Central Mining Research Articles

Mummified animal skin with tar content from the castle of the late medieval town of Novo Brdo (Central Balkans)

Organic materials are rare in the archaeological settlement context of the central Balkan area. A unique assemblage consisting of mummified animal skin with preserved hair, filled with resinous material, and four smaller pieces of animal skin with preserved hair was discovered during archaeological excavations of the Novo Brdo castle in 2015. The late medieval town of Novo Brdo was an important mining centre of the Balkans (and the entire Europe) for the production and distribution of silver ore. The archaeological context for the mummified animal skin was the workshop for the production of lead projectiles, situated in the northeast corner of the castle’s Great Hall, and it can be reliably dated to the first half of 1455. The finds were first subjected to macroscopic analysis, which included observations on the skinning method and the details of use. Applying light and SEM microscopy, a comparative set of hair surface structure images from seven mammal species was created, and a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis of resinous material was performed. By comparing it with the reference images of hair microstructure, the animal skin was identified as goat, while the FTIR of the resinous material identified pine tar. The four smaller pieces of skin probably originated from one individual sheep. The tar stored in the goat skin was most likely used in the impregnation of wooden structures or even to illuminate buildings and ramparts of the Novo Brdo castle, although other purposes, such as being used as a lubricant for weapons, cannot be completely ruled out.

An Improved Phase Unwrapping Method Based on Hierarchical Networking and Constrained Adjustment

Accurate phase unwrapping (PU) is a precondition and key for using synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) technology to successfully invert topography and monitor surface deformations. However, most interferograms are seriously polluted by noise in the low-quality regions, which poses difficulties for PU. Therefore, using the strategy of leveling network adjustment, this paper proposes an improved PU method based on hierarchical networking and constrained adjustment. This method not only limits the phase error transfer of low-quality points, but also takes the PU results of high-quality points as control points and uses the network adjustment method with constraints to unwrap low-quality points, which effectively inhibits the influence of noise and improves the accuracy of unwrapping. Regardless of the unwrapping method used for high-quality points, the unwrapping accuracy of low-quality points can always be improved. Compared with other traditional two-dimensional phase unwrapping workflows, this method can more accurately recover the phase of low-coherence regions only through the interferogram. A simulation experiment showed that the local noise of the interferogram was effectively inhibited, and the PU accuracy of the low-quality regions was improved by 16–46% compared with different traditional methods. For a real-data experiment of mining area with low coherence, the PU result of our proposed method had fewer residues and lower phase standard deviation than traditional methods, further indicating the practicability and robustness of the proposed method. The work in this paper has considerable practical significance for recovering the decoherence phase with serious local noise such as mining centers and groundwater subsidence centers.

Historical Outline of Iron Mining and Production in the Area of Present-Day Poland

The article presents the history of iron ore mining and production in present-day Poland and takes into account mining and production techniques and the influence of mining on the development of the surrounding areas. Examples of development are presented for the most important iron ore mining centers established since the period of the so-called Roman influences—Lower Silesia in the region of Tarchalice and the Świętokrzyskie region in the area of Góry Świętokrzyskie (Świętokrzyskie Mountains). The oldest traces of underground iron ore mining in Poland date back to the 7th–5th century B.C., and iron production dates back from the 1st century B.C. in the Częstochowa region where economically significant iron ore exploitation started in the 14th century and lasted until the 20th century. Studies showed that the development of iron ore mining in today’s Poland was associated with significant events in the country’s history, for example, with the expansion of a network of fortified castles in Silesia or with the industrial revolution. In each case, the increase in iron production resulted in the development and growth of the surrounding areas.

DONETSK MINING AND METALLURGICAL CENTER AND PRODUCTION HUBS OF THE EASTERN EUROPEAN STEPPE OF THE BRONZE AGE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES

