Southwestern Poland Research Articles

The untapped potential of scenic routes for geotourism: case studies of Lasocki Grzbiet and Pasmo Lesistej (Western and Central Sudeten Mountains, SW Poland)

A view is often more than just a piece of landscape, framed by the gaze and evoking emotion. Without diminishing these obvious ‘tourism-important’ advantages of a view, it is noteworthy that in itself it might play the role of an interpretative tool, especially for large-scale phenomena, the knowledge and understanding of which is the goal of geotourism. In this paper, we analyze the importance of scenic drives and trails for tourism, particularly geotourism, focusing on their ability to create conditions for experiencing the dynamically changing landscapes in which lies knowledge of the natural processes shaping the Earth’s surface and the methods and degree of its resource exploitation. The issues are found in both wider and local contexts. A more detailed insight has been conducted on the basis of two, although in some sense peripheral, tourism regions from the Sudeten Mountains (southwestern Poland): Lasocki Grzbiet (a ridge) and Pasmo Lesistej (a small range). The subjects of the investigation were complex: the geotourism potential of selected viewpoints located on the most scenic routes (mostly paths and forest tracks) as well as the problems of maintenance, conservation, and protection of their educational value. Our work is based on desk and field research supported by results of GIS visibility analyses (conducted in the QGIS program).

Crops, weeds and gathered plants in the vicinity of the mediaeval Castle Kolno, near Brzeg, S-W Poland, and a morphometric approach for some taxa

In the present work, numerous species of useful and wild plants were identified in the archaeobotanical samples (moat deposit and two ceramic jugs) collected from the mediaeval locality of the Kolno Castle, near Brzeg, south-western Poland. At the confluence of two rivers, in the vicinity of the castle, it was possible to cultivate cereals on poor alluvial soil, in the ground with a layer of ferruginous concretions. The characteristic weeds of the classes Secalinetea and Chenopodietea indicated the cultivation of winter cereals and garden plants. Polymorphic populations of millet were cultivated. Apart from the annual plants, the following fruit trees were grown: plums, peaches and walnuts. Fruits of many wild species were also gathered for consumption. Correlation analysis of the characters of Prunus L. stones proved that the development of the organ is conservative. Morphometric analysis of the plum stones showed that in addition to the specimens belonging to the species Prunus spinosa L. and Prunus domestica L./Prunus insititia L., there were hybrids between these two species. Multivariate analyses evidenced that the complexes of cultivated and wild plums and cherries can form hybrid syngameons revealing continuous variation and non-random structure. The variability of filbert nuts corresponded to the variability of a large modern population of this species that is composed of many genetically different morphotypes. Variabilities of inter-specific units of fossil and contemporary forms belonging to various taxa were described by ellipsoids of various shapes and arrangements in the three-dimensional ordination space.

Measures to reduce the environmental impact of the Żelazny Most Tailings Storage Facility

The Żelazny Most Tailings Storage Facility, located in south-western Poland, is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. Mining wastes from the processing of copper ores have been disposed continuously for over 40 years. A safe operation of TSF of this size requires the involvement of engineers, specialists and scientists from many fields of science. The article presents the latest experience in activities reducing the environmental impact of the Zelazny Most TSF, including the monitoring of groundwater, air protection and the reliability of pipe infrastructure. KGHM Polish Copper, the TSF operator, has been running the system for monitoring the quality of surface and groundwater in the foreground of dams for more than forty years. Very good diagnosis of the hydrogeological conditions in the TSF foundation allowed the research unit to develop a three-dimensional numerical model of groundwater flow. The article also describes the issues related to dust prevention. Active and passive protection methods for the beaches and slopes were presented. Slurries are pumped over a distance of up to 20 km via multiple pipelines. Due to the high abrasion properties of the rock material, KGHM runs a pipeline testing and replacement program to ensure the highest level of reliability. The issues presented in the article clearly indicate the attitude of the TSF operator to the reduction of the negative impact of waste storage in the natural environment. This is also confirmed by the presence of many rare species of wild animals in the immediate vicinity, such as deer, beavers and birds of prey.

Relationship Between Bioelectrical Impedance Parameters and Appendicular Muscle Functional Quality in Older Adults from South-Western Poland.

