / Analiza Możliwości Udostępnienia Nowego Obszaru Wybierania W Północnej Części Zagłębia Węgla Brunatnego Sibovc W Kosowie

This review describes the possibility of development a new lignite deposit in northern Kosovo lignite basin - Sibovc. Analysis of the initial state briefly evaluates Kosovo energy sector, geomorphological conditions and quality of lignite from Sibovc deposit. With using Dataminesoft it was created geological model and approximate calculation of lignite reserves in the deposit. The data obtained from Dataminesoft were used as starting points of the financial analysis of project. The result of the analysis is exactly describe the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of deposit Sibovc compared to other deposits in the area and creating of geological model with productive horizons deposit of lignite. Based on these data lignite deposit Sibovc was classified, according to the classification of deposits the UN, as economical.

Spontaneous succession on opencast mining sites: implications for bird biodiversity

Summary Remediation of lands devastated by industry includes various forms of restoration, such as technical reclamation and spontaneous succession. These management approaches are debated regarding conservation strategies for postindustrial landscapes. Mining areas consisting of early‐ to late‐developmental stages of both reclaimed and unreclaimed sites offer an opportunity to examine the roles of restoration strategies in a complete successional series for biodiversity and disentangle the contributions of particular biotopes available at postindustrial sites. Using linear models and multivariate analysis, I tested the effects of (a) developmental stages from early successional sites to mature forests, combined with (b) the initiation process at the sites, which was either technical reclamation or spontaneous succession, and (c) vegetation cover on (i) species richness, (ii) rarity and (iii) species composition of bird communities on 60 plots (100 × 100 m) within opencast mining areas in the lignite basin of north‐western Czech Republic. Bird communities were consistently more species rich on spontaneously developed sites compared with reclaimed sites throughout all stages of the succession series. Species richness increased with site age due to increasing habitat heterogeneity. The conservation value of bird communities was generally lower on reclaimed sites than on spontaneously developed sites and decreased with site age. The most valuable communities developed on early successional sites and native shrublands, because these were inhabited by specialists that were scarce in the surrounding landscape. By contrast, technically reclaimed sites resulted in impoverished communities, usually with narrow spectra of common species. Synthesis and applications. The results highlight the importance of spontaneously established sites and complete succession series for developing valuable bird communities in postindustrial areas such as opencast mining sites. In particular, early successional sites and shrublands create refuges for early successional specialists disappearing from the common landscape and these should be promoted at the expense of reclaimed sites wherever possible. My results support an effort for systematic implementation of early successional sites into conservation practice.

Paleoenvironmental settings of the Sofia lignite basin: Insights from coal petrography and molecular indicators

Compositions of Balsha lignite, Sofia coal-bearing basin, Bulgaria and carbonaceous shales are studied by petrological and geochemical proxies. The macropetrographic characteristic of profiles is relatively constant. The lignite is generally composed of dull matrix coal containing significant amounts of xylite fragments. The typical microscopic constituents of the lignite are the ulminite, and less frequently textinite lenses, scattered within attrinitic groundmass. The maceral composition of the organic matter in carbonaceous shales does not differ significantly from that of the lignite samples.Biomarker assemblages of the extractable portions are determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Additional information for the compositions of residues after extractions is obtained by TMAH thermally assisted hydrolysis/methylation.Petrographic contents, lipid assemblage and TMAH thermally assisted hydrolysis/methylation data imply that the original peat bog is formed in fresh-water forest swamp preferably composed by gymnosperms. Polar diterpenoids argue for Cupressaceae s.l., Taxodiaceae as the most probable vegetation. For one of the profiles appreciable angiosperm rich herbaceous-type flora contribution is assumed. Polar oleanane triterepenoids and their aromatized derivatives argue for angiosperm input. The relevance of A-norfriedel-8-en-10-one/friedelin ratio for groundwater level appraisal is discussed. It admits long period of high water level in the paleomire.High content of vanillyl structures and subordinated presence of syringyl units in products of TMAH thermally assisted hydrolysis/methylation are hint for Gymnospermae input in the paleoswamp and Angiospermae contribution to one of the profiles. Cinnamyl phenolic units, indicating non-woody angiosperm vegetation presence, are registered as well. Flavonoids in products are considered as taxonomic markers of Cupressaceae plants in the paleoswamp.

Ostracoda (Crustacea) association and a new species (Dolerocypris anatolia nov. sp.) from the Pliocene-Pleistocene Afşin-Elbistan (Kahraman Maraş) Coal Basin of Turkey

Ostracoda (Crustacea) association and a new species (Dolerocypris anatolianov. sp.) from the Pliocene-Pleistocene Afşin-Elbistan (Kahraman Maraş) Coal Basin of TurkeyThe Afşin-Elbistan Coal Basin, which is one of the largest and most important Pliocene-Pleistocene lignite basins of Turkey, is located in Eastern Anatolia. The basin was formed between two normal faults having NE-SW direction and these faults controlled both the sedimentation and the subsidence. The coal horizon of over 50 meters in thickness indicates the balance between the sedimentation and subsidence rates, and was preserved during peat deposition. Coals were generated in this extensive and shallow freshwater lake and evolved from the Pliocene to Pleistocene. Typical faunal and floral assemblages of this ancient Afşin-Elbistan freshwater lake are Ostracoda, Mollusca (Gastropoda and Pelecypoda), spore-pollen and Characeae (gyrogonites). Eleven Cypridoidea species were identified from the investigation area. Eight of them are already known (Candona neglectaSars,Candona iliensisMandelstam,Candonaaff.candida(Müller),Pseudocandona compressa(Koch),Cyclocypris ovum(Jurine),Ilyocypris gibba(Ramdohr),Cypris puberaMüller,Heterocypris salina(Brady)), whereas three belong to open nomenclature —Candonasp. andEucyprissp.;Dolerocypris anatolianov. sp. is proposed as a new species.DolerocyprisKaufmann is one of the largest genera among the freshwater Ostracoda. It has a very wide geographical distribution. Representatives of this genus are actively swimming species found in shallow zones of freshwater lakes and reported from small grassy water bodies with megascopic plants.Dolerocypris anatolianov. sp. is recorded from core samples of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Afşin-Elbistan Coal Basin for the first time.

