Aromatic hydrocarbons from the Middle Jurassic fossil wood of the Polish Jura

ABSTRACT Aromatic hydrocarbons are present in the fossil wood samples in relatively small amounts. In almost all of the tested samples the dominating aromatic hydrocarbon is perylene and its methyl and dimethyl derivatives. The most important biomarkers present in the aromatic fraction are dehydroabietane, siomonellite and retene, compounds characteristic for conifers. The distribution of discussed compounds is highly variable due to such early diagenetic processes affecting the wood as oxidation and the activity of microorganisms. MPI1 parameter values (methylphenanthrene index) for the majority of the samples are in the range of 0.1 to 0.5, which results in the highly variable values of Rc (converted value of vitrinite reflectance) ranging from 0.45 to 0.70%. Such values suggest that MPI1 parameter is not useful as maturity parameter in case of Middle Jurassic ore-bearing clays, even if measured strictly on terrestrial organic matter (OM). As a result of weathering processes (oxidation) the distribution of aromatic hydrocarbons changes. In the oxidized samples the amount of aromatic hydrocarbons, both polycyclic as well as aromatic biomarkers decreases.

The large superpredators’ teeth from Middle Triassic of Poland

ABSTRACT An unusual large teeth, finding from time to time in marine sediments of Muschelkalk, Silesia, Poland indicate the superpredators occurrence. According to size and morphological features the teeth are similar to archosaurs or giant marine reptiles.

Stibnite vein from Dębowina near Bardo (polish Sudetes)

In the contact zone of the Bardo Structure and Kłodzko-Złoty Stok Intrusion and Kłodzko Metamorphic, metasomatic orebearing quartz-carbonate veins rich in Sb, Zn, Cu, Ag, Au, Pb are present. In 1771 the mine ,,Reiche Silber Gluck” within stibnite vein was founded in Dębowina near Bardo. Its entrance was discovered again in 2007. The stibnite vein is mainly build of stibnite and sphalerite and of quartz and dolomite rich in Mn. Stibnite crystallizes as columnar or forming radiate centres and aciculars. Its crystals reach size to 2 mm. Sphalerite appears as individual anhedral and polymineralic grained concentrations reaching size to 2,5 mm. Earlier pyrite and arsenopyrite crystallized - they occur locally in this deposit. There were found also in the deposit tetrahedrite rich in Ag, what wasn't reported earlier in studies from the mine in Dębowina.

Conception of vadose zone research in the area of Goczałkowice reservoir.

Goczałkowice reservoir is one of the main source of drinking water for Upper Silesia Region. In reference to Water Frame Directive matter since 2010 the strategic research project: „Integrated system supporting management and protection of dammed reservoir (ZiZoZap)”, which is being conducted on Goczałkowice reservoir, has been pursued. In the framework of this project complex groundwater monitoring is carried on. One aspect is vadose zone research, conducted to obtain information about changes in chemical composition of infiltrating water and mass transport within this zone. Based on historical data and the structural model of direct catchment of Goczałkowice reservoir location of the vadose zone research site was selected. At the end of November 2012 specially designed lysimeter was installed with 10 MacroRhizon samplers at each lithological variation in unsaturated zone. This lysimeter, together with nested observation wells, located in the direct proximity, create the vadose zone research site which main aim is specifying the amount of nitrate transport in the vertical profile.

Preliminary results of fractal analysis of the poligonal survey from cave: case study of Małołączniak area (Tatra Mts.)

Traverses (polygons) from two caves have been tested: Wielka Śnieżna Cave System (2858 vectors) and Śnieżna Studnia cave (742). The box counting technique was applied to evaluate the fractal analysis of spatial orientation of traverses. The polygonal survey of Wielka Śnieżna Cave, Śnieżna Studnia and both caves merged together have a fractal geometry. It may be concluded that these caves are close to the full recognition of passages forming by a hydrological system and they could have close relation with geological structures. The usual explanation of fractal dimension D higher than 1 indicates that caves with such dimension fill more space than those with ideal dimension of 1.00 (for example a straight line), and the geological constraints limit the dimension to be lower than 2 (Verbovsek 2007). It may suggest that systems can be developped into more complicated passages in future. The fact that both caves merged together also have showed fractal geometry indicates that they are belonging to the same hydrological system. It was noticed that D-value of merged caves is slightly larger than individual cave. It can be explained by “occupying” more space in rock mass.