PurposeThe aim of this research was to assess the correlations between the impedance components and the appendicular skeletal muscle strength and functional quality indices in older adults. The use of the impedance parameters as potential identifiers characterizing the functional state of muscles could improve methods of monitoring “healthy ageing”.Patients and MethodsA total of 346 subjectively healthy adults aged 50–83 years were subjected to tests. Body mass and height, hand grip strength and knee extensor strength were measured. Resistance, reactance and phase angle were measured using the bioelectrical impedance method. The relationship between the impedance parameters and the appendicular skeletal muscle strength and quality indices was evaluated using stepwise multiple regression.ResultsParticipants aged ≥65 years were found to be characterized by lower values of the impedance parameters and the appendicular skeletal muscle strength and functional quality indices than participants 10 years younger. In both groups of sexes, the relative percentage differences in limb strength between the age groups were 3–6 times greater than the differences in appendicular skeletal muscle mass. Significant regression models for muscle strength and quality, with strong age, sex and reactance prediction and a weaker phase angle effect, were obtained.ConclusionThe impedance components explain the part of changes in muscle strength which is independent of the decline in skeletal muscle mass. Phase angle and reactance can be suitable for diagnosing and preventing dangers connected with the decline in muscle quality, but it is necessary to establish their normalized reference values for older adults.

Phytosociological Analysis of Natural and Artificial Pine Forests of the Class Vaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1939 in the Sudetes and Their Foreland (Bohemian Massif, Central Europe)

Research Highlights: Differentiation of Scots pine forests of the class Vaccinio-Piceetea in Poland has been the subject of numerous studies, including revisions. Despite that, the area of southwestern Poland was hitherto practically unexplored in this respect. Background and Objectives: The aim of this work was therefore (i) to present the diversity of the pine forests in the Sudetes and their foreland; (ii) to compare the ecology of studied communities. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 175 phytosociological relevés collected between 1991 and 2020 in natural and anthropogenic pine stands. To identify vegetation types, we used the modified TWINSPAN algorithm; principal coordinate analysis, distance-based redundancy analysis and permutational tests were applied to identify the variation explained and the main environmental gradients shaping the studied plant communities. Results: Five associations were distinguished: thermophilous Asplenio cuneifolii-Pinetum sylvestris Pišta ex Husová in Husová et al. 2002, which develops on shallow soils over ultrabasic substrates, Hieracio pallidi-Pinetum sylvestris Stöcker 1965, which prefers outcrops of acidic rocks; Betulo carpaticae-Pinetum sylvestris Mikyška 1970, which is relict in origin and occurs on the upper Cretaceous sandstones, the peatland pine–birch forests of the Vaccinio uliginosi-Betuletum pubescentis Libbert 1933 and the Vaccinio myrtilli-Pinetum sylvestris Juraszek 1928. Moreover, community Brachypodium sylvaticum-Pinus sylvestris with the occurrence of many thermophilous and basiphilous species was also found on limestone substratum. The analysis of the species composition of pine plantations established on deciduous and mixed forests habitats revealed that these anthropogenic communities were marked by a random combination of species in which a certain group of common forest generalists participated. The distinguished communities differed clearly among each other also in habitat characteristics. Particularly important for their differentiation were soil reaction and nutrients, supported by differences in moisture, temperature and light availability. Apart from the edaphic factors, altitude and the bedrock type proved to be equally important. Conclusions: Our study provides new remarks to the typology and synecology of pine forest communities in SW Poland.

Macroseismic Intensity Re-Evaluation of the 11 June 1895 Mid-Silesia, Poland, Earthquake

Abstract Earthquakes in slowly deforming intraplate regions like Poland are not as frequent or of high intensity as at the plate boundaries. However, few low-to-moderate intensity earthquakes have been reported to have shaken different regions of Poland in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. We present an intensity re-evaluation of one of these earthquakes—the 11 June 1895 Mid-Silesia, southwestern Poland earthquake. Damage reports were collected from 563 towns and villages of the Silesia region soon after the earthquake. However, these reports and the names of the places are in German. The damage reports were translated from German to English and the names of the places to present names in Polish. The intensity re-evaluation was carried out using the modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) scale. The highest intensity on the MMI scale is evaluated to be VII in two important towns of Strzelin and Ziębice. The reports mention damage to the estate officer’s house by the 11 June 1895 Mid-Silesia earthquake. In this study, the location of the estate officer’s house was determined, and suspected earthquake damage to the building was demarcated.

