Influence of the geology of coal deposits on their extraction and urbanistic development: a case study of Petrvald (Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin)

Petrvald is a typical mining town in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. Since the Petrvald sub-basin is limited by significant tectonic structures, its development was to a great extent independent from other areas of the basin and can serve as an example of the influence of the geological structure on the development of mining and residential communities. In the first phase of mining development (ca 1830 to 1844) first claims begin to occur in the area. Thick coal seams were available in shallow depths. Due to missing railway connection, the demand for coal was not very large and the village economy was focused on agriculture. In the second phase (1844 to 1871), the first underground mines start to operate in the area. They were situated in favorable areas with thin overburden. Also, the connection to the railway improved the sale opportunities and a significant share of the local population worked in the mines. The third phase of mining (1871 to 1963) brought still increasing demand for coal, which resulted in establishing new coal mines in geologically less favorable areas (thicker overburden, water-bearing horizons). From the 1930s to the end of the 1950s the extraction peaked, which coincided with the urbanistic and cultural climax. New housing was provided for miners and their families by the companies. The final stage of mining development (1963 to 1998) is connected with the steady decline of production and phase-out of mining. The reason was a lack of economically recoverable coal reserves connected to unfavorable geological conditions. We conclude that the results of studies concerning specific geological parameters of coal deposits can be used for more detailed analyses regarding the development of urbanism, or to explain its causes.Web of Science362392

High specific activity of radium isotopes in baryte from the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin- An example of spontaneous mine water treatment

Radium-bearing barytes (radiobarytes) have been known since the beginning of the 20th century. They are mainly found as precipitates of low-temperature hydrothermal solutions. In anthropogenic environments, they frequently occur as crusts on oil industry equipment used for borehole extraction, in leachates from uranium mill tailings, and as a by-product of phosphoric acid manufacturing. Recently, we recognized Ra-rich baryte as a precipitate in the water drainage system of a bituminous coal mine in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. The precipitate is a relatively pure baryte, with the empirical formula (Ba0.934Sr0.058Ca0.051Mg0.003)(Sigma 1.046)S0.985O4.000. The mean specific activity of Ra-226 was investigated by the two-sample method and it equals 39.62(22) Bq/g, a level that exceeds known natural occurrences. The values for Ra-228 and Ra-224 are 23.39(26) Bq/g and 11.03(25) Bq/g. The radium content in the baryte is 1.071 ng/g. It is clear that the Ra-rich baryte results from the mixing of two different mine waters-brines rich in Ba, Sr, and isotopes Ra-226 and Ra-228 and waters that are affected by sulfide weathering in mine works. When this mixing occurs in surface watercourses, it could present a serious problem due to the half-life of Ra-226, which is 1600 years. If such mixing spontaneously happens in a mine, then the environmental risks will be much lower and will be, to a great, extent eliminated after the closure of the mine.Web of Science102art. no. 10

Electricity generation in India: Present state, future outlook and policy implications

India is one of the fastest developing countries in the world. To sustain this growth, energy and electricity demands will increase. In 2015, of the 1337 TWh produced, 916 TWh were from fossil fuels. We prepared several models of electricity demand from 2015 to 2030, based on publicly available datasets and trends. Models were tested on data from previous years and adjusted accordingly. From several scenarios, we decided to introduce two possibilities, i.e., a scenario using high energy savings in all sectors, and a scenario counting on a high industrial growth not supported by an equal increase of electricity savings. For both cases we prepared models for extreme situations: (1) where coal- and lignite-based power plants are preferred after slow-down of a renewable energy boom, and (2) with high utilization of renewable energy supported by natural gas and nuclear energy. With GDP and population increasing at the same rate as in previous years, the unambiguous result in all scenarios is a 2 to 3-fold increase of the electricity demand by 2030. On the electricity production side, all scenarios stress the role of coal, renewables and nuclear sources. Both energy and climate policies should be prepared for such a development in advance.Web of Science127art. no. 136

Coal-bearing capacity of the Petřkovice Member (Ostrava Formation, Serpukhovian, Mississippian) of the Upper Silesian Basin (Czech Republic and Poland)

The Petrkovice Member is the basal unit of the paralic succession of the Ostrava Formation of the Upper Silesian Basin. This member is a valuable source of information about the transition from a marine basin filled with siliciclastic sediments into a paralic basin with the beginning of coal-bearing sedimentation. Models of: (1) the number of coal seams, (2) their total thickness, and (3) the coal content with respect to the total thickness of the succession were created to describe and assess the coal-bearing capacity of the Petrkovice Member. The authors present models for coal seam thicknesses exceeding either 10 or 40 cm. The coal-bearing capacity of the Petfkovice Member is very low. The average share of coal seams thicker than 0.1 m is 3%. The share of coal seams with a thickness that exceeds 0.4 m is only 1.66%. Moreover, in large areas of the basin, in the N and NE parts, the coal-bearing capacity is close to zero, because coal seams of greater thickness were detected only locally there. Based on these models and on other geological data, it is obvious that the onset of coal sedimentation was gradual and limited to particular sites showing the greatest subsidence of the basin floor. In places where minor subsidence took place, there were likely unfavorable conditions for accumulation of organic matter.Web of Science60364963

Castle Conglomerate Unit of the Upper Silesian Basin (Czech Republic and Poland): a record of the onset of Late Mississippian C2 glaciation?

