Content uploaded by Dariusz Brzeziński
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Dariusz Brzeziński on Apr 24, 2019
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
Mineral resources of Poland. Chapter 1.3. Crude oil. Chapter 1.5. Helium. Chapter 1.6. High nitrogenous natural gas (HNNG). Chapter 1.7. Natural gas. Chapter 4.1. Bentonites and bentonitic clays. Chapter 4.3. Calcite Chapter 4.8. Dimension and crushed stones. Chapter 4.12. Flintstones. Chapter. 4.17. Limestones and marls for the cement and lime industry.
Abstract
domestic base of mineral resources and possibilities of their exploitation
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
This document provides the specifications for the application
of the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and
Mineral Reserves and Resources 2009 (UNFC-2009) incorporating
Specifications for its application to geothermal resources. The
intended use of this document is in conjunction with UNFC-2009 and
the Specifications for the Application of UNFC-2009 to Renewable
Energy Resources (Renewables Specifications). The Renewables
Specifications represent ‘rules of application’ of UNFC-2009 to
Renewable Energy Resources, while this document represents ‘rules
of application’ of UNFC-2009 to Geothermal Energy Resources, via
the Renewables Specifications. Growing awareness and interest in
renewable energy resources, including geothermal energy resources,
has highlighted a need to normalize the way in which renewable
energy potential is reported. With no globally agreed geothermal
standards, guidelines or codes existing prior to the development of this
document, it is hoped that the inclusion of geothermal energy within
UNFC-2009 will facilitate the improvement of global communication
in the geothermal sector as part of the larger energy sector
The paper presents the characteristics ofprospective zones identifiedfor the first time within the lower Palaeozoic shale formations occurring in the Baltic-Podlasie-Lublin Basin and within the Carboniferous shale, sandstone, and mixed shale-sandstone complexes (the so-called hybrid complexes) in the basin of south-western Poland. The lateral and vertical ranges of these zones are determined based on specific criteria using the results of various research methods and analyses, i.e.: stratigraphie, sedimentological, mineralogical, petrological and geochemical of organic matter, pétrographie and petrophysical, including interpretation of well logs. Archived geological materials and those coming from the boreholes drilled recently in the concession areas were also used. Four prospective zones have been distinguished in the lower Palaeozoic of the so-called shale belt: SPI, SP2, SP3 and SP4. The most prospective area for the occurrence of unconventional hydrocarbon deposits in shale formations is the Baltic region-the Leba Elevation, where there are allfour perspective zones, only partially covering the range ofpotentially prospectiveformations. In each of these zones, both liquid and gas hydrocarbons can be expected in this area. Due to the low percentage oforganic matter, the lowest hydrocarbon generation potential is attributed to the Lublin region. However, the low values of this parameter are compensated by other parameters, i.e. the considerable thickness and lateral extent of zone SP4 corresponding partly to the Pelplin Formation. In the Carboniferous rocks of south-western Poland, seven prospective zones have been distinguished in four borehole sections. Four of them are "tight" zones in compact sandstones, while the other three zones represent a hybrid type in complexes with mixed lithology. No prospective zones have been defined in complexes with homogeneous shale lithologies. Determination of lateral extents of the identified zones has not been possible due to the scarcity of data on the geological structure and stratigraphy of the Carboniferous succession in the study area.