Large-scale works have been carried out at the beginning of this century on the background of the set of Bronze Age monuments in the zone of Kartamysh copper ore occurrence in the Bakhmut basin of Donbass. Taking into account some previously researched monuments of mining and metallurgical activities within other ore occurrences of the Donetsk ridge, those works enable to compare the monuments of the Donetsk Mining and Metallurgical Center (DMMC) with other specialized monuments of Srubnaya cultural community in the copper ore territories of the Eastern European steppe.
 The monuments of Kartamysh archaeological microdistrict, as well as the other monuments of the Donetsk mining and metallurgical center, located in the zone of copper ore occurrences in the Bakhmut basin of Donbass, give evidences of all the cycles of ancient metal production. The majority of them are the evidence of the mining and ore-dressing cycle. Thus, the considerable volumes of mined and dressed ore, found in Kartamysh, as well as in other ore occurrences of the Bakhmut basin, currently suggest that the monuments in the ore territory of Donbass mainly operate within mining system. Similar specialization is observed in other mining and metallurgical areas in Eastern Europe, such as Mikhailo-Ovsyanka (Povolzhye) and Kargaly (South Ural). A feature of the DMMC is far lesser intensity of metallurgy and metalworking in its cultural frames. Limited range of DMMC monuments indicate that the production of metal products was focused only on domestic consumption.
 Fracturing of the Donbass bedrock, in contrast to the monolithic bedrock of Povolzhye, and especially to the Southern Urals, facilitated the effective use of stone tools in the process of mining. In the MMC, operating within the eastern production zone of the Srubnaya cultural community (Mikhailo-Ovsyanka, Kargaly), miners and metallurgists had to develop metallurgy more actively, since the features of geology in these regions required the use of metal tools to extract copper ores. Obviously, this circumstance explains a large number of end fragments of metal pickaxes found at Kargaly, as well as casting molds for casting these tools.
 The functioning of the full-scale cycle of ancient metal production and even visually recorded scale of ancient mining activity in the zone of copper ore occurrences of the Bakhmut basin gives reasons to assert the existence of mining and metallurgical center focused on large-scale production in the Donetsk Ridge in the Bronze Age. The main products of the DMMC were not metal items or even ingots, as it had been considered previously, but enriched copper ore (concentrate) as raw material for metallurgical production.
 Enriched ore was the commodity to be exchanged by the miners and metallurgists of the Donetsk center. It could be possibly done via professional traders with neighboring and distant tribes, and was exchanged for livestock and agriculture products, as well as for various household items.
 The analysis, carried out in the paper, proves that other mining and metallurgical complexes of the Eastern European steppe (Kargaly, Mikhailo-Ovsyanka), which had been previously explored, also operated at the same time and in similar to the DMMC production system.

Traceological Analysis of Stone Tools of Miners and Metallurgists from Zhezkazgan Copper Deposits

This article presents the results of a traceological study of two collections of stone tools – tools of miners from the Kresto-Center quarry and metallurgists from the Milykuduk settlement, located in the zone of Zhezkazgan copper deposits in the Zhezkazgan-Ulytau Mining and Metallurgical Center (MMC). Structural and raw materials, typological, technological, functional, and contextual analyses were used to study the collection, which consists of 63 items. As a result of the research, it was found that the settlement of Milykuduk was engaged in ore processing, and the Kresto Center quarry was engaged in its extraction. The metallurgical specialization of the population of Zhezkazgan-Ulytau MMC was dictated by the richest deposits of oxidized and sulfide copper ore. Region Saryarka was one of the largest centers of mining and ancient metallurgy for the entire Northern Eurasia during the Late Bronze Age. Mining and metallurgical production was an important and complex production process of antiquity, the level of which was an indicator of the development of the productive forces of ancient society.

Growth of invasive plant species communities as a substantial issue in post-mining land development

This article concerns the issue of the appearance and growth of invasive plant species in land degraded by hard coal mining and the repercussions of this process, particularly in the context of land reclamation. These species, such as Canadian goldenrod or Japanese knotweed, which nearly always form extensive and monocultural patches of vegetation, contribute to the displacement of both native species and those introduced as part of biological restoration. In 2015, the Central Mining Institute in Katowice prepared a land development concept for a part of the area of the former KWK Paryż mine in Dąbrowa Górnicza (Upper Silesian Industrial Region – Poland), based on its resources and potential, encompassing the “Jadwiga” dump and its vicinity . The presented actions scenarios did not fully factor in the issue related to the growth and control of invasive plant species. Studies of the growth of invasive species communities, conducted from 2015 to 2019 with the use of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles), revealed the significant propagation of the Japanese knotweed Polygonetum cuspidati (Moor 1958) Th. Müller et Görs 1969 ex Görs 1974 association as well as the Canadian goldenrod Solidago canadensis community. Their elimination increases the cost of the reclamation by 18%.

Novel Application of Machine Learning Algorithms and Model-Agnostic Methods to Identify Factors Influencing Childhood Blood Lead Levels.

