Problemy zrównoważonego użytkowania surowców mineralnych

Mineral raw materials belong to non-renewable resources. Their content in the Earth’s crust is limited and they undergo regeneration only in specific geologic conditions during hundreds, thousands or even millions of years. The sustainable use of mineral resources depends mostly on their protection and efficient management. However, due to growing population on Earth, the economy will not fulfill an increasing demand for mineral resources. This article presents various methods of extending the future availability of mineral resources, as well as indicates some potential problems in implementation of sustainable management of mineral resources.Surowce mineralne należą do nieodnawialnych zasobów przyrody. Ich ilość w skorupie ziemskiej jest ograniczona a regeneracja możliwa jedynie w specyficznych warunkach geologicznych oraz w czasie obejmującym setki, tysiące, a nawet miliony lat. Trwałość użytkowania surowców mineralnych zależy przede wszystkim od ochrony i racjonalnej gospodarki tymi zasobami przyrody, jednak w obliczu rosnącej liczby mieszkańców Ziemi, oszczędność ta tylko w niewielkim stopniu przyczyni się do zaspokojenia wzrastającego zapotrzebowania na surowce mineralne. W artykule przedstawiono metody, które służą przedłużeniu trwałości użytkowania surowców mineralnych oraz zasygnalizowano problemy, z jakimi może być związane wdrażanie zrównoważonej gospodarki surowcami mineralnymi

Characterization of Microbial Communities in Acidified, Sulfur Containing Soils

Over a period of three years, microbial communities in acidified soil with high sulfur content were analyzed. In soil water extracts ureolytic, proteolytic, oxidoreductive, and lipolytic activity were detected. The presented results indicate that the enzymatic activity of soil micro­bial communities varied considerably over time. Isolated 26 (80%) bacterial strains belonged to genus Bacillus sp. and were identified bycultivation and 16S rRNA methods. The commercially available procedures for bacterial DNA isolation from acidified soil failed, therefore a new, specific DNA isolation method was established. Ureolytic activity, detected in soil extracts as well as in isolated Bacillus sp. strains may be considered as a tool for the bioremediation of acidified soils with high sulfate content

Geochemical background - an environmental perspective

This article presents the concept of geochemical background from an environmental perspective. The idea of establishing the typical concentrations of elements in various environmental compartments, proposed by exploratory geochemists almost 50 years ago was important for the detection of anomalous element concentrations, thus providing a basic tool in the search for new mineral deposits. At present, the knowledge of the geochemical background of hazardous elements is essential for: defining pollution, identifying the source of contamination, and for establishing reliable environmental quality criteria for soils, sediments and surface waters. The article presents geochemical methods of evaluation of anthropogenic influence on the environment and discusses the problem of defining and understanding the term “geochemical background” and related terms in environmental sciences. It also briefly presents methods of geochemical background evaluation based on the results of environmental sample analyses. It stresses the role of geochemical background in our understanding of environmental pollution and pollution prevention

Xenotime from the Podwiśniówka mine pit, Holy Cross Mountains (South-Central Poland)

This report presents the results of petrographical and mineralogical (optical microscopy, SEM/EDS) study of xenotime derived from the Upper (Middle?) Cambrian rocks (Wiśniówka Sandstone Fm.) of the abandoned Podwiśniówka mine pit. This is the first work on this mineral from the Holy Cross Mts. The authigenic xenotime occurs primarily as overgrowths around/on zircon in siliciclastic rocks. Moreover, this mineral is characterized by the large size of the overgrowths reaching 50 μm long and 20 μm wide. The presence of pyritecoated zircon/xenotime aggregates indicates that the xenotime formed prior to hydrothermal quartz-pyrite mineralization. The apparent lack of xenotime and vein pyrite in the tuff-bearing series, compared to the other two series displaying hydrothermal signature (pyrite, hematite, nacrite, jarosite), as well as considerable variations of the xenotime overgrowths in size and morphology, and their dominant irregular patchy-zonal microtexture may provide evidence for direct precipitation of this mineral from hydrothermal fluids