GŁĘBOKIE ZŁOŻA MIEDZI I SREBRA SZANSĄ DLA GÓRNICTWA METALI W POLSCE

Abstract

DEEP COPPER AND SILVER DEPOSITS – A CHANCE FOR POLISH METAL MINING INDUSTRY

Abstract. The deep copper-silver ores in the central and eastern parts of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline had been unknown until the mid- -1950s. During the following decades, gradually progressing studies and analyses of core material from a limited number of deep boreholes drilled in this region made it possible to acquire detailed information and to demarcate areas of potential mineral deposits, along with the estimation of their predicted resources. In spite of the above, due to the technological barriers which limited their profitable extraction to depths not exceeding 1250 m, those areas were not formerly considered as potential mining targets. It is only because of the progressing technological advancement that the extraction of those minerals has currently become possible and attainable, as evidenced by experience from all over the world. Because of the extensive exploration program conducted for several years in south-western Poland by companies belonging to the Miedzi Copper Group, the documenting of deep copper and silver deposits in this area has now become realistic. A primary condition of economically justified extraction is focusing on regions characterised by a higher quality of ore.