Methodology of assignment of Mineral Deposits of Public Importance proposed by MINATURA2020 Project and results of its pilot testing in the Dolnośląskie Province (SW Poland)

Abstract

MINATUR A2020 project’s aim is to develop a concept and multi-dimensional methodology of assignment and - in a consequence - of safeguarding the Mineral Deposits of Public Importance (MDoPI) at European (EU), country (CL ) and regional/local level (RL ), in order to ensure their optimal use for future needs of the society. MDoPI assignment methodology proposed within MINATUR A2020 project, was tested within a few EU regions, including Dolnośląskie Province in Poland, where undeveloped deposits were verified. Initially, deposits of 4 selected groups of minerals were tested: magmatic and metamorphic crushed and dimension stone (144 deposits), feldspar raw materials (6 deposits), kaolin (11 deposits), and glass sand (7 deposits). In the following step, the deposits of the highest or medium class of geological features were chosen, i.e. 73 mineral deposits with indicated and/or measured resources, including: 50 deposits of magmatic and metamorphic crushed and dimension stone, 6 deposits of feldspar raw materials, 10 deposits of kaolin and 7 deposits of glass sand. Finally, according to assumed MDoPI methodology, 10 of 50 tested deposits of crushed and dimension stone were qualified as MDoPI-CL , while another 20 deposits as MDoPI-RL , 5 of 6 deposits of feldspar raw materials were ranked as MDoPI-CL , while 1 deposit as MDoPI-RL, 2 of 10 kaolin deposits were categorised as MDoPI-CL , while the remaining 8 deposits MDoPI-RL , and all of 7 tested deposits of glass sand were qualified as MDoPI-RL . In total, from among 73 verified deposits, 17 deposits were proposed as MDoPI-CL , whereas 36 deposits were qualified as potential MDoPI-RL . On the basis of performed testing, it can be concluded that the main strength of proposed methodology is the possibility to use multi-criterion methodology containing a number of geological-mining, environmental and spatial factors, giving possibility to categorization of deposits according to their economic importance (EU, country and regional level) for their further safeguarding. Moreover, if legal system of mineral deposits safeguarding is efficiently introduced in Poland, this methodology will be a useful tool for selecting the most valuable mineral deposits that should be protected.

Niezagospodarowane złoża kruszyw piaskowo-żwirowych o potencjalnym znaczeniu strategicznym w Polsce

“…However, the highest (Eu) level is not the case when we analyze the rock minerals deposits. Kot-niewiadomska et al (2017) and Galos et al (2018) presented a comprehensive description of the methodology proposed within the project. therefore, in this paper, we present only major principles of valorization in relation to undeveloped deposits with recognized mineral resources.…”

“…the methodology developed within the MInAtuRA 2020 project was tested in some european countries. in Poland, analyses were limited to the dolnośląskie Province territory and included undeveloped deposits belonging to a selected group of raw materials (magmatic and metamorphic crushed and dimension stone, feldspar raw materials, kaolin, and glass sand (Kot-niewiadomska et al 2017). Deposits of sand and gravel have not been analyzed so far, as they have not been taken into consideration in testing procedures within the MInAtuRA 2020 project.…”

Current and Foreseen Tungsten Production in Portugal, and the Need of Safeguarding the Access to Relevant Known Resources

“…However, the need to assign specific areas to mining activities and to reconcile active or latent conflicts with other land uses is not free of controversy, being additionally of problematical implementation. Different approaches have been recently proposed to deal with these issues [48][49][50]. In this study, we will use the multi-criteria methodology reported in [48], which relies on the concept of mineral resources of public importance (MRoPI).…”

Safeguarding of Key Minerals Deposits as a Basis of Sustainable Development of Polish Economy

“…In Poland, the methodology of ranking and assessment of deposits has been repeatedly applied to various types of minerals (e.g., [91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101]). As a result of such extensive work, deposits were selected which-based on various criteria, but basically in view of the size of resources and quality of the minerals-seem to be the most attractive and valuable.…”

“…Testing of the evaluation for selected rock mineral deposits in Poland made it possible to indicate six rock mineral deposits which should be subject to safeguarding, including five for which the safeguarding should be considered at the national level. For kaolin two such deposits were selected and the remaining eight would be considered for safeguarding at the regional level [101].…”