scholarly journals Degree of Faulting of Hard Coal Deposits of Upper Silesian Coal Basin

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-112
Author(s):  
Marek Marcisz

Abstract The paper presents the results of research on the degree of faulting of deposits/mining areas of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin having been carried out since the 1970s. The results of these works are comprised of an analysis of the density of faults and an of the faulting index for 26 deposits/mining areas in the borders of the USCB. The statistical presentation of the problem includes three main parameters that characterize the tectonic complication of hard coal deposits in the borders of mining areas: lineal density GUL, surface density GUP and synthetic faulting index WU. The comparison of values of these parameters for particular deposits/mining areas was used for drawing up maps of their changes, whereas the results of the obtained view of variability have been interpolated and extrapolated to the borders of the entire basin. The results of the research showed that the values of GUL vary between 0.2 and 9.4 of faults/ m·10-3 and for all four analyzed directions: W-E, N-W, NW-SE i NE-SW, indicate a significant growing tendency in the following directions: N and NW and in SW. According to an analysis of GUP, it was stated that the largest part of the study area is occupied by the area in which there are no faults and the percentage of surface with GUP > 300 m/m2·10-4 is insignificant and does not have an essential influence on the rate and value of the faulting index. WU varies between 1.4 and 131.4 m/m2·10-4 (average for USCB: WU = 52.1 m/m2·10-4) and indicates a significant increasing tendency in the directions: N and NW as well as in the direction of SW. This determines the occurrence of USCB deposits of extreme different grade of tectonic complication in the borders: from not complicated (I grade) to very strongly complicated (VI grade).

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-38
Author(s):  
Barbara Bielowicz ◽  
Jacek Misiak

Abstract Due to dynamic climatic changes resulting, among others, from the use of coal, the content of harmful substances in coal is of particular importance. Dangerous air pollution resulting from the burning of coal (e.g. As, Se, Hg, Pb, Sb) is often associated with sulfide minerals in coal. The study focused on the sulphides occurring in Polish hard coal deposits. Sulfides are one of the forms of occurrence of sulfur in coal. In this paper, an emphasis has been placed on on the characteristics of forms of occurrence of sulphides on both macroscopic and microscopic scale and on the chemical analysis in the micro area. The study has been conducted for the No. 301–308 seams from the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, stratigraphically belonging to the highest part of the Orzesze Beds s.s. (Westphalian B). The coal samples have been collected from the coal seams in the underground excavations of the following coal mines: Jan Kanty, Sobieski Jaworzno I, Wesoła and Ziemowit hard coal mine. Iron sulfides (pyrite, marcasite) in coal seams of the Orzesze Beds s.s. form various forms of macroscopically visible aggregates. These include massive, vein, pocket-like (impregnation) or dispersed forms. On the basis of microscopic observations, the following forms of occurence of iron sulphides in the tested coal have been determined: skeletal and massive vein forms, massive pocket-like (impregnation) forms, framboidal pyrite and euhedral crystals. The most common form of sulfides in the studied coal seams are vein forms cutting across bedding, usually creating complex dendritic and skeletal forms. Iron sulfides often occur in pocket-like (impregnation) forms, not directly linked with vein forms and fusinite. The WDS analysis in the micro area has revealed the chemical composition of sulfides in eight coal samples. As follows from the analysis, the tested coal seams are dominated by FeS2 iron sulfides. It has been shown that the iron sulfides contained small admixtures of Pb, Hg, Zn, Cu, Ag, Co Sb and Ni. The admixtures of As and Cd have been observed only in individual minerals. Lead, reaching up to 1.06%, has the highest concentration out of all admixtures in pyrite and marcasite. Small amounts of galena, titanium oxides (rutile), monazite and barite have also been found in the tested coal samples. Locally, vein forms, pyrite and dolomite were interlaying each other; the same applies to pyrite and apatite. In addition, dolomite fills part of the cells in fusinite.


