Bielszowice Coal Mine
50º 21' 11'' N 18º 32' 56'' E
South
Poland
Description
The Bielszowice coal mine is a large mine in the south of Poland in Bielszowice district of Ruda Śląska, Silesian Voivodeship, 267 km south-west of the capital, Warsaw.
Extracted Materials
Bielszowice represents one of the largest coal reserve in Poland having estimated reserves of 284.2 million tonnes of coal. The annual coal production is around 4 million tonnes.
Antropological info
Poland is one of Europe’s biggest coal producers and is reluctant to follow the global drive to cut CO2 emissions. But energy authorities say a new plan to extract methane from coal could kill two birds with one stone. The illnesses they can suffer are silicosis,pneumonia,cancer,asbestosis,respiratory problems and others. Common pills that minners use are silccosis herbs,hospital treatment,painkillers pills,anti- inflammatory
Sociologal info
The main focus of current developments including the deal with the unions has in fact been drawing up a social contract to regulate the operation of the state owned coal mines and help ensure that subsidies ie state aid can continue for Poland’s state owned thermal coal industry with the European Commission’s blessing. The government will apply to the European Commission for consent to state aid, in particular to finance current production, in order to ensure the stability of these hard coal mining companies.
Archaeological info
The purpose of the research was to determine parameters of ground-motion models for two areas characterized by considerable induced seismicity and different geology. Fifty-nine events collected from surface seismological stations of coal mine “Bielszowice” (at the Main Anticline, South Poland) and 144 events from coal mine “Ziemowit” (at the Main Syncline, South Poland) were used for computation. For both areas, simple ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs) without site effects were derived, but the model was acceptable only for “Bielszowice” area. The GMPE was calculated once again for “Ziemowit”, but this time we took into consideration the amplification coefficient, which significantly improved the model solution. Finally, the theoretical value of amplification was calculated.
Sustainable tourism insights
The residents of mining communities, and local governments within the conurbation, which have developed owing to mining, are aware of the impending economic slowdown after liquidation of coal mines. Therefore, development of the service sector, including tourism, based on postindustrial facilities can become an important factor in restructuring the economy.
Environment sustainability
Several categories of such sites have been distinguished: historic mining landscapes, places adapted for recreation, places documenting changes in the groundwater environment, characteristic Silesian landscapes, places commemorating stages of development of the mining industry, post-mining sites adapted for service, commercial or residential purposes, mining museums and open-air museums. The described post-mining sites occur in different parts of the Katowice conurbation; therefore, linking them by a system of tourist trails and surrounding them by zones of protected landscape will be an important task for the future.
