Rock salt

2022

Resources and output

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding protective pillars) in 2022 amounted to nearly 112.42 billion tonnes, increasing by almost 11 million tonnes in the relation to the previous year (due to the new assessment of resources in the Kłodawa 1 deposit – in a new geological documentation with recalculated resources (supplement No. 3), the growth by 42.7 million tonnes), whereas the anticipated sub-economic resources remained unchanged. The economic resources increased by more than 44 million tonnes (nearly 2.4% of the domestic resources) due to the new assessment of resources in the Mogilno I deposit (supplement No. 4 to the deposit development plan), in spite of the ongoing exploitation.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2022, the total domestic output of rock salt amounted to 3,883 thousand tonnes, including 2,879 thousand tonnes coming from a solution mining method (the Góra and Mogilno I mines – more than 74% of the domestic production). Moreover, 796 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were obtained from the Kłodawa 1 deposit (about 20.5% of the domestic production) and from the Bądzów deposit – 209 thousand tonnes (about 5.4% of the domestic production).

In the copper ores Sieroszowice mine there were 49,288 tonnes of rock salt as the accompanying raw material above the copper ores deposit Sieroszowice exploited (the drop by nearly 43.5% since 2021).

In the Mechelinki and Mogilno II deposits the exploitation of rock salt was not carried out in 2022.

In 2022, Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd., recovered 66,203 tonnes of evaporated salt from the treatment of brines and salty water from the hard coal mines. The production decreased by 2.1% in comparison with the previous year.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2022.

 

Output corrected for 2016-2021 period.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

The foreseen (prospective and prognostic) resources of rock salt in Poland, assessed to the depth of 2 km, amount to almost 4,060 billion tonnes, including over 4,050 billion tonnes of the Permian salts and 6.9 billion tonnes of the Miocene salts**.

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

* https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/09_Serge_van_Gessel-Hydrogen_Storage_and_UNFC-UNECE_RM_Week-2021.pdf.

** Czapowski G., Bukowski K., Mazurek S., 2020 – Sól kamienna (rock salt, salt, halites), sole potasowo-magnezowe (potash salts, potassium salts, potassium-magnessium salts). In: Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r. (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 218-232. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2021

Resources and output

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding protective pillars) in 2021 amounted to above 112.40 billion tonnes, increasing by nearly 0.56 billion tonnes in the relation to the previous year (due to the reclassification of resources in the Góra deposit), whereas the anticipated sub-economic resources remained unchanged. The economic resources grew by 108.1 million tonnes (nearly 0.6% of the domestic resources) due to the resources reclassification – in spite of the ongoing exploitation.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2021, the total domestic output of rock salt amounted to 5,369 thousand tonnes (the growth by 47.6% in comparison with the previous year), including 2,966 thousand tonnes coming from a solution mining method (the Góra and Mogilno I mines – accounting for more than 55.2% of the domestic production, increasing by more than 9.6% in comparison with the previous year). Moreover, 693 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were obtained from the Kłodawa 1 deposit (about 12.9% of the domestic production, almost 72% more than in 2020) and from the Bądzów deposit (made available at the end of 2013) – 1,579 thousand tonnes (29.4% of the domestic production, more than 8-fold growth in comparison with 2020).

In the copper ores Sieroszowice mine there were 87,290 tonnes of rock salt as the accompanying raw material above the copper ores deposit Sieroszowice exploited (the drop by nearly 12.6% since 2020).

The production (in the form of brine) from the Mechelinki deposit amounted to 132 thousand tonnes (more than 2.4% of the domestic production, the output drop by above 60.5% in comparison with 2020) – the total volume of brine was dumped to the Bay of Puck.

In 2021, Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna (in Polish) – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd., recovered 67,617 tonnes of evaporated salt from the treatment of brines and salty water from the hard coal mines. The production increased by 2% in comparison with the previous year.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2021.

 

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

The foreseen (prospective and prognostic) resources of rock salt in Poland, assessed to the depth of 2 km, amount to almost 4,060 billion tonnes, including over 4,050 billion tonnes of the Permian salts and 6.9 billion tonnes of the Miocene salts**.

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

* https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/09_Serge_van_Gessel-Hydrogen_Storage_and_UNFC-UNECE_RM_Week-2021.pdf.

