Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi - Mineral Resources Management

This paper presents concepts of value chains as strategic models for long-term development and a sustainable approach for ensuring efficiency. It highlights the fact that value chains are of particular importance in the raw materials industry, where the exploration, extraction, processing and metallurgy stages are characterized by high capital expenditure and fixed costs. Additionally, it emphasizes that offering an increasingly valuable product at each stage of production or processing makes it possible to increase earnings and achieve a higher margin. In order to give a practical dimension to the presented analyses, the paper provides an example of lithium value chains and identifies the determinants of their functioning in the current market together with their prospects. The conclusion highlights Europe’s need to source raw materials within business models based on value chains.

The rapid development of the global economy has led to an increasing demand for resources. The disparity between the supply and demand of resources continues to be prominent and shows a situation of short supply. Resource investment projects with large amounts and long construction periods face many risks due to various unpredictable factors. Cultural, legal, economic and other environments vary between different countries. Therefore, comprehensive risk identification, understanding, evaluation, and analysis are important prerequisites for the success of mineral investment. In this paper, the risk of mineral resources investment in host countries is identified. A risk evaluation index system is established to objectively evaluate the risk environment of the host country. The risk evaluation index system includes four first-level indexes: political and legal risk, social and cultural risk, economic and financial risk, and natural risk. The subjective weight was determined by sending questionnaires to experts and scholars in the industry and conducting data processing. The entropy method was used to determine the objective weight. Finally, the subjective weight and the objective weight were combined to obtain a group of scientific and accurate combined weights. The matter-element theory was introduced into the cloud model and a risk assessment model based on the cloud matter-element theory was constructed with comprehensive consideration of the fuzziness and randomness of risks. Eight countries with relatively rich mineral resources were taken as cases to verify the model application. The research results provide a theoretical basis and decision-making methods for mineral enterprise investment.

Based on China’s resource endowment and coal mine disaster statistics, it has been found that there are many deficiencies in the management of disasters and risks in mining areas in China. Therefore, to scientifically and effectively manage mining areas, based on the theory of internal control, this paper systematically analyzes the risks of mining areas in the context of various factors and relevant suggestions. From the occurrence of mine risk to the occurrence of damage, the importance of risk management is highlighted. In accordance with the five selection principles of evaluation indicators (goal principle, comprehensiveness principle, scientificity principle, timeliness principle and focus principle) as well as the five elements of internal control (control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication and supervision), a mining area risk managementframework of human-machine-environment-management – disturbance is constructed, and twentyseven secondary risk indicators are divided. The criteria for determining the risk level and the risk response process have been established, and a more systematic and accurate mine risk management system under the theory of internal control has been formed. Finally, based on four key technologies, a dual prevention and control mechanism is formed around the system risk and job risk management system. This provides new methods and ideas for the prevention and control of coal mine safety risks and the containment of disasters and accidents.

Primary energy consumption depends on the size of the economy and its structure, including both industrial and service sectors, characterized by different energy demands. Some of the basic energy and economic indicators that can be used to analyze primary energy consumption include energy intensity, energy productivity and indicators measuring the activity of the economy (gross domestic product or gross value added). In the years 1995–2021, the Polish economy developed at a relatively constant pace, and the value of gross domestic product increased in real terms by almost 290% over the entire analyzed period. However, despite this increase, total primary energy consumption remained at the relatively constant level of around 3,800–4,600 PJ/year. This was caused by, among other factors, an increase in energy productivity on the one hand and a reduction in energy intensity on the other. It should be emphasized that a descriptive analysis of changes in primary energy consumption in Poland in the analyzed period, including changes in selected energy and economic indicators, does not allow the identification and quantification of the impact of all key factors on the total change of the examined value over time. In this context, the main aim of the research presented in this paper is to propose a decomposition model of primary energy consumption in Poland and adapt it to conduct analyses covering the period of economic and energy transition to quantitatively determine the impact of the identified factors on the total change in primary energy consumption in the 1995–2021 period. To perform the described research, decomposition analysis was applied, including a multiplicative and additive approach. A decomposition model was developed based on the formulated decomposition identity. Mathematical formulas of two methods were used to perform the calculations: a generalized Fisher index and the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI). The obtained results indicate that the effects of demand and energy intensity factors had the most significant impact on the primary energy consumption change.

