Geodynamic Laboratory SRC PAS in Książ – state of 2013

Abstract

The paper provides information on the history of the creation and activities of the Geodynamic Laboratory in Książ (Central Sudetes, SW Poland). A unique laboratory environment, instrumental facili-ties and research program were presented. Particular attention was paid to the study of geodynamic sig-nals of non-tidal nature, relating to the local geological and tectonic situation. Tectonic research is exam-ined in terms of both cognitive (identification of causes of the occurrence and scale of the problem), as well as utilitarian aspect designed to assess the impact of recorded effects on the earth's surface and archi-tectural objects

Full text

doi: 10.5277/ms142102
Mining Science, vol. 21, 2014, 23−31
Mining Science
(previously Prace Naukowe Instytutu Górnictwa
Politechniki Wrocławskiej. Górnictwo i Geologia)
www.miningscience.pwr.edu.pl
ISSN 2300-9586
previously 0370-0798
Received: April 25, 2014, accepted: July 27, 2014
GEODYNAMIC LABORATORY SRC PAS
IN KSIĄŻ – STATE OF 2013
Damian KASZA*
Wroclaw University of Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Abstract: The paper provides information on the history of the creation and activities of the Geodynamic
Laboratory in Książ (Central Sudetes, SW Poland). A unique laboratory environment, instrumental facili-
ties and research program were presented. Particular attention was paid to the study of geodynamic sig-
nals of non-tidal nature, relating to the local geological and tectonic situation. Tectonic research is exam-
ined in terms of both cognitive (identification of causes of the occurrence and scale of the problem), as
well as utilitarian aspect designed to assess the impact of recorded effects on the earth's surface and archi-
tectural objects
Keywords: geodynamic research, Książ, water-tube tiltmeter, geodesy, Świebodzice Depression
1. INTRODUCTION
Many research centers around the world are studying geodynamic phenomena in
cognitive, instrumental and utilitarian respect. Particularly noteworthy is Geodynamic
Laboratory (GL) in Książ belonging to the Space Research Centre of the Polish Acad-
emy of Sciences (SRC PAS). It is the only one in Poland and one of the few in this
part of Europe (Central Sudetes, SW Poland) research establishment located in the
underground corridors of the II World War (Kaczorowski, 2010; ECGS, 2014). A rich
and constantly supplemented modern set of instruments and measurement techniques
allows seeing geodynamic phenomena, both in terms of local and global impacts.
_________
* Corresponding author: Damian Kasza, damian.kasza@pwr.edu.pl

Damian KASZA
24
2. GEODYNAMIC LABORATORY IN KSIĄŻ
2.1 LOCATION AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Geodynamic Laboratory in Książ uses underground tunnels located at a depth of
about 50 meters below the courtyard of Książ Castle. They are the residue of a secret
Nazi military facility from the end of World War II with the same name (in German:
Fürstenstein) that is one of the objects of "Riese" complex. So far, in addition to
Książ, six underground tunnels systems located in the Sowie Range were discovered
(Dudziak, 1996; Aniszewski and Zagórski, 2006).
Workings in Książ have approximately the shape of a regular grid, with a total gal-
leries length of approximately 950 meters. Of the 4 existing tunnels only one of them
is currently used and is the entrance to the laboratory.
In the early 70s of the last century prof. Roman Teisseyre founded in underground
tunnels a Geophysical Observatory belonging to the Institute of Geophysics of PAS.
Initial work included seismic research, which since the mid-70s was extended to the
tidal study conducted by prof. Tadeusz Chojnicki using quartz horizontal pendulums
(HP).
In the early years of the XXI century in Książ was founded the Geodynamic La-
boratory of the Space Research Centre of PAS. In the underground appeared new
measuring instruments – water-tube tiltmeters (WT), relative and absolute gravimeters
and interference extensometer (Kaczorowski, 2010).
2.2. GEOLOGY OF THE REGION
Książ Castle is located in the central part of the geological-structural unit of Świe-
bodzice Depression (Grocholski, 1969). It is parallelogram-shaped and extends to the
NW-SE (Oberc, 1978; Żelaźniewicz and Aleksandrowski, 2008). Deposits filling the
Variscan mountainous sedimentary basin come from between the Upper Devonian to
Lower Carboniferous (Oberc, 1972). You can distinguish among them the Książ For-
mation, Chwaliszów Formation, Pełcznica Formation, Pogorzała Formation, as well
as volcanic and metamorphic rocks of Kaczawa complex (Teisseyre, 1951; Teisseyre
and Gawroński, 1965; Porębski, 1981, Marcinowski et al., 2004).
Świebodzice Depression is characterized by a dense network of dislocation zones,
which also define the boundaries of adjacent units (Fig. 1). The most important of
them is a Sudetic Marginal Fault (Stepancikova et al., 2010) separating the Świe-
bodzice sedimentary basin from pre-Sudetic fault block (Teisseyre and Sawicki, 1955;
Haydukiewicz et al., 1962; Teisseyre and Gawroński, 1965; Teisseyre, 1969;
Walczak-Augustyniak, 1988).
Bedrock, inside of which is located Geodynamic Laboratory, is also cut by numer-
ous lines of discontinuities and cracks. This situation is extremely important due to
the nature of the conducted tectonic phenomena research, since moving along the