** Czapowski G., Bukowski K., Mazurek S., 2020 – Sól kamienna (rock salt, salt, halites), sole potasowo-magnezowe (potash salts, potassium salts, potassium-magnessium salts). In: Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r. (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 218-232. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2020

Resources and output

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (beyond protective pillars) in 2020 amounted to above 111.85 billion tonnes, increasing by 21.53 billion tonnes in the relation to the previous year (due to the establishing new deposits within Damasławek deposits – above 39 billion tonnes), whereas the anticipated sub-economic resources decreased by 9.76 billion tonnes. The economic resources dropped by 26.49 million tonnes (almost 1.5% of the domestic resources) due to the ongoing exploitation.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2020, the total domestic output of rock salt amounted to 3,638 thousand tonnes (the drop by 10.5% in comparison with the previous year), including 2,705 thousand tonnes coming from a solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I mines – accounting for almost 74.4% of the domestic production, decreasing by 4.0% year to year). Moreover, 430 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were obtained from Kłodawa 1 deposit (about 11% of the domestic production, almost 30.3% less than in 2019) and from Bądzów deposit (made available at the end of 2013) – 195 thousand tonnes (almost 5.4% of the domestic production, decreasing by 33.9% in comparison with 2019).

In the copper ores Sieroszowice mine there were 99,841 tonnes of rock salt as the accompanying raw material above copper ores deposit Sieroszowice exploited (almost 1.5 fold more than in 2019). Moreover, from the copper ores deposit Głogów Głęboki-Przemysłowy, 18,601 tonnes of rock salt (the accompanying raw material) were exploited during the shaft sinking. The total output from mentioned above deposits amounted to more than 118 thousand tonnes.

The production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 335 thousand tonnes (about 9.2% of the domestic production, the drop by almost 9.4% in comparison with 2019) – the total volume of brine was dumped to the Bay of Puck.

In 2020 Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna (in Polish) – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd., recovered 66,270 tonnes of evaporated salt from the treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian coal mines. The production decreased by 3.8% in comparison with the previous year.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2020.

 

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

The foreseen (prospective and prognostic) resources of rock salt in Poland, assessed to the depth of 2 km, amount to almost 4,060 billion tonnes, including over 4,050 billion tonnes of the Permian salts and 6.9 billion tonnes of the Miocene salts**.

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

* Underground Hydrogen Storage. Application of UNFC – Injection Projects.

** Czapowski G., Bukowski K., Mazurek S., 2020 – Sól kamienna (rock salt, salt, halites), sole potasowo-magnezowe (potash salts, potassium salts, potassium-magnessium salts). In: Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r. (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 218-232. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2019

Resources and output

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (beyond protective pillars) in 2019 amounted to over 90.32 billion tonnes, decreasing by almost 28.5 million tonnes in the relation to the previous year, whereas the anticipated sub-economic resources remained unchanged. The economic resources dropped by 126.79 million tonnes (almost 6.7% of the domestic resources) due to the ongoing exploitation.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2019, the total domestic output of rock salt amounted to 4,063 thousand tonnes (decreasing by 1.5% in comparison with the previous year), including 2,819 thousand tonnes coming from a solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I mines – accounting for almost 69.4% of the domestic production, increasing by almost 1.1% year to year, despite the lack of exploitation from Mogilno II deposit). Moreover, 578 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were obtained from Kłodawa 1 deposit (about 14.2% of the domestic production, 4.7% more than in 2018) and from Bądzów deposit – 295 thousand tonnes (almost 7.3% of the domestic production, decreasing by 9.2% in comparison with 2018).

There was also the production coming from the copper ores Sieroszowice mine where 68.28 thousand tonnes of rock salt as the accompanying raw material above cooper ores deposit Sieroszowice were exploited (the more than twofold growth in comparison with 2018).

The production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 370 thousand tonnes (about 9.1% of the domestic production, decreased by almost 14.41% in comparison with 2018) – the brine was dumped to the Bay of Puck.

In 2019 Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna (in Polish) – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd., recovered 68,906 tonnes of evaporated salt from the treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian coal mines. The production increased by 2.8% in comparison with the previous year when.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2019.

 

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

The foreseen (prospective and prognostic) resources of rock salt in Poland, assessed to the depth of 2 km, amount to almost 4,060 billion tonnes, including over 4,050 billion tonnes of the Permian salts and 6.9 billion tonnes of the Miocene salts*.

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

* Czapowski G., Bukowski K., Mazurek S., 2020 – Sól kamienna (rock salt, salt, halites), sole potasowo-magnezowe (potash salts, potassium salts, potassium-magnessium salts). In: Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r. (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 218-232. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

2018

Polish rock salt deposits are related to two main halite formations: of the Miocene and Zechstein age.