Blood lead (Pb) poisoning remains a global concern, particularly for children in their early developmental years. Broken Hill is Australia's oldest operating silver-zinc-lead mine. In this study, we utilized recent advances in machine learning to assess multiple algorithms and identify the most optimal model for predicting childhood blood Pb levels (BLL) using Broken Hill children's (<5 years of age) data (n = 23,749) from 1991 to 2015, combined with demographic, socio-economic, and environmental influencing factors. We applied model-agnostic methods to interpret the most optimal model, investigating different environmental and human factors influencing childhood BLL. Algorithm assessment showed that stacked ensemble, a method for automatically and optimally combining multiple prediction algorithms, enhanced predictive performance by 1.1% with respect to mean absolute error (p < 0.01) and 2.6% for root-mean-squared error (p < 0.01) compared to the best performing constituent algorithm (random forest). By interpreting the model, the following information was acquired: children had higher BLL if they resided within 1.0 km to the central mine area or 1.37 km to the railroad; year of testing had the greatest interactive strength with all other factors; BLL increased faster in Aboriginal than in non-Aboriginal children at 9-10 and 12-18 months of age. This "stacked ensemble + model-agnostic interpretation" framework achieved both prediction accuracy and model interpretability, identifying previously unconnected variables associated with elevated childhood BLL, offering a marked advantage over previous works. Thus, this approach has a clear value and potential for application to other environmental health issues.

Total gaseous mercury levels in the vicinity of the Central Mexico mountain mining zone and its dispersion area

Total gaseous mercury levels in the vicinity of the Central Mexico mountain mining zone and its dispersion area

Экономическая оценка вариантов перспективного развития производственной подсистемы экспортно-ориентированных угольных компаний

The authors review the challenges and trends of the Russian coal exports and describe fields that are potentially attractive for exports in the new coal mining centers in the East of Russia. A conclusion is made that the only option available for the Russian coal industry in the eastern parts of the country is the export-oriented sustainable development in conditions when the global coal trade is shifting towards the Asia-Pacific region. Scientific and methodological support for the implementation of investment projects of Russian coal companies has been developed for the new economic conditions. The economic and mathematical model is proposed to assess the options of perspective development of production subsystem of an export-oriented coal company, which helps to define the parameters of a rational option to develop the coal sector including the volumes of annual expenses of investors to obtain the highest revenue from coal export.

Reißscheiben from shipwrecks as an indicator for copper qualities produced in the major middle and North European mining districts during the late medieval and early modern period 15th–17th Century AD

Major advances in maritime archaeology in the last 20 years resulted in the discovery of several shipwrecks carrying copper slab ingots, so-called Reißscheiben. With the interest in early modern metal trade growing, geochemical analysis of these raw copper ingots represents invaluable merit for understanding the various qualities produced in the major mining regions in Europe. Here, we present ICP-MS trace elemental and lead isotope data for 52 Reißscheiben ingots salvaged at three different findspots in northern European waters dating to the 15th and 16th century. Our results reveal the Reißscheiben to originate from two different mining centres, Slovakia and the southern Harz foreland. Copper produced in these regions shows significantly different trace elemental patterns probably affected by both different kinds of copper ores used and smelting processes applied. The analytical results reveal the difficulties that early modern copper smelters may have had to deal with when processing sulfidic copper ores, as it seems that refining processes were not understood sufficiently. On the other hand, the written historical sources suggest that early modern brass makers already had a proper understanding of which regions produced the most suitable copper qualities. This paper underlines the potential of using geochemical characterisation of early modern period metals for solving historical questions.

Experimental and CFD Simulations of the Aerosol Flow in the Air Ventilating the Underground Excavation in Terms of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

The paper presents the results of experimental and model tests of transport of dispersed fluid droplets forming a cloud of aerosol in a stream of air ventilating a selected section of the underground excavation. The excavation selected for testing is part of the ventilation network of the Experimental Mine Barbara of the Central Mining Institute. For given environmental conditions, such as temperature, pressure, relative humidity, and velocity of air, the distribution of aerosol droplet changes in the mixture of air and water vapor along the excavation at a distance was measured at 10 m, 25 m, and 50 m from the source of its emission. The source of aerosol emission in the excavation space was a water nozzle that was located 25 m from the inlet (inlet) of the excavation. The obtained results of in situ tests were related to the results of numerical calculations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Numerical calculations were performed using Ansys-Fluent and Ansys-CFX software. The dimensions and geometry of the excavation under investigation are presented. The authors describe the adopted assumptions and conditions for the numerical model and discuss the results of the numerical solution.