Evaluation of the wind conditions for the acquisition of energy from renewable sources on the base of Sosnowiec city

Inherent in the continuous development of civilization is a constant increase in demand for electricity. The result of this situation could be a threat to cover domestic demand for electricity generated from domestic sources. It is significant therefore, to increase the energy security of the country, as well as to generate a positive impact on the development and dynamics of social and economic processes which is carried by the development of renewable energy sources. A crucial argument for the need to implement new sustainable solutions is growing environmental degradation and pollution resulting from the acquisition and use of non-renewable energy resources. Renewable energy resource for interest of this analysis is the wind. A crucial feature of the wind is its high volatility. Wind speed is characterized by diurnal, seasonal and long-term variation. The study area is Sosnowiec city. The analysis covers the data from the period 2002 - 2011 obtained using a meteorological station located in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Sosnowiec. Analyzed data are observations of wind speed measured at the height of 10m above the ground - average values of 10 minutes. The mean and maximum daily, monthly and annual values of wind speed have been calculated, and on their basis, a relevant analysis have been made. Average wind speed value for the analyzed area of the analyzed period (2002 - 2011) is 1,70m/s, while the maximum wind speed value is 3,78m/s. Sosnowiec is located in zone IV - unfavorable for the use of wind energy.

Metallophytes in biotopes polluted by waste dumps rich in Zn-Pb, Cd (Olkusz region) – review of previous and planned research

The aim of that publication was the presentation of previous and planned research concerning selected vascular plants and soils near Olkusz (Southern Poland). The extremely high concentration of heavy metals in soils from that region was caused by the natural geochemical aureoles of dispersed metals (due to weathering of Zn-Pb-Fe ore sulphides) and mining and processing of shallowly occurring metalliferous deposits (containing Ag-Pb and Zn-Pb ores) since XII century. The condition of stress in metals, shortage of water and some plant nutrition led to formation of some adaptable vegetation features by plants growing in that region. Some species called metallophytes have been already detailed investigated. Moreover some geochemical and pedological research of soil have been already done. However the conditions of habitat of pioneering species such as Koeleria glauca and Corynephorus canescens are not still recognized.

An application of geoelectrical methods for contamination plume recognition in Urbanowice waste disposal

ABSTRACT The purpose of this work was to detect groundwater pollution and to identify the conditions of soil and groundwater near the Urbanowice landfill site using geoelectrical measurements. Presented measurements are preliminary results from tested site and are beginning of continuous monitoring. Contamination outflows detected by resistivity and IP technique show a good correlation with available hydrological data. Contamination plume were found in Eastern part of survey profil.

The first polish tektites: preliminary sem investigation

In Lower Silesia, the first Polish moldavites were discovered. To recognize the primary chemical composition and check the morphology of investigated material SE and BSE images were used. The samples show presence of vesicles, which are one of the most typical features of tektite glass. Referring to the preliminary EDS results and comparing them with literature data, it can be assumed that in all cases the base material for all known moldavites was the same.

Slope stability analysis with geo 5 software for “Łaski” Landslide in Międzybrodzie Bialskie

Abstract. Numerical modeling is an important tool to estimate slope stability. This publication shows application of a GEO 5 - slope stability software to evaluate stability of the “Łaski” Landslide in Międzybrodzie Bialskie. The slide surfaces, which were indentified in drill cores, were used to compute factors of safety (FS). The data from inclinometric measurements were used to verify the numerical model of the landslide. Calculations were carried out for three scenarios: first with normal water level, second scenario with lowered water level of 5 m and 10 m and the third scenario without water with the worst courses of sliding surfaces. As the result for each scenario the factors of safety were estimated. It was found that despite of water lowering and stabilization of existed surfaces, there is a considerable risk of a new sliding surfaces occurrence.