The earliest explored and developed in Poland were deposits of the Miocene formation which are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts. on their Foredeep. The exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when the salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The documented anticipated economic resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting currently for about 4.8% of domestic resources. However, a geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to an intense folding (the majority are folded and folded-bedded deposits, except for Rybnik-Żary-Orzesze deposit which is a bedded deposit in a tectonic trough). That complexity of the geological structure along with a markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of the country area, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by the evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of a salt sediments accumulation with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were documented down to 1,000 m depth in the marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Anticipated economic resources of these deposits (beyond protective pillars) are estimated at about 26.15 billion tonnes, which accounts for above 28.9% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in an axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and documented in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Documented anticipated economic resources (beyond protective pillars) of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at almost 59.84 billion tonnes, which accounts for 66.2% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic salt production (table 2). Bedded rock-salt deposits have been also documented in the bed of the oldest rock salt – in the overburden of the copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline (e.g. the rock salt deposit within the copper ore deposit Sieroszowice and forming its part – documented in 2013 – rock salt Bądzów deposit).

Bedded rock-salt deposits are being documented down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and the minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror (a protective shelf) is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present, the salt deposits increasingly begin to be treated as geological objects, especially advantageous for the construction of underground facilities for a storage of crude oil, natural gas and fuels – such as already operating Mogilno II (gas), Góra (fuels) and put into operation in 2014 Kosakowo storage with the active capacity of 4 storage caverns being equal 119 million m³ (within Mechelinki deposit).

In the world, the salt domes are also being used as the safe disposal underground sites for wastes – e.g. Asse and Morsleben domes and Herfa-Neurode and Heilbronn mines in bedded rock-salt deposits in Germany, or mines located in bedded potassium and rock salt deposits in the area of Regina (southern Saskatchewan) in Canada. In recent years, in Alberta Province (Canada) the crude oil recovered from so-called bituminous sand is stored, whereas the exploitation wastes are being disposed in caverns within Devonian salt formations: Lotsberg and Prairie.

Anticipated economic resources of rock salt (beyond protective pillars) in 2018 amounted to over 90.35 billion tonnes, increasing by more than 5.07 million tonnes (about 5.95% of domestic resources) in the relation to the previous year. It was due to the re-assessment of the salt resources for the Lubień salt dome. Anticipated sub-economic resources remained unchanged. Economic resources dropped by 67.77 million tonnes (3.4% of domestic resources) due to the exploitation.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2018 the total domestic output of rock salt amounted to 4,125 thousand tonnes (decreasing by 11.5% in comparison with the previous year), including 2,817 thousand tonnes coming from a solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I mines – accounting for 68.3% of domestic production, decreasing by about 12.9% year to year, despite the lack of exploitation from Mogilno II deposit). Moreover, 552 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were exploited from Kłodawa 1 deposit (about 13.4% of the domestic production, 5.5% less than in 2017) and from Bądzów deposit (made available in the end of 2013) there was 325 thousand tonnes extracted (about 7.9% of the domestic production, increasing by 44.4% year to year).

There was also the production coming from the copper ores Sieroszowice mine where 33.3 thousand tonnes of rock salt as the accompanying raw material above cooper ores deposit Sieroszowice were exploited.

The production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 432 thousand tonnes (about 10.5% of the domestic production, decreased by almost 29.1% in comparison with 2017) – the brine was dumped to the Bay of Puck.

In 2018 Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna (in Polish) – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd., recovered 67,006 tonnes of evaporated salt from the treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian coal mines. The production increased in relation to the previous year by 6.9% in comparison with the previous year when 62,673 tonnes were obtained.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2018.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

2017

Major Polish rock salt deposits are related to two main halite formations: of the Miocene and Zechstein age.

The earliest explored and developed in Poland were deposits of the Miocene formation which are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts. on their Foredeep. The exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when the salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The documented anticipated economic resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting for 5.1% of domestic resources. However, a geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to an intense folding (the majority are folded and folded-bedded deposits, except for Rybnik-Żary-Orzesze deposit which is a bedded deposit in a tectonic trough). That complexity of the geological structure along with a markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of the country area, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by the evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of a salt sediments accumulation with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were documented down to 1,000 m depth in the marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Anticipated economic resources of these deposits are estimated at more than 26.16 billion tonnes, which accounts for 30.7% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in an axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and documented in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Documented anticipated economic resources of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at almost 54.76 billion tonnes, which accounts for 64.2% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic salt production. Large bedded rock-salt deposits have been also documented in the bed of the oldest rock salt – in the overburden of the copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline (e.g. the rock salt deposit within the copper ore deposit Sieroszowice and forming its part – documented in 2013 – rock salt Bądzów deposit).