Nowadays, one of the biggest challenges faced by EU countries is the pursuit of zero-emission economies. Certainly, it is crucial to determine the role of fossil fuels in the energy transformation. In light of the European Green Deal, EU countries should cease the consumption of hydrocarbons, i.e. coal, crude oil and natural gas, by 2050. Nevertheless, there are significant differences regarding the possibility of decarbonizing the energy sectors of the different EU Member States. For many years, Romania has been successively implementing an energy transformation, the main goal of which is the significant reduction of fossil fuels in the energy mix. Just a few years ago, one of the most important energy resources was coal, which is to be eliminated within the next decade. However, a much greater challenge is the reduction and subsequent abandonment of natural gas and crude oil. The key task facing Romania is to ensure energy security, which is why decarbonization will be strongly coupled with the country’s economic and political capabilities. The exclusion of fossil fuels in power engineering means that there is a need to develop alternative generation capacities, in particular in nuclear, wind and solar energy. This article presents the current condition of the energy sector in Romania, with a particular emphasis on the role of fossil fuels in its transformation. An analysis of documents and field research shows that there will be a dynamic decarbonization in the coming years, which will result in a significant reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels. The priority of Romania’s energy policy is to achieve a zero-emission economy, but ensuring stability and security in the energy sector will be of key importance in this process.

This paper presents geochemical data for 171 core samples of the Carboniferous coal-bearing series and the Miocene cove from the central part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Major oxide concentrations (Al ₂O ₃, SiO ₂, Fe ₂O ₃, P ₂O ₅, K ₂O, MgO, CaO, Na ₂O, K ₂O, MnO, TiO ₂, and Cr ₂O ₃) were obtained using XRF. Trace and major elements (Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, U, Cr, V, Mn, As, Th, Sr, Cd, Sb, Bi, Ba, Ti, W, Zr, Ce, Nb, Ta, Be Sc) were analysed ICP-MS. The main goals of this study were to demonstrate the distribution, as well as the stratigraphical variability, of the selected elements and to determine whether chemostratigraphy tools could be effectively applied to analyze Carboniferous and Miocene deposits of the USCB. Geochemical studies have shown showed different geochemical features of the samples from the Carboniferous and the Miocene. The diversity is mainly expressed in the enrichment of Miocene sediments in Ca and Sr related to biogenic carbonate material. It was also stated that the concentrations of trace elements associated with the detrital fraction, such as Zn, Cr, Co, Ba, Ti, Zr, Nb, and Sc show slightly higher values in Carboniferous sediments. On the basis of the content of Ti, Zr, and Nb, as well as ratios such as Th/U, Zr/Th, Ti/Zr, and TiO ₂/K ₂O, units with different inputs of the terrigenous fraction can be identified in both Carboniferous and Miocene formations. The paper shows that chemostratigraphy can be used as a stratigraphic and correlation tool for the Carboniferous and the Miocene deposits of the USCB.

The subject of the study was the No. 116/2 coal seam belonging to the Cracow Sandstone Series of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Reflectograms of the samples taking into account all the vitrinite group macerals present in the coal were recorded for Δ R^o close to the standard deviation and in the standard range. A careful analysis of vitrinite reflectograms reveals the presence of three or four clearly distinguished peaks. When assessing the rank of coal, only the main maximum, peak No. 4, was considered to be significant. Measurements of the average reflectance of collotelinite were made only on the vitrinite surfaces with a thickness of more than 1 mm. Only two maxima were revealed on detailed reflectograms. These maxima correlate with the peaks marked as No. 3 and 4 in the sample reflectograms taking into account all the vitrinite group macerals. The C ^daf content in the tested coal from the Janina coal mine is between 75.9 and 77.5 wt%, while for vitrain, it ranges from 71.1 to 75.5 wt%. This relationship is an exponential regression with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.95h and can be approximated by a linear correlation of r = 0.94. The correlation strength between the volatile matter content and the coefficient of average reflectance in the vitrinite of the tested coal was also examined. The statistically significant correlation is strong, which is expressed by the exponential correlation coefficient “r” being close to 0.99 and its linear approximation with the correlation coefficient r = 0.98. However, no correlation was found between the measured reflectance values and the GI coefficient calculated for the examined samples.

