Anthropogenic mineral deposits in Wielkopolska lignite mines – current state of research

This paper presents the current state of the formation and use of anthropogenic mineral deposits in both of the existing Wielkopolska lignite mines PAK Konin Lignite Mine JSC and PAK Adamów Lignite Mine JSC. The so-called accompanying mineral commodities, being exploited by way of lignite extraction, have been stored in anthropogenic mineral deposits. This study involved only the anthropogenic deposits, which collected accom- panying minerals in amounts expressed in thousands of cubic meters. In the Konin lignite mine, anthropogenic mineral deposits are as follows: Honoratka, Kleczew, and Bilczew. Both Neogene clays and sands accumulated in the Honoratka deposit, while in the Kleczew deposit only Neogene clays can be found. Minerals from both of these deposits are used for the production of building ceramics in the brickyard “Honoratka-Wienerberger”. Currently, in the deposit Bilczew the Quaternary sands are not used. The Adamów lignite mine features two small anthropogenic deposits Janiszew andWładysławów. In the Janiszew deposit, Neogene clays have been identified which, until 2007, were used by the brickyard in Wielenin. However, in the Władysławów deposit the Quaternary sands and gravels are present. During the field research for this study (in September 2012), the Władysławów deposit was undergoing exploitation. In total, more than 3.36 million cubic meters of Neogene clays and 0.64 million cubic meters of Neogene sands were indicated. In addition, 0.7 million cubic meters of Quaternary sands were present in anthropogenic deposits in the Konin lignite mine. In contrast, the Adamów lignite mine has only collected some 18,000 cubic meters of Neogene clays and less than 12,000 cubic meters of Quaternary sands and gravels. Due to the large reserves of accompanying minerals, this study has concluded that it is recommendable to build anthropogenic mineral deposits by the lignite mines. Nevertheless, themineral deposits legal status should be regulated and appropriate financial incentives established.