Bedded rock-salt deposits are documented down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror (a protective shelf) is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present, the salt deposits increasingly begin to be treated as geological objects, especially advantageous for the construction of underground facilities for a storage of crude oil, natural gas and fuels – such as already operating Mogilno II (gas), Góra (fuels) and put into operation in 2014 Kosakowo storage with the active capacity of 4 storage caverns being equal 119 million m³ (within Mechelinki deposit).

In the world, the salt domes are also being used as the safe disposal underground sites for wastes – e.g. Asse and Morsleben domes and Herfa-Neurode and Heilbronn mines in bedded rock-salt deposits in Germany, or mines located in bedded potassium and rock salt deposits in the area of Regina (southern Saskatchewan) in Canada. In recent years, in Alberta Province (Canada) the crude oil recovered from so-called bituminous sand is stored, whereas the exploitation wastes are being disposed in caverns within Devonian salt formations: Lotsberg and Prairie.

Anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding those within protective pillars) in 2017 amounted to 85.27 billion tonnes, decreasing by more than 70 million tonnes (0.08%% of domestic resources) in the relation to the previous year due to the exploitation. Anticipated sub-economic resources remained unchanged. Economic resources dropped by 39.33 million tonnes (2% of domestic resources) due to the exploitation, despite the fact that in some of deposits there was a slight resources growth resulted from the reclassification (in Kłodawa 1 deposit economic resources explored in an A+B category increased by 172.87 thousand tonnes at the expense of sub-economic resources).

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2017 the total domestic output of rock salt amounted to 4,660 thousand tonnes (increasing by 14.2% in comparison with the previous year), including 3,243 thousand tonnes coming from a solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I mines – constituting 69.6% of domestic production, increasing by 3.8%, despite the lack of exploitation from Mogilno II deposit). Moreover, 584 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were extracted from Kłodawa 1 deposit (about 12.5% of the domestic production, almost 33% more than in 2016) and from Bądzów deposit (made available in the end of 2013) there was 225 thousand tonnes extracted (about 4.8% of the domestic production, more than 5-6 fold increase in comparison with 2016).

There were also the production coming from the Sieroszowice mine during the preparation works within Kazimierzów I area and works carried out while drilling a new SW-IV shaft. There were 153.5 thousand tonnes of rock salt extracted (the output decreased by 38% in comparison with 2016).

The production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 609 thousand tonnes (about 13.1% of the domestic production, increased by almost 28.5% in comparison with 2016) – the brine was dumped to the Bay of Puck.

In 2017 Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna (in Polish) – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd., recovered 62,673 tonnes of evaporated salt from the treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian coal mines. The production decreased in relation to the previous year by 7.9% in comparison with the previous year when 68,031 tonnes were obtained.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2017.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

2016

Major Polish rock salt deposits are related to the Miocene and Zechstein halite formations.

Deposits of the Miocene formation are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts. on their Foredeep. In the Wieliczka area the salt was produced from the Middle Ages right through into the 19^th century. Exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The proven resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting for 5.1% of domestic resources. However, geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to intense folding (except for Rybnik-Żary-Orzesze deposit which is situated in a tectonic trough). That complexity of geological structure along with a markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of the country area, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of salt sediments accumulations with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were explored down to 1,000 m depth in marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Anticipated economic resources of these deposits are estimated at 26.1 billion tonnes, which accounts for 30.6% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and documented in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Proven anticipated economic resources of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at almost 54.3 billion tonnes, which accounts for 64.2% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic salt production. Large bedded rock-salt deposits were also explored in the overburden of the copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline (copper ore deposit Sieroszowice and rock salt deposit Bądzów – documented in 2013 – which is the part of Sieroszowice deposit).

Bedded rock-salt deposits are explored down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present the salt deposits begin to be treated as geological objects especially advantageous for construction of underground facilities for storage of oil and natural gas and liquid fuel – such as already operating Mogilno II (gas), Góra (fuels) and put into operation in 2014 Kosakowo storage with the capacity of 119 million m³ (within Mechelinki deposit). The salt domes are also being used as safe disposal sites for wastes – for example Asse and Morsleben domes and Herfa-Neurode or Heilbronn mines in bedded rock-salt deposits in Germany, or mines located in bedded potassium and rock salt deposits in the area of Regina (southern Saskatchewan) in Canada. In Alberta Province (Canada) the crude oil recovered from bituminous sand is stored, whereas the exploitation wastes are being disposed – stored in caverns within Devonian salt formations: Lotsberg and Prairie.

Anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding those within protective pillars) in 2016 amounted to 85.35 billion tonnes, decreasing by 31.6 million tonnes (0.04% of domestic resources) in relation to the previous year due to the exploitation. Anticipated sub-economic resources remained unchanged. In the last edition of “The balance…” anticipated sub-economic resources have been presented mistakenly lower due to the wrong counting of Wieliczka deposit resources. Data presented in the current edition are correct. Economic resources in place increased by 265 million tonnes (about 15.3% of domestic resources) due to the reclassification of resources (in Mechelinki deposit economic resources in C₁ category increased by 296,621.5 thousand tonnes, in Mogilno I deposit resources in C₁ and C₂ categories grew by 2,103.8 thousand tonnes).

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2016 domestic production of rock salt amounted to 4,079 thousand tonnes (increasing by 17.6% in comparison with the previous year), including 3,125 thousand tonnes coming from a solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I mines – production increased by 15.5% despite the lack of exploitation from Mogilno II deposit and constituting 76.6% of domestic production). Moreover, 440 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were extracted in the Kłodawa mine (10.8% of domestic production, 15.8% more than in 2015) and from Bądzów deposit there was 40 thousand tonnes extracted (0.1% of domestic production, the triple drop in comparison with 2015).

There were also production coming from the Sieroszowice mine during the preparation works within Kazimierzów I area and works carried out while drilling a new SW-IV shaft. There were 158.5 thousand tonnes of rock salt extracted from anticipated economic resources and 89.4 thousand tonnes from anticipated subeconomic resources (total production equal 247.88 thousand tonnes – increased by 57.5% in comparison with 2015).

The production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 474 thousand tonnes (11.6% of domestic production, increased by 85.2%) – the brine was dumped to the Pucka Bay.

In 2016 Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna (in Polish) – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd., recovered 68,031 tonnes of evaporated salt from treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian coal mines. The production decreased in relation to the previous year by 16.5% in comparison with the previous year.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2016.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

2015

Major Polish rock salt deposits are related to the Miocene and Zechstein halite formations.

Deposits of the Miocene formation are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts on their foredeep. In the Wieliczka area the salt was produced from the Middle Ages right through into the 19^th century. Exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The proven resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting for 5.1% of domestic resources. However, geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to intense folding (except for Rybnik-Żary-Orzesze deposit which is situated in a tectonic trough). That complexity of geological structure along with markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of the country area, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of accumulation of salt sediments with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were explored down to 1,000 m depth in marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Anticipated economic resources of these deposits are estimated at 26.1 billion tonnes, which accounts for 30.6% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and proved in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Proven anticipated economic resources of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at almost 54.9 billion tonnes, which accounts for 64.4% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic production of salt (excluding exploitation of rock salt Kazimierzów field – within overburden of copper deposit Sieroszowice). Large bedded rock-salt deposits were also explored in the overburden of the copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline (copper ore deposit Sieroszowice and rock salt deposit Bądzów – documented in 2013 – which is the part of Sieroszowice deposit).

Bedded rock-salt deposits are explored down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present the salt deposits begin to be treated as geological objects especially advantageous for construction of underground facilities for storage of oil and natural gas and liquid fuel – such as already operating Mogilno II (gas) and Góra (fuels) and put into operation in 2014 Kosakowo storage with the capacity of 119 million m³ (within Mechelinki deposit). The salt domes are also being used as safe disposal sites for wastes – for example Asse and Morsleben domes and Herfa-Neurode or Heilbronn mines in bedded rock-salt deposits in Germany, or mines located in bedded potassium and rock salt deposits in the area of Regina (southern Saskatchewan) in Canada.

Anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding those within protective pillars) in 2015 amounted to 85.4 billion tonnes, decreasing by 26.9 million tonnes (0.03% of domestic resources) in relation to the previous year. Economic resources in place decreased by 33.8 million tonnes due to exploitation, whereas anticipated subeconomic resources dropped by 1.7 million tonnes.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2015 domestic production of rock salt amounted to 3,468 thousand tonnes (decreasing by 17.2% in comparison with the previous year), including 2,706 thousand tonnes coming from solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I and II mines – production decreased by 8.3% and constituting 78.03% of domestic production) (table 2). Moreover, 380 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were extracted in the Kłodawa mine (10.9% of domestic production, 20.3% less than in 2014) and from Bądzów deposit there was 126 thousand tonnes extracted (3.6% of domestic production, the production decreased by 42.9%).