Zarys ewolucji polskiego prawa posZukiwania i wydobywania kopalin w latach 1991–2015 an outline of the evolution of the mineral exploration and extraction law in poland in the period 1991–2015 Krzysztof szamałeK 1, 2 Abstrakt. W 1991 r. dokonano nowelizacji prawa górniczego oraz prawa geologicznego, dostosowując je do nowej sytuacji gospo-darczo-politycznej Polski powstałej po 1989 r. Następstwem tych doraźnych dostosowań prawa było uchwalenie w 1994 r. nowoczesnego jednolitego prawa geologicznego i górniczego. Zgodnie z tą ustawą działalność poszukiwawcza i wydobywcza złóż kopalin mogła się od-bywać wyłącznie na podstawie koncesji. Ponadto sprecyzowano prawo własności złóż kopalin, wprowadzono opłatę eksploatacyjną jako daninę publiczną z tytułu wydobycia kopalin. W czasie obowiązywania tej ustawy (1994–2011) podlegała ona blisko trzydziestu noweliza-cjom usuwającym braki legislacyjne oraz wprowadzającym dyrektywy europejskie. W 2011 r. uchwalono nową ustawę Prawo geologiczne i górnicze (obowiązuje od 1 stycznia 2012 r.). Nowe prawo również podlegało istotnej nowelizacji w 2013 i 2014 r. Okres 1991–2014 był wystarczająco długi, żeby móc dokonać oceny ewolucji prawa oraz jego periodyzacji wraz z określeniem dominujących cech. W artykule przedstawiono dostrzeżone w ustawie braki definicyjne (górotwór, kopalina, złoże kopaliny) oraz potrzebę nowych uregulowań w zakresie kwalifikacji geologicznych czy powołania Państwowej Rady Geologicznej. Ponadto w związku z naruszeniem w ostatnich latach spójności i kompletności rozwiązań prawa geologicznego i górniczego przez nowe inicjatywy legislacyjne podejmowane przez ministra finansów oraz ministra skarbu państwa autor postuluje powołanie komisji kodyfikacyjnej do opracowania nowego całościowego prawa geologicz-nego i górniczego w postaci kodeksu geologiczno-górniczego. Słowa kluczowe: Prawo geologiczne i górnicze, koncesja, poszukiwanie kopalin, wydobycie kopalin. Abstract. In 1991, the Polish geological law and mining law were adjusted to the new economical and political conditions, resulting from the recent and sudden transition to capitalism. In 1994, these extemporaneously drafted bills were collected into a single, unified Geological and Mining Law. This law established that exploration and exploitation of geological resources can only take place after a relevant concession has been secured. Additionally, this law provided a detailed definition of mineral deposits' proprietary rights and introduced the exploitation fee. Throughout the period when this law was in effect (1994–2011), it was amended almost 30 times, in order to address legislative shortcomings and adjust the law to European directives. In 2011, a new geological and mining law was passed (it came into effect on the 1 st January, 2012). This new law was significantly amended in both 2013 and 2014. The period between 1991 and 2014 is long enough to assess its evolution and changing character. Most importantly, this paper indicates the current law's shortcomings: lack of clear definitions of key terms (mineral, mineral deposit, rock mass), and lack of new regulations regarding geological qualifications. Additionally, it is argued that a National Geological Committee should be established. Furthermore, since the coherence of the Geological and Mining Law has been undermined over the years due to numerous amendments initiated by the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury, it is argued here that a Codification Commission should write a new, holistic legal framework in the form of a broad geological and mining legal codex.
We present geochemical characteristics of the Lower Palaeozoic shales deposited in the Baltic Basin and Podlasie Depression. In the study area, this strata are represented by the Upper Cambrian–Lower Ordovician Alum Shale recognized in southern Scandinavia and Polish offshore and a equivalent the Lower Tremadocian Dictyonema Shale from the northern Estonia and the Podlasie Depression in Poland. Geochemical analyses reveal that the Alum Shale and Dictyonema Shale present high contents of organic carbon. These deposits have the best source quality among the Lower Palaeozoic strata, and they are the best source rocks in the Baltic region. The bituminous shales complex has TOC contents up to ca. 22 wt%. The analysed rocks contain low-sulphur, oil-prone Type-II kerogen deposited in anoxic or sub-oxic conditions. The maturity of the Alum and Dictyonema Shales changes gradually, from the east and north-east to the west and south-west, i.e. in the direction of the Tornquist-Teisseyre Zone. Samples, located in the seashore of Estonia and in the Podlasie region, are immature and in the initial phase of “oil window”. The mature shales were found in the central offshore part of the Polish Baltic Basin, and the late mature and overmature are located in the western part of the Baltic Basin. The Alum and Dictyonema Shales are characterized by a high grade of radioactive elements, especially uranium. The enrichment has a syngenetic or early diagenetic origin. The measured content of uranium reached up to 750 ppm and thorium up to 37 ppm.