Karakteristik Facade Rumah Toko di Kawasan Pasar Hongkong di Kota Singkawang

The city of Singkawang, which is located on the west coast of the island of Borneo, is thought to have existed around the 18th century, and has links to a gold mining center managed by gold miners from Chinese origin in Monterado. The Central Government together with the City Government of Singkawang, have designated Singkawang City as one of the Heritage Cities in Indonesia, through the RTBL City Pusaka program in 2016. The Hong Kong Market area is one of the blocks for the Heritage City of Singkawang, centered on Jalan Setia Budi and Jalan Bawal . The Hong Kong Singkawang Market is one of the centers of nighttime activities in Singkawang City&#x0D; The purpose of this research is to carry out an inventory and identification of the typical characteristics of shop houses (RUKO) in the Hongkong Market area in Singkawang City, and to identify the diversity of façade displays of Chinatown shophouses in Singkawang through a study of the building typology and the changing pattern of its façade.&#x0D; This study uses a qualitative-rationalistic approach with a descriptive-qualitative approach to the typology of shophouses in the Pasar Hongkong area in Singkawang City. The descriptive research flow starts from units of information or objects of observation which gradually, the findings are dialoged (abstracted) to compile general themes which at the end of the abstraction process, can produce a final finding in the form of a local theory (character and typology of shop houses in the Pasar area. Hong Kong in the City of Singkawang). The Technology Absorption Rate (TKT) of this applied research is at level 4, which is a prototype of a heritage building data collection system in Singkawang City. The form of this research analysis is to use a descriptive approach&#x0D;

ŁPw Steel Arch Support – Designing and Test Results

Increasingly difficult geological-mining conditions make it necessary to seek new and effective ways of securing roadways. The new types of support must meet very high strength requirements and must have very high load-bearing capacities. These two conditions were taken into consideration when an ŁPw type steel arch support was designed. High strength of the arches was obtained through using steel of improved mechanical parameters, while high load-bearing parameters were obtained through shaping elements of the support arches. The works were conducted within the framework of the targeted research project no. 6ZR8 2008 C/07012 undertaken by Huta Łabędy SA, Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy and Central Mining Institute between 2010 and 2012.

Comparison of Panasonic’s Dosimetric System with Gamma-31 Dosimeters

Equipment being used in medical or industrial institutions is often a source of ionizing radiation with different energies and types, which complicates the detection and assessment of doses. Up until now, for dosimetric measurements of ionizing radiation, Gamma-31 dosimeters have been used in the Central Mining Institute for many years. Now, this system will be expanded by a Panasonic system, for which measurement procedures were developed and comparisons with other dosimeters were held. The method is based on a four-element dosimeters UD-802 Panasonic equipped with CaSO and LiBO detectors additionally sheltered by filters of different surface mass. The use of UD-802 dosimeters, in contrast to Gamma-31 dosimeters, permits measuring radiation doses in a different range of photon energy. Consequently, it is possible to obtain a more accurate analysis of the hazards caused by gamma radiation in underground mines. The publication includes a description of the dosimetry system and presents the results of measurements conducted by means of both types of dosimeters. In order to verify the correctness of the indications of the new dosimetry system a series of measurements were carried out, which allowed examining the behaviour of the dosimeters under different environmental conditions. As a place of exposure, the selected laboratories in the Silesian Centre for Environmental Radiometry were chosen, where the work is connected with (TE)NORM and equipment producing ionizing radiation or containing sources of this type of radiation. Moreover, to observe the dosimeters behaviour in difficult environmental conditions, they were exposed in water treatment plants and an underground potassium salt mine.

Determination of Kinetic Parameters of Coal Pyrolysis to Simulate the Process of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG)

Purpose The aim of the research presented in this paper was to determine the values of the kinetic parameters of coal pyrolysis from two areas of the planned experiment, UCG, i.e. the Barbara Experimental Mine of the Central Mining Institute and the Wieczorek Mine. Methods The thermal decomposition of coal analysis used the thermogravimetric technique. The test was carried out in a temperature range of 298–1173 K in a nitrogen atmosphere for three fixed heating rates, β − 5, 10, and 15 K/min. A selection of sample heating rates of coal and reaction environments were designed to reflect the conditions seen during the process of underground coal gasification. The kinetic parameters were determined by using modified Coats-Redfern, Kissinger and Mianowski-Radko methods. Results The values of the activation energy, E, and the pre-exponential factor, A, were determined for a given model of the first order decomposition reaction of coal. The study successfully compared kinetic parameters of the tested coals. Practical implications Designated kinetic parameters may be used to model the process of pyrolysis and – as preliminary data – for installation design of pilot underground coal gasification. Originality/value The devolatilization of a homogenous lump of coal is a complex issue. Currently, the CFD technique (Computational Fluid Dynamics) is commonly used for the multi-dimensional and multiphase phenomena modelling. The mathematical models, describing the kinetics of the decomposition of coal, proposed in the article can, therefore, be an integral part of models based on numerical fluid mechanics.

