Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie Number 02/2022

Geological data recorded since 1948 in the Olkusz area where zinc and lead ores are mined was used to develop the evolution of the depression crater around the gradually opened mines: “Bolesław”, “Olkusz” and “Pomorzany”, and in the vicinity of the deep-water intake in Łazy Błędowskie. The shape of this depression crater was primarily defined by the geological form of the rock mass, with particular emphasis on tectonics and and the mutual interactions among individual drainage centers. At the beginning of the 1990s, the drainage center reached its maximum (ca. 400 km2), taking on an elliptic form stretched to the NW-SE. Restricted functioning of the water intake in Łazy Błędowskie was the first step towards reducing the range of the depression crater. The planned decommissioning of the pumps in the liquidated “Olkusz-Pomorzany” mine is close to completion. This will restore near-natural water conditions in the Olkusz area.

The article concerns the modernization of the main ventilators station of the "Wilson" shaft at "Wieliczka" Salt Mine. The modernization included: the station building, main ventilators, 110 kW electric motors for the operation of ventilators, 3/0.4 kV transformers, 3 kV "Wilson" switching station, 0.4 kV main switching station and communication systems to control the station. The modernization of the Wilson shaft ventilators station has provided a modern facility that improves the safety of tourist and sanatorium traffic as well as employees staying in the underground workings of the mine. Thanks to the development of modern devices, the mine meets the requirements of restrictive environmental standards in terms of the permissible noise level. As regards the modernization of the main ventilators stations, devices with lower electricity consumption were used - which translates into limitations in the amount of electricity bills. Another aspect that reduces costs is the use of automated devices, which in the long run will completely eliminate the station of the device service.

Hard coal mines overseen by the District Mining Authority in Rybnik strive to minimize their impact on the environment. Mine water is used, among others, for fire prevention (sealing abandoned works, liquidating pits using water and ash mixtures), for process purposes (e.g. sprinkling the output, cooling machinery, refilling the closed circuit of the processing facility). If possible, mines source water from their own underground intakes, or use treated rainwater and snowmelt. In turn, mining waste is managed on the surface, used for creating reclamation and landscape forms, and to fill the sedimentation tanks for flotation waste, mining pits, reservoirs, etc. A part of the waste is used for producing aggregates and for filling pits as part of fire prevention. As part of mining activities, a part of the land requires reclamation through: development of land form, improvement of soil properties and soil recovery, regulation of water conditions, reinforcement of scarps, and reconstruction and construction of the necessary roads. The experience of underground mining plants has shown that selective management of mine water will allow for reusing even the most saline water and lowering the environment use fees. Another important aspect is fire prevention at the bottom of mines, as it allows for the reuse of burdensome waste and saline water. The “Olza” reservoir plays an important role in the management of mine water, as it contributes to the conservation of River Odra. With reference to the reclamation of mine areas, it was shown that soil-free reclamation methods successfully eliminate topsoil shortages.