The Castle Conglomerate Unit in the Poruba Member (Early Namurian, Mississippian) is a lithosome composed of coarse-grained sandstones and conglomerates. Its thickness, lithology and extensive area make it unique in the paralic sequence of the Ostrava Formation of the Upper Silesian Basin. The unit was studied on the basis of information from exploratory boreholes, mines and its outcrop at the type locality in the Lučina Valley in Silesian Ostrava. Locally, the unit attains a thickness of up to 115 m (average 24.4 m). Its present-day area is approximately 992 km2. The axis of the conglomerate facies (with character of interbeds) in the unit has a NNE-SSW alignment and coincides with the axis of the basin’s maximum subsidence during the sedimentation of the Poruba Member. The maximum aggregate thickness of the conglomerate facies is 60 m; their present-day area of occurrence is approximately 480 km2. The Castle Conglomerate Unit represents deposits of a low-sinuosity river system. The upper part of the multistorey channel fill is characterised by channels filled with sand bedforms and occasional bars. Palaeocurrents show a low spread of vectors, primarily to the NNW. The lower part does not crop out; it is known, therefore, only from boreholes. The presence of the unit’s coarse-grained clastics inside the basin filling, which is dominated by siltstone and medium-grained sandstone, indicates a major drop in the base level, which is interpreted here as a drop in the sea level. We correlate this event with the major glacio-eustatic sea level drop at 323 Ma that can be connected with the onset of glaciation interval C2 of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age. Because the resolution of available stratigraphic and geochronologic data is not currently sufficient, an alternative explanation of the tectonic origin cannot be ruled out of the discussion and may also be valid in regard to the active Variscan foreland.Web of Science88491489

The methodology of construction of the map of thickness of autochtonous sediments of the Karpatian in area of the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin and neighbour areas and some of its problems

Sedimentary formations of Karpathian represent the oldest widespread unit of the autochtonous Tertiary in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. Occurrence and distribution of thickness of the Karpatian point to complicated geological development. It was probably formed in tectonically predisposed sedimentary depressions with large infl uence of the Old Styrian nappes, which were thrusted over the area of original sedimentary cover in the north-eastern part of the Carpathian Foredeep. Main topic of our work is evaluation of possible mistakes in interpretation of the autochtonous Karpatian thickness. Original contour line maps of the autochtonous Karpatian distribution and thickness in the area of interest are based on exploratory borehole profiles.Sedimentary formations of Karpathian represent the oldest widespread unit of the autochtonous Tertiary in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. Occurrence and distribution of thickness of the Karpatian point to complicated geological development. It was probably formed in tectonically predisposed sedimentary depressions with large infl uence of the Old Styrian nappes, which were thrusted over the area of original sedimentary cover in the north-eastern part of the Carpathian Foredeep. Main topic of our work is evaluation of possible mistakes in interpretation of the autochtonous Karpatian thickness. Original contour line maps of the autochtonous Karpatian distribution and thickness in the area of interest are based on exploratory borehole profiles

The methodology of compilation of the map of thickness of the autochtonous Badenian cover in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin and the Opava Basin

Spatial development of the Badenian sediments thickness reflects tectono-erosional stage of the pre-Badenian relief in combination with advancing orogenic front of the Outer Western Carpathians. Article is focused on the interpretation of the Badenian thickness and explanation of some problems of data selection in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin and the Opava Basin. Interpreted contour line maps of thickness are based on revised profiles of exploratory boreholes.Spatial development of the Badenian sediments thickness reflects tectono-erosional stage of the pre-Badenian relief in combination with advancing orogenic front of the Outer Western Carpathians. Article is focused on the interpretation of the Badenian thickness and explanation of some problems of data selection in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin and the Opava Basin. Interpreted contour line maps of thickness are based on revised profiles of exploratory boreholes