On the aftershock productivity in mining-induced seismicity—insight into seismicity of Rudna copper ore mine, Poland

SUMMARYMining-induced seismic events can be followed by aftershocks that increase the risk associated with the exploitation. The understanding of the aftershock generation process in induced seismicity may improve post-earthquake safety procedures applied in mines. Rudna copper ore mine in southwestern Poland commonly experiences intense and strong seismic activity accompanying the room-and-pillar exploitation of copper ore. Some strong (magnitude >2) mining events are followed by numerous aftershocks and some are not followed by any. In this study, we seek to find whether there is any geological, technological or seismological cause of this diversity. We study 46 strong mining events and focus on their aftershock productivity. We analyse the geological and mining setting of the studied events, their signal similarity, stress drops and the ground motion effect using data from three different seismic networks. Our results show that seismic events producing large aftershock sequences may share similar focal mechanisms and have larger ground effects than events with no aftershocks. The results also indicate the potential differences in stress drops. This interesting observation may help to better evaluate the aftershock hazard in mines. It also indicates the need for a more detailed analysis of the focal mechanisms of strong events and their relationship to the exploitation technique.

Epidemiology of dermatophytoses in paediatric population in Southwestern Poland, 2011-2016.

IntroductionDermatophytoses are the most common superficial fungal infections in paediatric population. Its pathogen pattern has changed over years.AimTo analyse the spectrum of dermatophytoses in children living in Southwestern Poland, in the years 2011–2016.Material and methodsA total of 1705 patients were diagnosed with fungal skin infection in the Mycological Laboratory, Dermatology Department of the Wroclaw Medical University. Of them, 163 were under 18 years of age.ResultsIn 105 cases, dermatophytoses were detected. The collected specimens were examined using direct microscopy examination, staining, culture on specific media and PCR technique. The most common dermatophytes were Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans (31.4% each), followed in the descending order by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (21.9%), Microsporum canis (13.3%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (1.9%). The most commonly affected body sites were glabrous skin of the trunk and extremities (41.7%), followed by face (22.2%), scalp (15.7%) and toe nails (14.8%).ConclusionsThis study revealed the most common types of dermatophytoses and their pathogens in children in Southwestern Poland. In comparison to earlier data obtained from this region, new epidemiological trends have been revealed. We observed the shift towards anthropophilic dermatophyte infections and an increasing number of onychomycosis in children. Because of climatic variations, migration, and changing lifestyle practices, further studies on dermatophytoses are necessary to improve our knowledge on the epidemiology of fungal infections.

PERMEABILITY OF COVER DEPOSITS OF CRYSTALLINE ROCKS IN THE SUDETY MOUNTAINS (SW POLAND) BASED ON A FIELD STUDY

Article presents a study on the permeability of weathering covers formed on crystalline rocks, which was conducted in south-western Poland (Sudety Mountains). Evaluation of the infiltration capacity was performed based on field measurements of the vertical hydraulic conductivity carried out by using the Porschet method and the ETC Pask Constant Head Permeameter. During the field investigations conducted in sixteen sites, 28 determinations of the hydraulic conductivity k were made, 16 by the Porschet method and 12 using the ETC Pask Permeameter. Ten sites represent weathering covers of metamorphic rocks (amphibolites, eclogites, mica-schists, crystalline limestones, gneisses) and the next six sites represent covers of igneous rocks (granites). The values of the vertical hydraulic conductivity k determined by the Porschet method ranged between 0.053 and 2.19 m/d, while those obtained using the ETC Pask Permeamet erranged between 0.012 and 0.76 m/d. In the first place, it should be noticed that the results determined during the field investigations conducted according to the Porschet method are generally 3-4 times higher than those obtained using the ETC Pask Permeameter. The results for the vertical hydraulic conductivity allow us to classify weathering sediments of metamorphic and igneous rocks, as semi-permeable to medium permeable rocks. Weathered gneisses were distinctly characterized by the worst capacity to conduct water (semi-permeable) among all types of weathering covers of crystalline rocks. Higher values (0,08-0,8 m/d) of the vertical hydraulic conductivity were found for the weathering covers of the other metamorphic rocks (low permeable). The best conditions to conduct water were found in the weathering covers of granite rocks, which in most cases are classified as medium permeable rocks (more than 0.8 m/d) and exhibit distinctly better permeability coefficients.