The Myszków deposit located in the contact zone of the Małopolska and Upper Silesian blocks is the only one documented Mo-Cu-W porphyry type deposit in Poland. Inferred resources of sulfide-oxide ores are ca. 0.3 million Mg molybdenum, ca. 0.24 million Mg tungsten and ca. 0.8 million Mg copper. In this region the prospective areas were recognized for not only Mo-Cu-W porphyry type deposits but also for skarns, contact-metasomatic and vein type deposits. The prospective areas for ore mineralization of porphyry Mo-Cu-W type and skarn-contact metasomatic type may be related to Ediacaran-Paleozoic sediments intruded by Upper Carboniferous post-collisional calc-alkaline granitoids and porphyries, located in the contact zone of the Małopolska and Upper Silesian blocks along the Hamburg-Kraków tectonic zone. The most prospective area for the occurrence of the porphyry-type Mo-Cu-W deposit is the region between Nowa Wieś Z•arecka, Myszków and Mrzygł́d, which surrounds the Myszków Mo-Cu-W porphyry deposit. However, this area like the other selected prospective areas (Z•arki-Kotowice, Zawiercie, Pilica, Dolina Bedkowska and Mysłów), requires additional prospecting for the new targets. As a result of new documentation work of the copper and silver resources hosted by Zechstein sediments in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, an increase in molybdenum resources (coexisting element in the Kupferschiefer deposits) should be expected. However, molybdenum is not extracted during processing of the Cu-Ag sulphide ores. Numerous occurrences of molybdenum and tungsten mineralization recognized in the Sudetes are classified into the hypothetical resources. These sites are strong indicators, which may be valuable in direct prospecting for Mo and/or W deposits of the contact-metasomatic, porphyry and vein types.
In Poland, the only one documented nickel deposit is the saprolitic-type deposit in Szklary Lower Silesia, abandoned in 1983. Its documented balance resources are (B and C1 categories) ca. 117 thousands Mg of metallic nickel at 0.7% cut-off. However, around the Sowie Mts. block gneisses, more such Ni-layer silicate type ores in small and separate lenses are expected. Prognostic resources of nickel in serpentinite waste are estimated for ca. 25 thousand Mg. The advances in hydrometallurgy of weathering-type nickel ores and high nickel prices allowed considering the poor Ni-ores containing <0.5% Ni as potentially economic to modern processing. Intensification of Ni prospecting should cause an increase in the amount of prospective nickel resources by tens of thousands tons of nickel from saprolitic-type deposits hosted by serpentinite wastes developed on the Szklary, Braszowice-Brzeźnica and Gogołów-Jordanów massifs. Moreover, the verification of current documented resources according to new balance criteria should also result in an increase in Ni resources in Poland. The additional source of Ni in Poland is the Zechstein Cu-Ag-formation, from which the annual production is ca. 2 thousands Mg of nickel-sulfates during technological processing of Cu ores. It is worthy to notice that during documentation of the new Cu-Ag resources hosted by the Zechstein formation in the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, an increase in nickel resources should be expected in Poland. In this area, nickel is the coexisting element in the copper-bearing sulfide ores. Besides, some evidence for possible hypothetic resources of magmatic Ni-Cu deposits connected with ultramafic cumulates of ophiolitc sequences in the Gogoł́w- Jordańw, Braszowice-Brzeźnica and Nowa Ruda gabbros massifs, is also suggested.
The map sheets at scale 1: 200 000 illustrate the areas of prospective occurrences of natural chemical raw materials (rock and potash salts and native sulphur) in Poland. Fourteen prospective regions and 64 areas of Upper Permian rock salt with predicted (both prospective and prognostic ones) resources of ca. 4.052·1012 Mg and the total area of ca 31.6·w3 km2 have been contoured on 57 map sheets. Prospective occurrences of the Miocene rock salt are defined in four areas located on four map sheets and their predicted resources are calculated for 6.9·109 Mg and the total area for ca. 137 km2. Twelve prospective areas of Upper Permian potash salts, contoured on eight map sheets, have the total predicted resources of ca. 3638.1·106 Mg and the total area of ca. 465 km2. Eleven prospective areas are defined for native sulphur concentrations within the Miocene deposits of the Carpathian Foredeep (five map sheets, southern Poland). Their prospective (both prognostic and hypothetic ones) resources are estimated for ca. 390·106 Mg and the total area for ca. 73 km2. The maps have been supplemented with the individual reports on each prospective region and area, including all geographical and geological data on the described raw material occurrence, as well as with suggestions on their possible management.