Geodynamic laboratory SRC PAS in Książ – state of 2013
25
faults blocks of rocks fall in direct interaction with the measuring apparatus (Kaczor-
owski and Wojewoda, 2011).
Fig. 1. Geological map of Świebodzice Depression (Kaczorowski and Wojewoda, 2011, modified)
Rys. 1. Mapa geologiczna depresji Świebodzic (Kaczorowski and Wojewoda, 2011, zmodyfikowane).
2.3. NATURAL CONDITIONS OF LABORATORY
Underground galleries system of laboratory was bored by mining methods
(Aniszewski and Zagórski, 2006) hence their cross-sectional shape is characteristic of
the excavations in underground mines. In some tunnels was made hard casing, the
remaining fragments are unsecured.
From the point of view of the conducted research an important feature of the GL is
its microclimate. In the underground there is approximately constant temperature.
Annual change in the level of tenths and daily of hundredths of a Celsius degree are
observed. Relative humidity varies seasonally between 85 to 95%. Continuous moni-
toring of temperature, humidity and pressure (air movement) is necessary because of
their impact on the instruments operating there (Kaczorowski, 2010).
The water is present in the rock mass surrounding the Laboratory only by soaking
through the surface. The absolute gravity measurements made in the laboratory fully
confirmed the lack of water in the rock mass and changes of its level (Kaczorowski
and Olszak, 2010).

Damian KASZA
26
3. RESEARCH TASKS
3.1. GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY OF THE INSTITUTE OF GEOPHYSICS OF PAS
The underground of observatory and laboratory in Książ are used by two institutes
of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Seismological Observatory (SO) of the Institute
of Geophysics (IG) and Geodynamic Laboratory of the Space Research Centre.
The first instruments installed right after establishing SO were seismographs,
which were intended to, among others, monitor the tremors caused by mining activi-
ties in the Legnica-Głogów Copper Region. Today, the main task of the SO is the
observation of earthquakes (Eduscience, 2014).
3.2. GEODYNAMIC LABORATORY OF SRC PAS
Since the mid-70s the research activity in Książ was extended by prof. Tadeusz
Chojnicki to tidal studies conducted using quartz horizontal pendulums. The work
focused on continuous observation of tidal signals and their analyses. The tidal re-
search included the determination of tidal ephemeris, study of interactions between
ocean tides and the tides of earth, study of tidal signals seasonal variation and the load
effect (Kaczorowski, 2010).
At the beginning of the XXI century in Książ was founded a Geodynamic Labora-
tory of Space Research Centre. In the underground appeared new measuring instru-
ments – water-tube tiltmeter, relative and absolute gravimeters and interference exten-
someter. The development of measurement techniques has widened the research to
non-tidal phenomena. These include the natural vibration of the Earth, subsonic sig-
nals, the phenomena produced by the contemporary tectonic activity. In the laboratory
are monitored the tectonic effects i.e. vertical and horizontal movements and the slope
of the rock mass and more recently the radon-effects related to tectonic activity in the
region. A new instrument for the measurement of tectonic phenomena in the Labora-
tory is a TM-71 deformeter.
The development of laboratory included modernization of technical infrastructure
of Laboratory (communication system and power supply) that allowed for the enrich-
ment of instrumental facilities of laboratory with a new equipment. In the corridors of
the laboratory were installed two water-tube tiltmeter pipes with lengths of 67 and 92
meters. The water-tube tiltmetrs began full measurements at the end of 2002. A new
type of instruments has enabled further observations of systematic and long-term
slope effects and vertical movements of the tectonic soil, the phenomena of free oscil-
lations of the Earth, the infrasound effects (10–3 Hz), as well as conducting compara-
tive studies between horizontal pendulums and water-tube tiltmeters (Kaczorowski,
1999a, 199b, 2005, 2006a, 2006b, 2010; Kaczorowski and Olszak, 2010). In 2006 was
built a gravimetric pavilion equipped with columns for the relative and absolute gravi-
ty measurements (Fig. 2). In 2007 was installed a second pair of horizontal pendu-

Geodynamic laboratory SRC PAS in Książ – state of 2013
27
lums, while also changed the way of observations recording from a photographic to an
electronic (Kaczorowski, 2010).
Fig. 2. Map of Książ Castle underground complex
Rys. 2. Mapa podziemnego kompleksu zamku Książ
3.3. New research directions of GL
A constantly developed set of new, innovative instruments and measurement tech-
niques favor starting up new research directions. The current program, which was
based mainly on observations of tidal signals, has been extended to the study the non-
tidal signals.