Evolution of the Bystrzyca River valley during Middle Pleistocene Interglacial (Sudetic Foreland, south-western Poland)

Abstract The article depicts the problem of river system development during the Middle Pleistocene Interglacial in the Bystrzyca River Valley (Sudetic Foreland, south-western Poland). Ten research sites located within the Świdnica Plain are presented, in which the structural, grain size (granulometry), petrographic, quartz grain morphoscopy, and heavy mineral analyses were carried out. The study results show the formation of piedmont fan deposits 2–8 km to the NE of the Sudetic Marginal Fault. The location of the fluvial deposits between the Sanian and Odranian tills indicates that they were deposited during the Holsteinian Interglacial (Krzczonów Formation, Mazovian; see Table 1). According toxthe lithofacies analysis, vast alluvial plains, composed of angular gravel grains in the south and of sands in the north, were deposited in the Sudetic Foreland in the environment of a very dynamic river. They are covered with a discontinuous layer of Odranian till. The petrographic spectrum shows 90–99% of local rocks, namely, Sudetic porphyry, Sowie Mts Gneiss and milky quartz, and 1–10% of Scandinavian rocks. In the proto-Bystrzyca river system, the existence of an oxbow lake in the distal part of the Krzczonów fan has been proved, which was developing at the end of the Holsteinian Interglacial. The continuity of the alluvial deposits is interrupted in the vicinity of Świdnica due to both the tectonic movements and the formation of the narrow tectonic graben of Roztoka–Mokrzeszów.

Geodiversity Assessment with Crowdsourced Data and Spatial Multicriteria Analysis

This paper presents an approach to geodiversity assessment based on spatial multicriteria analysis. Instead of relying solely on weighted linear combination (WLC) for aggregating factor ratings and weights to compute a synthetic measure of geodiversity, the approach employs WLC in concert with its local version called L-WLC to provide a more comprehensive assessment approach. As part of the approach, the assessment input data comprised of geodiversity factor ratings and weights were obtained through crowdsourcing. A geoinformation crowdsourcing tool called the geo-questionnaire was used to obtain data from 57 Earth science researchers worldwide. These data served as the bases for a group assessment of geodiversity. The reliability of assessment was evaluated by means of spatially explicit uncertainty analysis. The results showed the efficacy of local spatial multicriteria analysis techniques (L-WLC) used in concert with a global technique (WLC) on the example of geodiversity assessment for Karkonosze National Park in southwestern Poland.

Pollen Morphology and Variability of Abies alba Mill. Genotypes from South-Western Poland

The objective of this study was to investigate pollen morphology and ranges of intraspecific variability of Abies alba Mill. Pollen grains were collected from nine clonal seed orchards of A. alba in the Sudety Mountains, (South-Western Poland). At each seed orchard, 4–6 grafts were selected. Each individual (graft) was represented by 30 pollen grains and 1440 pollen grains were measured totally. Eight quantitative and four qualitative features of pollen grains were analysed. The diagnostic features of pollen grains for the studied species were: Exine surface of pollen corpus (cappa and leptoma) and sacci, the length of the polar axis (P), pollen shape (P/E ratio), and a new trait—saccus shape (A/B ratio — saccus width (A) to his length (B)). Pollen features made possible to differentiate seven individual genotypes (samples). To our knowledge, this is the first time that the intraspecific and interindividual variability of pollen grains of A. alba were investigated. The most different were the pollen grains from samples—genotypes 13 (Bystrzyca Kłodzka) and 18 (Jugów), and also (although to a lesser extent) genotypes—11 (Kamienna Góra), 30, 31 (Jugów), and 44 (Szklarska Poręba). No significant relationships were observed between the pollen grain traits and the geographical location of the collection sites.