There were also production coming from the Sieroszowice mine during the preparation works within Kazimierzów I area and works carried out while drilling a new SW-IV shaft. There were 97.90 thousand tonnes of rock salt extracted from anticipated economic resources and 59.50 thousand tonnes from anticipated subeconomic resources.

Production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 256 thousand tonnes (7.4% of domestic production) – the brine was dumped to the Pucka Bay.

In 2015 Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji Spółka Akcyjna (in Polish) – the former name: Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd. – recovered 81,443 tonnes of evaporated salt from treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian coal mines. The production increased in relation to the previous year by 8.5% in comparison with the previous year.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2015.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

2014

Major Polish rock salt deposits are related to the Miocene and Zechstein halite formations.

Deposits of the Miocene formation are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts on their foredeep. In the Wieliczka area the salt was produced from the Middle Ages right through into the 19th century. Exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The proven resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting for 5.1% of domestic resources. However, geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to intense folding (except for the Rybnik-Żary-Orzesze deposit which is situated in a tectonic trough). That complexity of geological structure along with markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of the country area, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of accumulation of salt sediments with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were explored down to 1,000 m depth in marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Anticipated economic resources of these deposits are estimated at 26.1 billion tonnes, which accounts for 30.6% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and proved in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Proven anticipated economic resources of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at almost 54.9 billion tonnes, which accounts for 64.3% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic production of salt (excluding exploitation of rock salt Kazimierzów field – within overburden of copper deposit Sieroszowice). Large bedded rock-salt deposits were also explored in the overburden of the copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline (copper ore deposit Sieroszowice and rock salt deposit Bądzów – documented in 2013 – which is the part of Sieroszowice deposit).

Bedded rock-salt deposits are explored down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present the salt deposits begin to be treated as geological objects especially advantageous for construction of underground facilities for storage of oil and natural gas and liquid fuel (such as already operating Mogilno II and Góra and being built Mechelinki) and safe disposal sites for hazardous materials.

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding those within protective pillars) in 2014 amounted to 85.4 billion tonnes, decreasing by 692.8 million tonnes (0.8% of domestic resources) in relation to the previous year. Economic resources in place decreased by 22 million tonnes due to exploitation whereas anticipated subeconomic resources have not changed.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

2014 domestic production of rock salt amounted to 4,190 thousand tonnes (decreasing by 0.2% in comparison with the previous year), including 2,950 thousand tonnes coming from solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I and II mines – production increased by 2.1% and constituting 70.4% of domestic production). Moreover, 477 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were extracted in the Kłodawa mine (11.4% of domestic production, 22.7% more than in 2013) and from Bądzów deposit there was 294 thousand tonnes extracted (7% of domestic production). Therefore, the estimated resources from Sieroszowice deposit were not exploited during preparation and exploration works and drilling SW-IV shaft. Production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 469 thousand tonnes (11.2% of domestic production) – the brine was dumped to the Pucka Bay.

In 2014 the Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd. recovered 75,085 tonnes of evaporated salt from treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian Coal mines. This means a 3.5% drop in production in relation to the previous year (77,805 tonnes).

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2014.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

2013

Major Polish rock salt deposits are related to the Miocene and Zechstein halite formations.

Deposits of the Miocene formation are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts on their foredeep. In the Wieliczka area the salt was produced from the Middle Ages right through into the 19th century. Exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The proven resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting for 5.1% of domestic resources. However, geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to intense folding (except for the Rybnik-Żary-Orzesze deposit which is situated in a tectonic trough). That complexity of geological structure along with markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of the country area, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of accumulation of salt sediments with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were explored down to 1,000 m depth in marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Anticipated economic resources of these deposits are estimated at 26.1 billion tonnes, which accounts for 30.37% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and proved in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Proven anticipated economic resources of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at almost 55.6 billion tonnes, which accounts for 64.5% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic production of salt (excluding exploitation of rock salt Kazimierzów field – within overburden of copper deposit Sieroszowice). Large bedded rock-salt deposits were also explored in the overburden of the Sieroszowice and other copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. In that area, some production of rock salt is already carried out within the frame of surveying and development works performed to open the rock salt deposit (within overburden of Sieroszowice mine).