The Balance of Methane and Ventilation as a Tool for Methane Hazard Assessment in the Areas of Longwalls Exploited in Hard Coal Mines

ABSTRACT Purpose This article presents an algorithm for the current assessment of methane hazards during the exploitation of longwalls in conditions where there are methane hazards. The algorithm has been developed within the framework of the international AVENTO project (Advanced Tools For Ventilation and Methane Emissions Control), carried out in Poland, inter alia, by the Central Mining Institute in cooperation with Kompania Weglowa SA (KW SA).The algorithm was developed based on the analysis of the ventilation-methane balances for longwall areas, based on the data registered by automatic methane sensors and the velocity of ventilating air. Methods Multiple research methods were used, such as: observation, a questionnaire and statistical methods.The questionnaire was used for the preliminary determination of methane hazards in the longwalls belonging to the industrial partner (KW SA). The polls were used to obtain relevant information about the hazards and means of prevention taken, such as: the methane content in the seam, the emissions of methane into the exploitation workings, the volume of methane drainage, the ventilation system used, and the amount of ventilation air used to combat the methane hazard. Based on the poll's data, the longwalls with methane emissions in their environment were selected for testing, based on long-term observations of changes in the concentrations of methane in the ventilation air and in the methane drainage net. Methane concentration measurements were based on the values recorded by the methane sensors located in the workings which were considered to be most dangerous. For data processing a statistical method was used. In the research, the average results of the indicated concentrations of methane from the methane sensors were used for the correlation between the average values of methane emission in the region of the longwall or methane drainage, with other parameters, such as absolute pressure changes on the surface, technological processes or cycles in the longwall. For the evaluation of the methane hazard, an indicator was proposed, these being the ratio of the ventilation methane bearing capacity to the criterial methane bearing capacity. An increase of this indicator indicates an increase in the level of methane hazard. Results On the basis of the average daily value of the methane hazard status indicator, an algorithm for the assessment and visualization of methane hazard in the areas of the active longwalls was developed. The algorithm contains a list of technical and organizational actions which should be taken in the event of unfavourable risk assessment of methane hazard, reflecting very high risk or unsafe conditions for conducting further work. Practical implications The proposed algorithm can be used for the ongoing assessment of methane hazard in areas of exploited longwalls in order to support staff in surface control rooms and in ventilation departments. Originality/value The current assessment of methane hazard in the areas of longwalls which are under methane conditions by means of the developed algorithm will improve the safety of exploitation.

The impact of artisanal gold mining, ore processing and mineralization on water quality in Marmato, Colombia

Marmato, Colombia, has been an important centre of gold mining since before the first Spanish colonizers arrived in 1536. The Marmato deposit is hosted in a dacite and andesite porphyry stock as sheeted sulphide-rich veinlet systems. The district is currently experiencing a surge in both major mining projects and artisanal mining, driven by sustained high gold prices. Ore from small-scale and artisanal gold mining is processed in numerous small mills (entables) around Marmato, which impact surface water quality through the discharge of milled waste rock slurry, highly alkaline cyanide-treated effluent, and high dissolved metal loads. To investigate the impact of artisanal mining and ore processing, water samples were collected in January 2012 from streams around Marmato. The average dissolved metal concentrations in impacted streams were Zn, 78 mg L−1; Pb, 0.43 mg L−1; Cu, 403 µg L−1 Cd, 255 µg L−1; As, 235 µg L−1; Ni, 67 µg L−1; Co, 55 µg L−1; Sb, 7 µg L−1; and Hg, 42 ng L−1, exceeding World Health Organization drinking water guidelines. In addition, arsenic speciation was conducted in-situ and indicated that 91–95% of inorganic arsenic species is in the form of As(V). Spatial analysis of the data suggests that entables processing ore for artisanal miners are the main contributor to water pollution, with high sediment loads, alkalinity and elevated concentrations of dissolved arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, caused by the processing of gold-bearing sulphides in the entables. Geochemical data from surface water were compared to a comprehensive data set of whole rock analyses from drill core and channel samples from the deposit, indicating that the deposit is significantly enriched in gold, silver, lead, zinc, arsenic, antimony, and cadmium compared to crustal averages, which is reflected in the surface water geochemistry. However, elevated mercury levels in surface water cannot be explained by enrichment of mercury in the deposit and strongly suggest that mercury is being added to concentrates during ore processing to amalgamate fine gold.