There are significant ruby formations across the world that have been commercialized. In Türkiye there are many mineralogical formation regions with gemological features of high quality. However, there is not enough information in the literature about the formation of ruby in Türkiye, and its usability as a precious stone. In contrast to previous studies, this paper was conducted to reveal the gemological properties of Doğanşehir (Malatya province) rubies and to investigate the usability of polished and cut ruby samples as gemstones. Ruby corundum formations of gemstone quality have recently been discovered in Göksun ophiolites in the Doğanşehir district of Türkiye. These ruby formations take place in greenish and grayish amphibolites in the Göksun ophiolites. The ruby crystals are observed in colors ranging from pink to red and sizes ranging between 2 × 10 mm and 30 × 50 mm. The tectonic position, geological environment, petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical, and gemological characteristics of Doğanşehir crystals indicate that they can be classified as rubies and can be likened to those gems formed in amphibolites in Tanzania. This indicates that Doğanşehir rubies have gemological and mineralogical parameters that are competitive with rubies existing in other places across the world after polishing and cutting. Examples of Doğanşehir rubies prepared by polishing and cutting show that these rubies may feature in the global market in the coming years. Doğanşehir rubies are suitable for COBACORE (community based comprehensive recovery) cutting mostly in large sizes and amounts. Thus, it is a potential gemstone source. Samples prepared by polishing and cutting indicate their suitability as gemstones.

The theory of Professor Stanislaw Knothe, known as Knothe’s Theory, has been the foundation for practical predictive calculations of the impacts of exploitation for many years. It has enabled the large-scale extraction of coal, salt and metal ores located in the protective pillars of cities and prime surface structures. Knothe’s Theory has been successfully applied in Polish and global mining for over seventy years, making it one of the most well-known and recognized achievements in Polish mining science. Knothe’s Theory provides a temporal-spatial description of subsidence that relies on four essential parameters: the vertical scale parameter a, the horizontal displacement parameter λ, the horizontal range scale parameter cotβ and the time scale parameter c.
This article characterizes the parameters of Knothe’s Theory used in various current applications for calculating subsidence, surface and rock uplift, and other applications of the theory, even beyond its classical form. The presented solutions are based on a mathematical model of the interaction of a complex element and cover topics such as subsidence during full exploitation with roof collapse and full exploitation with backfilling, pillar-room mining, the effect of salt caverns on the surface and salt rock, and fluid deposits and surface uplift caused by changes in the water level within closed coal mines. The article also discusses the evolution of the range angle of the main influences and presents Knothe’s solutions related to time, describing the horizontal displacement parameter λ.

The article analyzes the influence of selected factors on the activity rate of cement binder containing 50% of ground granulated blast furnace slag in its composition. These factors are the chemical and mineral composition of Portland cement CEM I, the degree of grinding of granulated blast furnace slag and Portland cement, and the water/binder ratio. This slag content is characteristic for blast furnace cement CEM III/A. In addition to the application effects, this type of cement is a low-carbon binder (there is a reduction of CO ₂ emissions by about 45% compared to Portland cement CEM I). The use of this type of cement in the composition of concrete enables the obtaining of concrete with a very small carbon footprint. Based on the results of our own research, it was found that such a high proportion of ground granulated blast furnace slag in the binder composition leads to a significant reduction in the early compressive strength of standard mortars (after two and seven days of setting). This results in a significant reduction in the use of these types of binders (cements) in selected areas of construction, e.g. prefabrication and high-strength concrete. Analyzing the obtained results of their own research, the authors concluded that the early strength of these types of binders can be significantly improved by increasing the specific surface area (degree of grinding) of Portland cement CEM I and lowering the water/slag ratio (w/s, where: s = cement + slag). The proposed material and technological modifications also enable the obtaining of higher compressive strength at all tested dates. The strength of the standard (after twenty-eight days and over longer periods) is comparable to or higher than that of Portland cement CEM I.