Opencast Mining of Limestone and Marl in Poland. Resources, Exploitation and State of Management of Deposits

Developedmining of rock rawmaterials in Poland includesmainly the southern and central part of the country. In this area particularly developed is the mining of carbonate raw materials, where the geological resources of limestone andmarl at the end of 2011 amounted to over 18million tonnes. In the forefront in terms of carbonate raw materials exploitation are regions such as: opolski, krakowsko-czestochowsko-wielunski, swietokrzyski and lubelski. Cement and lime industry in these regions include the largest mines with an annual exploitation of more than 1 million tonnes per year. In terms of exploitation of limestone and marl mining in Poland occupies a significant position in the annual exploitation of 49 million tonnes per year. The largest share in the exploitation of limestone and marl falls to provinces swietokrzyskie more than 22 million tonnes per year and opolskie than 9 million tonnes per year. Mining exploiting minerals for cement and lime industry are fully privatized and their owners are European and world renowned companies whose productive and ecological investment cause that industry is becoming one of the most modern in Poland. Despite the progressive development of cement-lime sector the status of management of limestone and marl deposits is at a medium level. Currently exploitation is about 33,6% of the identified deposits, where the share of deposits identified in both pre-and in detail the geological resource balance exceeds 60%. On the state of management of cement-lime materials influenced mainly sozological restrictions, therefore, that the deposits are often located in areas with special natural values and the high cost of land acquisition and fees incurred in connection with the need to change the function of the site. So often the costs associated with the acquisition of land and change his destiny make exploataion of deposit unprofitable.