2018 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 01001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zenon Pilecki

The shallow historic exploitation of Zn-Pb/Fe ore deposits as well as hard coal has generated many discontinuous deformations on the terrain surface in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin/Poland. Discontinuous deformations occur in different forms as sinkholes, synclines, cracks, faults or ditches. The basic cause of their occurrence is the presence of void and loosened zones in the shallow subsurface. If the appropriate conditions arise, the sinkhole process begins to move upwards and may cause a discontinuous deformation on the terrain surface. Typically, geophysical methods are used for void and loosened zone identification. The most effective methods are gravimetric, seismic, electric resistivity and ground penetrating radar (GPR). Geophysical testing, requires distinct changes in the physical properties in the rock mass. The identified geophysical anomalies should be verified by control borehole and borehole tests to confirm the presence of the void and loosened zones in the rock mass. The results of control drilling and borehole tests determine the need to apply treatment works. In order to assess the threat of the occurrence of discontinuous deformations in the areas of historical shallow mining in Upper Silesia, a classification system based on geophysical tests has also been developed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Dreger ◽  
Sławomir Kędzior

AbstractThe paper presents the variability of hard coal output, methane content and methane emissions into coal workings and into the atmosphere from the two most methane-gassy coal mines in Poland. The Budryk mine is one of the youngest mines in Poland, but it is the most methane-gassy as well. In 2016, the total CH4 emissions exceed 140 million of m3. This large increase in methane emissions to mine workings is primarily related to the increase in the depth of coal extraction (up to 1290 m) and, consequently, the rapid increase in the methane content in coal seams (up to 10–12 m3/Mg coaldaf). On the other hand, in the Pniówek mine, methane emission was the highest at the beginning of the study period (1986–1991). During the following years, emission decreased to the values of less than 140 million of m3, which were still one of the largest amounts of emitted methane in the entire Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The coexistence of natural factors, such as the geological structure and gas distribution, as well as mining-related factors, i.e. the depth of mining, the intensity of coal extraction determines the temporal variability of methane emissions in the studied mines.


2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 419-437
Author(s):  
Kazimierz Różkowski ◽  
Andrzej Różkowski ◽  
Marek Sołtysiak

Abstract The Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) is situated within Variscean depression in the southern Poland. Mining of the hard coal, ore and sand deposits in the USCB has a long-lasting tradition. Exploitation has been carried out with both - open pit and mainly underground operations. The intensity of water inflows to mines depends on geogenic and technological factors. Among geogenic factors the main one is occurrence of thick water - bearing Quaternary sediments in the roof of Carboniferous ore deposits. Among technological factors the essential influence on the inflows to the mine workings have: time, depth and surface of exploitation, as well as drainage intensity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-100
Author(s):  
Magdalena Tutak

Abstract Hard coal mines and mining enterprises involved in hard coal exploitation in the area of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Górnośląskie Zagłębie Węglowe) are characterised by the presence of natural hazards typical of this type of exploitation. These hazards include the risks related to methane, coal dust explosion, endogenous fires, as well as rock burst and caving of roof rocks. The article presents the results of a taxonomic analysis aimed at determining the similarity of hard coal mines and mining enterprises in Poland in terms of the dangerous incidents caused by the risks related to methane, coal dust explosion, endogenous fires, as well as rock burst and caving of roof rocks. The analysis was carried out for the 2008-2018 data and encompassed a total of 26 hard coal mines and mining enterprises located in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The analysis was performed using the k-means method of non-hierarchical clustering. The main objective of the article was to determine homogenous groups (clusters) of mines exhibiting the greatest similarity in terms of dangerous incidents caused by the activation of natural hazards in the years 2008-2018. These data can be successfully used for the development of preventive measures and risk analyses for these enterprises.


Author(s):  
A. Abramowicz ◽  
R. Chybiorz

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The development of mining areas is always associated with a huge amount of unused gangue. It is treated as waste that should be disposed of. Most often it is done by creating waste dumps. Unfortunately, in the case of hard coal, such treatments can be dangerous, because the remaining coal can self-heat, what then leads to ignition and fire. These fires are uncontrolled and significantly affect the environment and the health of residents. Areas at risk of fire should be properly secured and its thermal conditions monitored. There are currently many methods available for measuring temperature. The latest and also the most popular are pyrometric and remote sensing methods. For the purposes of analysis, fieldwork on the selected coal-waste dump in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin was made using pyrometric (point measurements) and remote sensing methods (thermal images). A series of photos and measurements were compared over time and space to catch change trends. Differences in the received data were identified. Studies have shown that using only one method helps identify a fire, but does not provide enough information about its structure. Comprehensive monitoring is the best solution.</p>


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