Size distribution of ambient and radioactive aerosols formed by the short-lived radon progeny

The survey of ambient airborne particle size distribution is important when the deposition of radioactive particles is considered in the human lung and the assessment of radiation hazard in occupational exposures or contaminated environments. CLOR (the Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection) in cooperation with CMI (the Central Mining Institute) performed simultaneous measurements of the activity size distribution of radon progeny and ambient aerosols using different types of aerosols. Measurements were performed in a radon chamber with a volume of 17 m3, where radon was generated by a radium-226 open source, and ambient aerosols by an oil candle, vax candle, and incense sticks. Such measurements were also made in an aerosol depleted atmosphere after cleaning the chamber air by means of a high-efficiency pump and filters. The size distribution of radioactive aerosols containing radon progeny was measured by RPPSS (Radon Progeny Particle Size Spectrometer) with the measuring size ranging from 0.6 nm to approximately 2500 nm. The key parts of this device are the impaction plates and diffusion screen batteries, which collect aerosols of different sizes, and semiconductor alpha detectors which detect the activity of the collected particles. The SMPS (Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer Spectrometer) and APS (Aerodynamic Particle Sizer) were applied to evaluate the size distribution of all aerosols with sizes from approximately 3 nm to 20 μm. Based on the results obtained by these spectrometers, the activity size distributions and related dose conversion factors (DCF) were evaluated both for the exposed workers and the general population.

The Effects of Forest Litter and Waterlogging on the Ecotoxicity of Soils Strongly Enriched in Arsenic in a Historical Mining Site

This study examined the effects of waterlogging and forest litter introduced to soil on chemical properties of soil pore water and ecotoxicity of soils highly enriched in As. These effects were examined in a 21-day incubation experiment. Tested soil samples were collected from Złoty Stok, a historical centre of arsenic and gold mining: from a forested part of the Orchid Dump (19,600 mg/kg As) and from a less contaminated site situated in a neighboring forest (2020 mg/kg As). An unpolluted soil was used as control. The concentrations of As, Fe and Mn in soil pore water were measured together with a redox potential Eh. A battery of ecotoxicological tests, including a bioassay with luminescence bacteria Vibrio fischeri (Microtox) and several tests on crustaceans (Rapidtox, Thamnotox and Ostracodtox tests), was used to assess soil ecotoxicity. The bioassays with crustaceans (T. platyurus, H. incongruens) were more sensitive than the bacterial test Microtox. The study confirmed that the input of forest litter into the soil may significantly increase the effects of toxicity. Waterlogged conditions facilitated a release of As into pore water, and the addition of forest litter accelerated this effect thus causing increased toxicity.

Challenges and Opportunities for End-of-Life Coal Mine Sites: Black-to-Green Energy Approach

This paper presents the possibilities of adapting active mines to generate green energy after their closure using their resources and/or infrastructure. For this purpose, firstly, the temporal horizon of selected mines in Poland was determined, its basic assumption being the analysis of the current state. In the research, 18 mining plants operating within 12 mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) were analyzed. The analyzed mines belong to three of the five largest hard coal producers in Poland, and the main object of exploitation is hard coal of energy types. Severe restrictions or even abandonment of further investments in the development of the coal mining industry were taken into consideration (regarding the construction of new shafts or the development of new exploitation levels). When determining the temporal horizon, the challenges that hamper the exploitation based at the levels of natural hazards and depth of exploitation in each mine were considered. Secondly, the criteria for the adaptation of active mines to generate energy are presented. The possibility of using the resources and infrastructural potential of active mines to produce geothermal energy from water, extracting coalbed methane (CBM), and processes of underground coal gasification (UCG) are analyzed. Finally, for a selected example—generating energy from underground coal gasification in Polish mine conditions—a structural analysis of the criteria was performed using the MICMAC method, as the Central Mining Institute has an extensive experience in the development of underground coal gasification trials in coal mines. Based on expert analysis and using structural analysis, the criteria important for UCG were selected. As demonstrated in the article, the MICMAC method can be applied in other scenarios with different criteria to implement new technologies in coal mines.