Determination of Vegetation Change Using Thematic Mapper Imagery in Afşin-Elbistan Lignite Basin; SE Turkey

In this study Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) data for the years 1989-2000-2010 was used to detect vegetational change in Afsin Elbistan lignite basin. Study based on application of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The change of vegetation cover is determined by comparing different date NDVI images using differencing method. Differencing NDVI images helped to quickly identify areas where vegetation is increased or decreased. The results suggest that NDVI have revealed significant changes in green vegetation in the study area. Remote sensing techniques and multi temporal satellite data reliably used to monitoring changes of vegetation cover in open pit mine areas.

Analysis of conflicts in the use of space in mining basin “Kolubara”

Consequence of impact of the surface exploitation on the environment is manifested in the form of physical, social, and environmental conflicts. The dominant conflicts of the Kolubara lignite basin space occurs between mining and agriculture, which indicates the importance of the process of rehabilitation and revitalization of contaminated land and its effective bringing to the original purpose. Another significant conflict appears between the existing settlements and mining, infrastructural, water management and other facilities, which are located in areas of mining works, so the solution is in their displacement. As consequence of development of the mining-energy industrial system there is an adverse impact on the environment, which is reflected in the pollution of air, land, groundwater and surface water. Ecological dimension of this conflict presents clear and limiting factor for the mine development, which directly points that the economic development of mining basin “Kolubara” is directed toward the rational exploitation of natural resources (coal, water, land, ect.). In the process of harmonization of these conflicts, it is necessary to take into account that the energy policy acts at the national level, as the public interest, and therefore has priority over all other interests.

Energy plantations of dendroflora species on open-pit coal mines overburden deposits

In order to define the models of energy plantations of the short rotation on deposols of open-pit coal mines, The Serbian Ministry of Science and Technological Development supported the researches aimed at the determination of the post-exploitation areas suitable for the short rotation plantations in the Kolubara basin. Besides the research of ecological conditions of the post-exploitation areas, research of the development and productivity of biomass in the forest cultures established during the biological recultivation, the comparative experiment was set with the number of fast-growing species, in order to determine the technology of the soil preparation, feeding, density of sowing, measures of protection, effects of phytoremediation, the selection of the mechanical devices, the analysis of the economic parameters, etc. The aim of the research is the increase of the participation of energy from biomass and partial replacement of the fossil fuels, in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, Davos Forum and other international agreements. This paper presents some results which are part of the project. Key words: Biomass, short rotation plantations, deposols, Kolubara lignite basin.

Initial sedimentation and subsequent diagenesis in the Eastern Southland Lignite Basin, southern New Zealand

The Eastern Southland Lignite Basin (ESLB) was initiated in the Late Oligocene at the same time that transpressional deformation began along the Alpine Fault. Initial sedimentation occurred near sea level, with interfingering of marine sediments and non-marine lithic conglomerates and associated lignite measures. Basal conglomerates are immature with rounded and angular clasts, and were locally derived from rising basement rocks on nearby basin margins. Conglomerates in younger lignite measures in the ESLB contain abundant quartz clasts derived from Central Otago schist, 100 km away, as well as some locally derived lithic material. Groundwater movement in the evolving basin caused pervasive clay alteration of lithic conglomerates and the underlying basement down to >10 m below the unconformity, as well as partial alteration of lithic clasts in sandstones. Alteration occurred under chemically reducing conditions and formed kaolinite, ferrous iron-bearing vermiculite-smectite and siderite. Post-depositional uplift in the ESLB has resulted in erosion of more than half of the sediments originally deposited. Erosion of the diagenetically altered rocks rich in clay left only minor residual quartz sand and gravel, with the bulk of the sediment being transported from the basin as clay in suspension or bed-load. In contrast, younger quartz-bearing conglomerates higher in the lignite measures sequence were recycled into the quartz-rich Pliocene conglomerates and younger gravels which now mantle the lignite measures over much of the basin.

‘La mineraria lavori o lasci lavorare’: myth and memory of a labour struggle in Tuscany

This article is an analysis of a long union dispute between the workers and the management of the Società Mineraria del Valdarno (S.M.V.), a company which had mining rights in the lignite basin of Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni, in the municipality of Cavriglia. Cavriglia is in a ‘red zone’ in the province of Arezzo, in central Tuscany and the dispute raged on from the end of 1947 to the first half of the 1950s. The article focuses primarily on two aspects: (1) how the union dispute of the miners of Valdarno fits into the broader political strategy of the Italian Communist Party (PCI); (2) how this struggle was perceived and elaborated by workers and incorporated into the collective memory of local communities.