The Lower Palaeozoic basin at the western slope of the East European Craton (EEC) (Fig. 1) is currently recognized as one of the most interesting areas for shale gas exploration in Europe. The Upper Ordovician and/or Lower Silurian graptolitic shale is here the major potential reservoir formation (Figs. 2, 3) (Poprawa & Kiersnowski, 2008; Poprawa, 2009). Moreover, the Upper Cambrian to Tremadocian Alum shale is an additional target locally in the northern part of the Baltic Basin. These sediments are often rich in organic matter (Klimuszko, 2002; Poprawa & Kiersnowski, 2008; Wiȩcław et al., 2010; Skŗet & Fabiańska, 2009), as well as silica. Limited data from two wells in the western part of the Baltic Basin show silica contents up to 60-70% (Fig. 4) (Krzemiński & Poprawa, 2006). The advantage of the Lower Palaeozoic shale from the western slope of EEC is its broad lateral extend (Fig. 1) and relatively quiet tectonic setting. The later is particularly true in the case of the Baltic Basin and Podlasie Depression. Structural development becomes to some extent more complex in the case of the Lublin region, where the Lower Palaeozoic shale appears affected by late Famennian to early Visean block tectonics. Development of the organic rich Lower Palaeozoic shale at the western slope of EEC was controlled by several factors. Very important was here the rate of non-organic detritus deposition (Fig. 5). The other factors included organic productivity of the basin, its subsidence, relative sea level changes, basin bathymetry, geochemical conditions at the sea bottom (especially oxygenation), degree of bioturbation, presence of topographic barriers at the sea bottom, leading to development of isolated anoxic zones, sea currents configuration, and climate changes. Organic matter of the Lower Palaeozoic is characterized by presence of II type of kerogen. Appearance of the organic-rich shale within the Lower Palaeozoic section at the western slope of the EEC is diachronic (Fig. 6). From NW towards east and SE, the intervals richest in organic appear related to systematically younger strata, startingfrom the Upper Cambrian to Tremadocian, as well as the Upper Llanvirn and Caradoc in the Leba Elevation (northern onshore Baltic Basin; Fig. 7). In central parts of the Baltic Basin and Podlasie Depression as well as NWpart of the Lublin region, the intervals richest in organic matter are found in the Llandovery section, while in the eastern part of the Baltic Basin and SE part of the Lublin region the highest TOC contents are found in the Wenlock. Therefore, depending on location at the western slope of EEC, different formations are recognized as the targets for shale gas exploration. The Upper Cambrian to Tremadocian shale, present only in the northern part of the Baltic Basin, is characterized by very high contents of organic matter, with average value for individual sections usually ranging from 3 to 12% TOC. This shale formation is, however, of very limited thickness, not higher than several meters in the onshore part of the basin (Szymański, 2008; Wiȩcław et al., 2010). In onshore part of the studied area, thickness of the Caradoc shale changes from a few meters up to more than 50 m (Modliński & Szymański, 1997, 2008). Contents of organic matter in these sediments are the highest in the Leba Elevation zone and the basement of the Plock-Warszawa trough, where average TOC contents in individual well sections range from 1% to nearly 4%. Ashgill rocks are characterized by high TOC contents only in the Leba Elevation zone, where average TOC values for individual well sections rise up to 4,5% at the most. Llandovery shale has high TOC contents, particularly in its lower part, throughout vast parts of the western slope of EEC. The maximum measured TOC contents in those rocks in Podlasie Depression are nearly 20%. Average TOC values for individual sections of the Llandovery are usually equal 1% do 2, 5%, except for the Podlasie Depression, where they may reach as much as 6%. Thickness of the Llandovery shale generally increases from east to west to approximately 70 m at the most. However, in the major part of that area it ranges from 20 to 40 m (Modliński et al., 2006). Thickness of the Wenlock sediments is also highly variable laterally, from less than 100m in SE part of the Lublin region to over 1000 m in western part of the Baltic Basin. Average content of organic matter in individual Wenlock sections in central and western parts of the Baltic Basin and the Podlasie Depression usually ranges from 0,5% to 1,3% TOC. In the eastern part of the Baltic Basin and in the Lublin region it is higher, rising to about 1-1,7% TOC. The above mentioned TOC values show the present day content of organic matter, which is lower than the primary one. The difference between the present and primary TOC contents increases along with increasing thermal maturity. It is also highly dependant on genetic type ofkerogen. Taking into account the II type ofkerogen from the analyzed sediments, it may be stated that in the zones located in the gas window the primary TOC was at least one-half greater than indicated by laboratory measurements. From the shale gas point of view, the basins at the western slope of EEC are characterized by a negative relation between depth at present day burial and thermal maturity (Poprawa & Kiersnowski, 2008). In the zones with burial depth small enough to keep exploration costs at very low level (Fig. 8), thermal maturity of shales is too low for