Geo-mining Heritage of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin at the Czech and Polish border - Pictorial Guide
Implementation period: 01/01/2021 – 30/06/2022
Responsible person (VSB): Martin Klempa ()
Responsible person (SUT): Anna Manowska (anna.manowska@polsl.pl)
About project
At present, Czechs and Poles solve the issue of geo-mining heritage independently, without respecting the common geological and industrial past. Currently, there is no common publication that includes geoscience and mining monuments located on both sides of the border. The aim of the project is to create a publication that would comprehensively address the geology of the area of Upper Silesian Basin in the range of about 40 km from the common border to each side. In the more extensive part, it would describe selected interesting geological and geo - mining objects from both sides of the border (15 localities in each country). In addition, the resulting publication in a well-arranged map (larger format - A1) of the described locality would also characterize the context of contemporary tourism (connection to transport infrastructure, cycle paths, marked walking paths, etc.). At the moment there is a list of about 30 important geo-mining sites in the defined area on the Ostrava Gliwice axis, which is an important evidence of the development of the Upper Silesian Basin. These sites are well described in terms of national geological-historical context, but without the broader context of the Upper Silesian Basin. The main objective of the project is to present factually the geo-mining heritage of the Upper Silesian Basin.
From the more than 200-year historical development of the Upper Silesian Basin, a relatively large number of geoscientific and geo – mining sites have remained on the Czech and Polish sides, but these are currently being destroyed or irreversibly changed due to the gradual reclamation work. That is why the aim of the publication is to document selected localities and present them in the context of cross-border tourism to the general public. The project will create a comprehensive trilingual publication (CZE/PL/ENG) about natural and industrial monuments in the area within 40 km from the border. At present, more than 150 different mining sites are known. For the purposes of the publication, the 30 most interesting localities, which are geologically interesting in terms of mining, will be selected.
The structure of the publication forms a logical complex, which in the final form characterizes the geo – mining development of the Upper Silesian Basin. These are the following chapters:
- Geological development of the area;
- Mining past of the area;
- Picture guide to geo - mining monuments;
- Importance of geological and mining heritage for tourism.
The scope of the publication is planned for about 150 - 200 pages including color pictures, format B5. The picture guide will be the main part of the publication. There will be 4 pages dedicated to each site, where a brief description, location and a few characteristic photos (made using the drone) will be included. It will also comprise a map that will clearly mark the selected locations, covering all hiking trails.
About partners
VSB - Technical University of Ostrava has a long-term cooperation with the Silesian University of Technology in the field of science and education. Due to their specialization, both institutions have a deep knowledge of geology and mining, not only in the Upper Silesian Basin. At both universities, the study programs Geological Engineering, Mining, Environmental Engineering and Geoscience and Mining Tourism have been developing for long time. This combination creates the knowledge potential that is crucial to addressing this project. The result of the project - pictorial guide with geoscience and mining commentary will extend the student´s professional knowledge, but will also help the wider public to better understand the importance of these sites from the geo – mining point of view.