Damian KASZA
28
Taking this theme was driven by recording non-tidal events by highly sensitive in-
struments – water-tube tiltmeters. These events took the form of irregular water level
changes at the ends of both water-tube tiltmeters. Since launching the WT have rec-
orded several effects of varying amplitude (exceeding 100 mas) and duration (from
several to several dozen days). Conducting comparative analysis with data of horizon-
tal pendulums confirmed the occurrence of this phenomenon (in the corresponding
periods HP showed instability in equilibrium positions). Recording strong non-tidal
effects by two instruments of various types, and the compensating effect observed by
WT (precluding the effects of gravity), indicates a tectonic cause of an irregularly
appearing phenomenon. Previous studies indicate a need to seek answers about the
origin of these signals, correlation with other geodynamic phenomena, such as tecton-
ic strike-slip movements, radon flux changes and the impact on the morphology of the
terrain and on engineering facilities (Chojnicki and Blum, 1996; Kaczorowski, 2007,
2008, 2009a, 2009b; Kaczorowski and Wojewoda, 2011; Kasza, 2013).
Observations of non-tidal signals using HP and WT are held in the aspect of the
ground slopes and vertical movements of rock blocks, on which the instruments are
installed (Kaczorowski, 2010). These observations will be replenished by observa-
tions of the horizontal component of displacement performed on the identified areas
of dislocation (Kaczorowski and Wojewoda, 2011; Kasza, 2013) using geodetic
measurement techniques and deformeters. Therefore was performed a stabilization of
the horizontal surveying reference points adapted to measure using Total Station in
the GL underground galleries. Also a project of the measuring polygon in the area of
Pełcznica river valley is already prepared. Particularly important will be the first re-
sults from the deformeter (model TM-71, made in Czech Republic) installed on the
arms of fault, which surface intersects one of the WT tubes. Deformeter will provide
information on the size of the horizontal movements at the time of detection of tecton-
ic events by tiltmeters and effect compensation phase (Kasza, 2013).
An important element of the Laboratory work is interference extensometer
launched in 2010. Its base of length about 30 meters allows monitoring earth's crust
deformation with a relative resolution of 10-9 meter. Obtained information about
changes of tension states and directions of the forces are support for WT in terms of
the Earth's natural vibrations, and the long-term and systematic changes of the vertical
line (Kaczorowski, 2010).
GL instruments are complemented by two permanent GPS stations installed on the
IG building in Książ (2010) and on the main building of Stallions Herd in Książ
(2013). GPS stations are located at a distance of approximately 300 meters on the
opposite sides of the main southern fault stretching the Pełcznica river valley. The
stations deployment will allow determining the movement of arms of the main fault.
The resulting time-series sequences of stations own movement will be used for testing
non-tidal signals of ground slopes and vertical movements observed by tiltmeters
(Kaczorowski, 2010).

Geodynamic laboratory SRC PAS in Książ – state of 2013
29
4. CONCLUSIONS
Location of Geodynamic Laboratory in the underground of the Książ Castle pro-
vides a unique opportunity to conduct subtle geodynamic research on local phenome-
na (related to the geological and tectonic structure of GL environment) and large-scale
- global phenomena. Modern, constantly evolving test equipment and advanced data
analysis methods allow for the development of work on the origins of recorded sig-
nals.
Conducting research on non-tidal signals determines the works associated with the
extension of appliance facilities and perfection of measurement techniques. Research
dimension has been expanded by the utilitarian aspect in the form of verification of
the potential impact of recorded signals on the historic architecture of the Książ Cas-
tle. In the future, will be attempted to assess how the developed methodology will
allow studying the tectonic effects and their impact in the areas covered by significant
ground movement caused even by mining activities or related to downforce site
changes caused by engineering structures such as dams.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study was financed by the grant No B30111 (Wrocław University of Technology) for conducting
research serving the development of young scientists and PhD students (subsidizing authority: Ministry
of Science and Higher Education).
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