gas generation (Figs. 9, 12a). Maturity increases westwards (Fig. 8) along with depth of burial (Fig. 9). Thus, the potential shale gas accumulations in the western part of the studied area occur at depths too high for commercial gas exploration and exploitation (Fig. 12b). Between of the zone of maturity too low for shale gas development and that where depth of burial is too large for its exploration, there occurs a broad zone of the Lower Palaeozoic shale with increased shale gas exploration potential (Fig. 13) (Poprawa & Kiersnowski, 2008; Poprawa, 2009). In that area, there are shale intervals of relatively high thickness and average TOC exceeding 1-2% TOC (Fig. 7, 10, 12c). Thermal maturity of these rocks appears sufficient for generation of gas (Fig. 9, 10), and results of well tests for deeper-seated conventional reservoirs suggest good quality of dry gas with no nitrogen (Fig. 12c). It should be noted that some gas shows have been recorded in the Lower Palaeozoic shale. Moreover, depth of burial is not too large for commercial shale gas exploration (Fig. 8, 10). Hydrocarbon shows and their composition in the Lower Palaeozoic are strictly related to thermal maturity of the source rock. In the zones of low maturity, these are almost exclusively oil shows documented. Further westwards, in the zone transitional to the gas window area, gas is wet and contains significant contribution of hydrocarbon gases higher than methane. Within the gas window zone, the records are almost exclusively limited to methane shows. Moreover, within the zones of low maturity high nitrogen contents were recorded (Poprawa, 2009). In the zones characterized by thermal maturity in the range from 0,8 to 1,1% Ro and very high TOC contents (over 15% at the most), there is a potential for oil shale exploration. The zones with the highest oil shale potential include eastern Baltic Basin in SW Lithuania and NE part of the Podlasie Depression. Some data necessary for entirely firm estimations of potential shale gas resources of the Lower Palaeozoic complex in Poland are still missing. However, preliminary estimates indicate that these shale gas resources may possibly be classified as gigantic (1,400-3,000 bin m3 ofrecoverable gas; Fig. 15). For comparison, resources of conventional gas in Poland are equal to 140,5 bln m3, and annual domestic gas consumption is at the level of 14 bin m3. However, it should be noted that some characteristics of the Lower Palaeozoic complexes indicate increased exploration risk. The average TOC contents are here lower than in classic examples of gas shales, like e.g. Barnett shale. Moreover, in the zone of optimal burial depth (less than 3000-3500 m) thermal maturity is lower than in the case of the Barnett shale core area. An important risk factor is also both a limited amount and limited resources of conventional gas fields in the Lower Palaeozoic complex (Fig. 13). Amount and intensity of gas shows in the Lower Palaeozoic shale are also relatively low, and there is no evidences for presence of overpressure in this complex. In the eastern part of western slope ofthe EEC, there appears an additional risk factor-a relatively high content of nitrogen in gas.
The quantity, genetic type and maturity of organic matter dispersed in the Lower Cambrian to the uppermost part of the Silurian (Pridoli) sequence of the Polish part of the Baltic region was determined based on the results of geochemical analyses of a total of 1377 rock samples collected from 38 onshore and offshore boreholes. The best source rocks were found in the Upper Cam - brian-Tremadocian succession where present and initial total organic carbon (TOC) contents are up to ca. 18 and 20 wt.%, respec - tively. Caradocian (Ordovician) strata can be considered as an additional source of hydrocarbons. In the individual boreholes median present and initial TOC contents vary from 0.5 to 3.3 wt.% and from 1 to 6 wt.%, respectively. The Llandovery (Silurian) strata reveal moderate and locally high hydrocarbon potential of the source rocks. The present TOC content reaches locally 10 wt.% (usually 1-2 wt.%). Another source of hydrocarbons can be clayey intercalations within the Middle Cambrian strata. Their organic matter con - tent rarely exceeds 1 wt.%, being often a result of advanced organic matter transformation. In all lower Paleozoic strata investigated from the Polish part of the Baltic region oil - prone, low - sulphur Type - II kerogen occurs, deposited in anoxic or sub - oxic conditions. The maturity of all source rocks changes from the initial phase of the low - temperature thermogenic processes in the northeastern part to the overmature stage in the southwestern part of the study area.
The Group of Experts on Definitions and Terminology for Mineral Resources has recommended an international classification system for mineral resources. Three basic resource categories, R-l, R-2 and R-3, are distinguished according to the level of geological assurance. Each of these categories can be further subdivided into resources considered to be exploitable under the prevailing socio-economic conditions (subcategory E) and additional resources of foreseeable economic interest (subcategory S). These categories can either refer to in situ or recoverable quantities of metals or minerals. It is hoped that the recommendations of the Group of Experts will be accepted by the international community and they will eventually be applied to facilitate the presentation of comparable statistics.