Comparison of population densities of selected bird species breeding in main urban habitats in southwestern Poland

A simplified version of the territory mapping method was used. Four counts were conducted in a fragment of the city of Wrocław in the spring and early summer 2010. Two main urban habitats were distinguished: a densely built-up area with block buildings and a residential area with flat houses. In total, 44 bird species were recorded as breeding in the whole study area. Five species nested in a density higher than 10 pairs per 100 ha each: Columba palumbus, Pica pica, Streptopelia decaocto, Sylvia atricapilla, and Turdus merula. Whereas in the densely built-up areas Columba palumbus and Streptopelia decaocto were equally common, in the residential area Streptopelia decaocto was almost three times more common than Columba palumbus. Pica pica was about three times more common than Corvus cornix both in the builtup areas and in the residential areas. Although densely built-up areas and residential areas have a similar species composition, many species breed in different densities. This is probably due to a different structure of vegetation. While tall trees are relatively common and shrubs rare in the densely built-up areas, the reverse situation prevails in residential areas.

DIVERSITY OF POLISH REGIONS IN THE LEVEL OF TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

The study aims to identify spatial diversity and possible concentrations of 16 Polish regions regarding their infrastructure development levels in the period of 2005–2018. Measuring development of technical infrastructure requires the use of several variables due to its multidimensional character. It justifies the use of multivariate analysis. Based on the method of Hellwig’s development measure, three groups of regions were defined. Five of the analysed regions did not change their position in the 2018 ranking as compared to 2005. These were regions from the top three: Śląskie, Dolnośląskie and Małopolskie (south-western Poland), as well as two regions in the class with the lowest level of technical infrastructure development: Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Podlaskie (north-eastern Poland). Although the leader of both rankings, Śląski region, took the most favourable values in 2018 concerning density and quality of roads, density of railway lines or green areas in towns, as a typically industrial, mining-related, intensely urbanized region is has needed to cope with a serious problem with air pollution, relating from the smallest amount of gas pollution retained or neutralized. In the other side, the two weakest regions were characterised by valuable environmental conditions (Warmińsko-Mazurskie) and a large share of agricultural area (Podlaskie). These natural and economic conditions may, on the one hand, prevent the development of technical infrastructure (e.g. road construction in Natura 2000 areas), and on the other hand, maintenance of such infrastructure could be unprofitable for both local government units and its users.

To smooth or not to smooth? A traceological and experimental approach to surface processing of Bronze and Iron Age ceramics

The biographic approach – that is, tracing artefacts’ ‘lives’ from production, through their use, and finally to their deposition – is commonly applied in the analysis of lithic, flint, and metal artefacts. Objects made of clay, although the most common artifacts at many prehistoric sites, are rarely subject to such studies. In this paper, we focused on the short span of time during the “life” of a ceramic object when its surfaces were smoothed or/and burnished. Both are typical properties of Bronze/early Iron Age pottery found in today’s Poland. We studied two factors that influenced the desired final effect: the vessel drying time and the applied tool(s). To accomplish this study, we combined the results of observations of 46 samples from three settlements and two cemeteries in southwestern Poland, as well as the analysis of experimental reference samples. We demonstrated that the drying time was crucial, while the tool kit was composed of rather simple, mostly unprepared, objects such as pebbles or pieces of antler. In the smoothing process, we also observed a connection between surface selection (internal/external) and the purpose to which the vessel was put (settlement/funerary).

Functional changes in peripheral mountainous areas in east central Europe between 2004 and 2016 as an aspect of rural revival? Kłodzko County case study

The aim of the research was to identify functional changes of villages in peripheral area of Kłodzko County in the Sudetes Mountains in southwestern Poland. The study area has for many decades been classified as a marginal and problem region, mainly due to a substantial trend of long-term depopulation. However, in recent years the signs of economic revival have been observed. The study innovatively uses the functional typology of the smallest administrative units (villages) to recognize the character and spatial differentiation of functional transformations of these localities in the last 15 years following Polish accession to the European Union. The analyses were based on the data from the National Official Business Register. The results show an increase in the number of villages with dominant service functions, especially in tourism, and decrease in numbers of villages with the dominant agricultural sector. These changes can be interpreted as an illustration of evolutionary multifunctional rural development in marginal areas, which also affects villages previously classified as declining. The findings allow for proposing a new category of a “reviving village”. Significant spatial differentiation of functional changes in the problem region suggests that local conditions exert a considerable influence on the course and scale of transformation in rural areas. Effectively, “problem area” is a heterogeneous category. Therefore there is a vital need for in-depth analyses, including new typologies, of the smallest administrative units (villages), to capture current processes in rural areas and to adapt strategies, support, and development policies to local assets and site-specific needs.