Bedded rock-salt deposits are explored down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present the salt deposits begin to be treated as geological objects especially advantageous for construction of underground facilities for storage of oil and natural gas and liquid fuel (such as already operating Mogilno II and Góra and being built Mechelinki) and safe disposal sites for hazardous materials.

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding those within protective pillars) in 2013 amounted to 86.1 billion tonnes, increasing by 1.14 billion tonnes (1.3% of domestic resources) in relation to the previous year. Economic resources in place increased by 349.6 million tonnes (there was one new deposit – Bądzów – documented).

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2013 2,890 thousand tonnes of salt were produced by solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I and II mines – production increased by 4.6%), which accounts for 68.84% of domestic production. Moreover, 617 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were extracted in the Kłodawa mine (14.7% of domestic production, 1.3% more than in the previous year) and from Bądzów deposit there was 42 thousand tonnes extracted (1% of domestic production). The output from Bądzów deposit comes from resources beyond protecting pillars (27 thousand tonnes) and from resources within protecting pillars (15 thousand tonnes). Production (in the form of brine) from Mechelinki deposit amounted to 649 thousand tonnes (15.46% of domestic production) – the brine was dumped to the Pucka Bay. In the copper mine Sieroszowice there was 97.82 thousand tonnes of salt extracted during preparation and exploration works and drilling SW-IV shaft.

In 2013 the Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd. recovered 77,805 tonnes of evaporated salt from treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian Coal mines. This means a 6.2% growth in production in relation to the previous year (73,240 tonnes).

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2013.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

2012

Major Polish rock salt deposits are related to the Miocene and Zechstein halite formations.

Deposits of the Miocene formation are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts on their foredeep. In the Wieliczka area the salt was produced from the Middle Ages right through into the 19th century. Exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The proven resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting for 5.1% of domestic resources. However, geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to intense folding (except for the Rybnik-Żary-Orzesze deposit which is situated in a tectonic trough). That complexity of geological structure along with markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of the country area, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of accumulation of salt sediments with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were explored down to 1,000 m depth in marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Anticipated economic resources of these deposits are estimated at almost 25 billion tonnes, which accounts for 29.4% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and proved in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Proven anticipated economic resources of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at almost 56 billion tonnes, which accounts for 65.5% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic production of salt (excluding exploitation of rock salt Kazimierzów field – within overburden of copper deposit Sieroszowice).

Large bedded rock-salt deposits were also explored in the overburden of the Sieroszowice and other copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. In that area, some production of rock salt is already carried out within the frame of surveying and development works performed to open the rock salt deposit (within overburden of Sieroszowice mine).

Bedded rock-salt deposits are explored down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present the salt deposits begin to be treated as geological objects especially advantageous for construction of underground facilities for storage of oil and natural gas and liquid fuel (such as already operating Mogilno II and Góra and being built Mechelinki) and safe disposal sites for hazardous materials.

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding those within protective pillars) in 2012 amounted to 84.95 billion tonnes, decreasing by 25 million tonnes (0.03% of domestic resources) in relation to the previous year. Economic resources in place increased by 187.16 million tonnes (new estimations of Góra and Mogilno I resources). Anticipated subeconomic resources did not change in 2012.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2012 2,762 thousand tonnes of salt were produced by solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I and II mines – production increased by 1.6%), which accounts for 70.4% of domestic production. Moreover, 566 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were extracted in the Kłodawa mine (14.43% of domestic production, 23.4% less than in the previous year). Production (in the form of brine) from the Mechelinki deposit amounted to 595 thousand tonnes (17.19% of domestic production) – the brine was dumped to the Pucka Bay.

In 2012 the Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd. recovered 73,240 tonnes of evaporated salt from treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian Coal mines. This means a 15.5% decrease in production in relation to the previous year (86,622 tonnes).

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2012.

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

2011

Major Polish rock salt deposits are related to the Miocene and Zechstein halite formations.

Deposits of the Miocene formation are situated in a belt extending from the Silesian region to Wieliczka and Bochnia and further eastwards up to the Poland-Ukraine border and running along and close to the present-day frontal overthrust of the Carpathian Mts on their foredeep. In the Wieliczka area the salt was produced from the Middle Ages right through into the 19th century. Exploitation of these deposits ended in 1996 when salt mining was phased out in the Wieliczka mine. The proven resources of Miocene rock salt deposits are estimated to be over 4.36 billion tonnes, accounting for 5.13% of domestic resources. However, geological structure of these deposits is very complex due to intense folding (except for the Rybnik-Żory-Orzesze deposit which is situated in a tectonic trough). That complexity of geological structure along with markedly varying salt quality and high risks of water flooding and methane inflow to mining works were the reasons why further mining of these deposits became practically uneconomic. The Wieliczka mine was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1978. Nowadays the Wieliczka and Bochnia mines are great tourist attractions and recreation centers.