Gold deposits of the Czech Republic from a mineral policy perspective

Gold production in the region that currently makes up the Czech Republic has a thousand-year-old tradition with peaks around the third century BC, 14th century AD and 20th century AD. In general, approximately 100 metric tonnes were produced by the end of mining in 1994, of which nearly 9 tonnes were produced in the 20th century and approximately 3 tonnes were produced after World War II. Significant gold deposits were discovered during the last extensive exploration conducted in the 1970s to 1995, motivated by the sharp rise in the price of gold at the beginning of the 1970s and in the 1980s. Fifteen deposits with 239 tonnes of geological resources of gold were registered. Another 112 tonnes are recorded as prognosticated resources. None of these deposits are mined, due to unresolved issues involving environmental protection. The exploitation of these deposits is restricted primarily due to concerns regarding the environmental impacts of the mining and processing of extracted minerals. A key aspect of these restrictions is likely the existing ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies. A new and yet-to-be-approved proposal for an updated mineral policy in the Czech Republic is attempting to gradually change this stance. Yet another problem lies in the unfinished surveys of mineral deposits, which would specify the total amount of gold and upgrade the resources to higher categories concerning the level of exploration. Without these, it is impossible to prepare the necessary economic assessments of potential production and of the deposits to the fullest extent of activities involving exploration, mineral extraction and processing, including subsequent reclamation of affected areas, elimination of mining impacts and regeneration of post-mining landscapes. The future of gold deposits in the Czech Republic also greatly depends on future trends in the price of gold and accompanying (by-product) minerals occurring together with gold in mined ores.Web of Science314493

Coal-bearing Capacity of the Lower Hrušov Member (Namurian) in the Czech Part of the Upper Silesian Basin

Maps of the coal-bearing capacity, number and total thickness of coal seams of the Lower Hrušov Member (Namurian, Mississippian) were made. They are based on exploratory boreholes´ information from the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. Absolute coal-bearing capacity varies from 0.71 % to 6.62 %. Number of coal seams thicker than 0.1 m varies from 3 to 43 and their total thickness from 1.17 m to 14.40 m. All mentioned parameters reach their maximum in NNE–SSW trending zone west of the Orlová Structure. This situation supports the hypothesis, that preserved part of the Lower Hrušov Member could form the subsidence axis of the basin and its eastern part whereas the western part is not preserved due to post-Carboniferous erosion.Maps of the coal-bearing capacity, number and total thickness of coal seams of the Lower Hrušov Member (Namurian, Mississippian) were made. They are based on exploratory boreholes´ information from the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. Absolute coal-bearing capacity varies from 0.71 % to 6.62 %. Number of coal seams thicker than 0.1 m varies from 3 to 43 and their total thickness from 1.17 m to 14.40 m. All mentioned parameters reach their maximum in NNE–SSW trending zone west of the Orlová Structure. This situation supports the hypothesis, that preserved part of the Lower Hrušov Member could form the subsidence axis of the basin and its eastern part whereas the western part is not preserved due to post-Carboniferous erosion

Thickness of the Lower Hrušov Member (Namurian) in the Czech Part of the Upper Silesian Basin

Map of the thickness of the Lower Hrušov Member (Namurian, Mississippian) was made. It is based on exploratory boreholes´ information from the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. The thickness varies from 52.55 m to 415.48 m. The highest values are situated in a NNE–SSW trending zone west of the Orlová Structure in the northern part of the Příbor area and in the western part of the Ostrava area. The lowest values are reached in the Frenštát area east of the Kozlovice Saddle, in the Mořkov area south of the Janovice Fault and west of the Kozlovice Saddle, and in the Těšín and Karviná areas east of the Orlová Structure. Total thickness of the Lower Hrušov Member is decreasing from the West to the East and shows evident west-east polarity. The western part of the post-erosive area of the Lower Hrušov Member represents the axis of maximum subsidence of the basin in times of sedimentation. The zone of reduced thickness is the original eastern part of the basin. The western part of the basin is not preserved due to the post-Carboniferous erosion.Map of the thickness of the Lower Hrušov Member (Namurian, Mississippian) was made. It is based on exploratory boreholes' information from the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin. The thickness varies from 52.55 m to 415.48 m. The highest values are situated in a NNE–SSW trending zone west of the Orlová Structure in the northern part of the Příbor area and in the western part of the Ostrava area. The lowest values are reached in the Frenštát area east of the Kozlovice Saddle, in the Mořkov area south of the Janovice Fault and west of the Kozlovice Saddle, and in the Těšín and Karviná areas east of the Orlová Structure. Total thickness of the Lower Hrušov Member is decreasing from the West to the East and shows evident west-east polarity. The western part of the post-erosive area of the Lower Hrušov Member represents the axis of maximum subsidence of the basin in times of sedimentation. The zone of reduced thickness is the original eastern part of the basin. The western part of the basin is not preserved due to the post-Carboniferous erosion