Application of Historical Geophysical Materials in Searching for Cu-Ag Ore Deposits—A New Direction of Research

This paper presents a new instrument in geological exploration, which uses historical geophysical data for the indication of potential zones of the occurrence of Cu-Ag ore, based on the example of the newly discovered Nowa Sól deposit in south-western Poland. Basic historical seismic and gravimetric data were applied along with transformed maps. The new method of effective reflection coefficients (ERC) allowed the utilization of archival seismic records for a more precise determination of the most vaguely traced interfaces within the Permian Zechstein unit. Compared to an amplitude-based seismic section, an ERC section is characterized by its highly increased resolution of imaging. The tracing of changes in the facies and the tectonics of Zechstein sediments, particularly in a zone of their contact with Rotliegend rocks, along with the new ERC method, enabled the establishing of precise locations of prospecting boreholes. The combined use of ERC and historical well logs also allowed more precise identification of the shape of oxidized areas and the adjacent orebodies.

Detrital zircon provenance of Carboniferous sandstones of the Variscan Externides (SW Poland) \u2013 record of the eastern Variscides exhumation

The Variscan Externides in the area of south-western Poland (the basement of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline), are considered an extension of the Rheno-Hercynian Zone of the Variscan Orogen. The Externides are made of Carboniferous siliciclastic sediments, the exact stratigraphic age and provenance of which are not known in detail. To constrain the sedimentary evolution and detritus provenance of the Variscan external belt, eight sandstone samples from boreholes located in the area of SW Poland were selected for petrography, whole rock geochemistry and detrital zircon U–Pb dating. The results show abrupt change in detrital zircon U–Pb provenance, between strata that have been classified as Mississippian (L. Carboniferous) and Pennsylvanian (U. Carboniferous) based on previously published miospore zonation. The Pennsylvanian rocks (from the boreholes of Września-IG1 and Siciny IG1) bear a significant population of zircon grains with Lower Carboniferous ages (350–330 Ma), while such a zircon population is absent in Lower Carboniferous rocks (from the boreholes of Paproć-29 and Kobylin 1). The absence of Moscovian to Asselian zircons that are otherwise known from the adjacent areas with zircon-bearing volcanic activity, suggests that the studied Pennsylvanian sediments represent the lower part of Upper Carboniferous. The presented data indicate abrupt provenance change that occurred in the source areas at the Mississippian—Pennsylvanian turn, and that was probably caused by changes in the tectonic architecture of the Variscan Orogen. This tectonic changeover resulted in exhumation and erosion of the Lower Carboniferous rock complexes and manifested itself by recycling of the Lower Carboniferous zircon into Upper Carboniferous strata.

A mummified human corpse and associated insects of forensic importance in indoor conditions

We report, for the first time from Poland, the presence of Dermestes haemorrhoidalis (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on a mummified human corpse found in a flat (Lower Silesia province, south-western Poland). Different life stages of D. haemorrhoidalis were gathered from the cadaver, and the signs of activity of these beetles (i.e. frass) were observed. On the basis of these facts, we concluded that the decedent, whose remains were discovered in the flat on 13 December 2018, died no later than the summer of 2018, with a strong probability that death occurred even earlier (2016 or 2017). A case history, autopsy findings, and entomological observations are provided. The presence of larvae of Dermestidae in the empty puparia of flies is reported for the first time. A list of the invertebrate species found in the corpse is provided, compared with available data, and briefly discussed.

Modavite finds in Middle Miocene (Langhian Stage) deposits of southwestern Poland

Most of the Ries tektites (moldavites) were deposited in sediments clearly postdating the Ries crater formation. This suggests secondary deposition for these ejected glasses. Only a few sedimentary formations known to contain these tektites are of Middle Miocene age and coeval with the Ries event. One is the Poznanska Formation, which is exposed across southwestern Poland. These mud deposits formed in the Middle Miocene (Langhian Stage). New moldavites, described in this report were found in the Poznanska Formation and weigh from 0.851 to 0.907 g. The North Stanislaw sandpit, where the tektite specimens were found, is located 490 km from the Ries structure. These finds agree with the numerical simulation modelling of the ejection of these moldavites up to 600 km away from the source crater.