The Zechstein halite formation is at present the major source of mined salt in Poland. The salt-bearing series are distributed throughout two-thirds of area of the country, mainly in the Polish Lowlands. In the Late Permian these areas were occupied by evaporitic epicontinental basin which was the place of accumulation of salt sediments with total thickness of over 1,000 m. Bedded rock salt accumulations were explored down to 1,000 m depth in marginal parts of the basin and in the Łeba Elevation and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Resources of these deposits are estimated at almost 25 billion tonnes, which accounts for 29.42% of domestic salt resources. In turn, in axial part of the basin (Central Poland) the salt-bearing series are buried at depths up to 7 km, locally rising almost to the surface in salt dome- and pillow-like structures. The salt structures occur in a belt stretching from Wolin in the northwest to the vicinities of Bełchatów in the south-east. Deposits of rock salt and potassium-magnesium salt were explored and proved in a number of the shallowest of these structures. Proven anticipated economic resources of deposits related to the salt structures are estimated at more than 55.6 billion tonnes, which accounts for 65.45% of domestic salt resources. Exploitation of the latter deposits gives 100% of the current domestic production of salt (excluding exploitation of rock salt deposit – within overburden of copper deposit Sieroszowice).

Large bedded rock-salt deposits were also explored in the overburden of the Sieroszowice and other copper ore deposits in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. In that area, some production of rock salt is already carried out within the frame of surveying and development works.

Bedded rock-salt deposits are explored down to the depth of 1,200 m, providing that the deposit series (including partings) is at least 30 m thick and minimum weighted mean of NaCl in the deposit series and partings equals at least 80%. In accordance with the Polish regulations, salt deposits related to the dome and pillow salt structures are explored down to 1,400 m, providing that the distance between top surface of salt deposits and salt mirror is not smaller than 150 m. The remaining requirements are the same as in the case of the bedded deposits. At present the salt deposits begin to be treated as geological objects especially advantageous for construction of underground facilities for storage of oil and natural gas and liquid fuel (such as already operating Mogilno II and Góra) and safe disposal sites for hazardous materials.

The anticipated economic resources of rock salt (excluding those within protective pillars) in 2011 amounted to 84.98 billion tonnes, decreasing by 356 million tonnes (0.42% of domestic resources) in relation to the previous year. Economic resources in place increased by 273.9 million tonnes (mainly due to the new estimation of Kłodawa 1 deposit resources). Anticipated subeconomic resources increased by 21 million tonnes.

In 2010 the Zechstein rock salt prognostic resources amounted to 192.46 billion tonnes (to the depth of 2,000 m), whereas perspective resources were estimated on 2.062 billion tonnes⁽¹⁾. Perspective resources of Miocene formation in three regions (to the depth from 1,000 to 1,500 m) are equal 2.45 billion tonnes and perspective resources of Pogórska Wola region (to the depth of 1,500-2,000 m) are estimated on 44 million tonnes. Total prognostic resources of rock salt in Poland amounted to 194.904 billion tonnes and perspective resources – 2.062 billion tonnes.

Rock salt deposits in Poland are presented on the map.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of domestic rock salt deposits. Data refer to resources excluding those within protective pillars.

Table 1. Rock salt – million tonnes

In 2011 about 2,718 thousand tonnes of salt were produced by solution mining method (Góra and Mogilno I and II mines), which accounts for 71.7% of domestic production. Moreover, 739 thousand tonnes of crushed salt were extracted in the Kłodawa mine (19.5% less than in the previous year).

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of rock salt in Poland in the years 1989-2011.

In 2011 the Dębieńsko Desalination Plant Ltd. recovered 86,622 tonnes of evaporated salt with NaCl content of about 98% from treatment of brines and salty water from Upper Silesian Coal mines. This means a 0.6% decrease in production in relation to the previous year (87,110 tonnes).

Table 2. List of rock salt deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Grzegorz Czapowski

⁽¹⁾ G. Czapowski, K. Bukowski 2011 – ‘Sól kamienna i sole potasowo-magnezowe’ w ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31 XII 2009 r.’ pod red. S. Wołkowicz, T. Smakowski, S. Speczik. PIG-PIB Warszawa.