Copper Reserves in Poland

One of the most sought-after natural resources in the world, Copper is also one of the most abundant elements. Its conductive and corrosion-proof properties make it an indispensable natural resource for industries such as telecommunication, transportation, and power. As the largest producer of copper in Europe and the fifth largest producer in the world, the production of copper and other metal ores is a significant part of Poland's economy.

KGHM is the main producer of Copper in Poland; The deposit they operate in dips monoclinally from a few hundred meters to 1500 meters. Copper minerals are found in three main rock types: sandstone, shale and dolomite.

The most common copper sulfides are as follows: chalcocite, bornite, chalcopyrite and covellite. The most significant copper deposit type in Poland is sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits and holds the majority of Poland's copper reserves. Of particular importance is the Kupferschiefer deposit-- The Kupferschiefer metallogenic belt of Germany and Poland is one of three “supergiant” sediment-hosted copper deposits of the world and is among the largest 1% of deposits with >60 Mt contained Cu. Characteristic of this deposit is the crosscutting nature of the mineralization layers to the stratified layers (Fig. 13).

In Poland, these stratiform mineral deposits form where Permian limestone lies against New Red Sandstone and contains sandstone, shale and dolomite. Ore horizon ranges from 1.2m to 20m in thickness at depths between 600m and 1,200m. The average thickness in mineable zones is 3.38m.

• The sulfides of Kepferschiefer host a number of metals including Copper, Lead, Zinc and Gold, with Copper being most abundant 
• Copper zones enriched in transition metals 
• Main mechanism of concentration of metals is catalytic autooxidation and dehydrogenation of organic matter--- Coppers most enriched in black shale

• 12 Copper/Silver Ore Deposits
• Fore-Sudetic Monocline: 9 minable deposits
• North Sudetic Basin: 3 minable deposits

2015 total economic resources of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline and North Sudetic Trough combined amounted to 1,976 million tonnes of ore containing 36 million tonnes of copper and 107,000 tonnes of silver. Compared to 2014, balance resources were higher by 239 Mt ore as a result of proving a new Radwanice-Gaworzyce deposit. (PGINRI)

Chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite are the most important minerals. KGHM is currently mining the Glogów Gleboki Przemyslowy deposit, which is equivalent to 26% of the resources currently being worked.

Important geologic factors that facilitate copper deposits in Poland: (Oszczepalski et al, 2019)

1. Oxidized areas and copper orebodies limited to the Variscan deformation zone

2. the occurrence of oxidized Rote Fäule facies on the slopes of basement highs

3. Transition zone between oxidized and reduced facies

4.  cross-cutting secondary oxidation of the reduced rocks, including especially the oxidation of organic material

5.  occurrences of sulfide mineralization over oxidized sediments and enrichments in gold and platinum in oxidized profiles

6. Transitional zone with a width of 1 to 6 km, in which there are both oxidized and reduced sediments with poor pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization

7.  the restriction of high-grade Cu–Ag mineralization to areas proximal to the so-called strong Rote Fäule

8. Zonal distribution of metals and metal sulfides relative to the oxidized rocks

In the Lower Selisian deposit which includes Lubin, Polkowice, Rudna and Sieroszowice mine, shaft sinking through aquifers used a freezing method. The deposit is stressed, and is subject to seismic events and rock bursts, so KGHM has developed an extensive monitoring and rock bolt system.

Thicker deposits use cut-and-fill methods, but most production relies on room-and-pillar mining. Electro-hydraulic rigs increase productivity and reduce dilution in these sections, while thin-seam equipment such as the Facemaster 1.5, has extended mining into thinner seams. LHDs, shuttle cars and, in thicker working areas, Toro 50D trucks, take ore to conveyors that run to the hoists. (MiningTech)

Largest anticipated copper resource in Europe at 36 million tonnes

Fifth largest Copper reserve in the world as of 2016

• Employs 34,000 employees
• €5.3 billion (2017)
• €530 million operating income
• €7.9 Billion total assets

The largest economic copper resources in the world. Top 10 countries are as follows: (USGS, 2016)

Chile: 209 Mt

Australia: 93 Mt

Peru: 68 Mt

Mexico: 38 Mt

Poland: 36 Mt

USA: 35 Mt

Russia: 30 Mt

China: 30 Mt

Indonesia: 25 Mt

Congo: 20 Mt

Terrestrial and aquatic environments are sensitive to metal smelting both on the local and the regional scale, primarily through the production and dumping of waste. The major effects of heavy metals include pollution of air, soil, river water, and groundwater systems. Several water systems, such as the Vistula and Odra Rivers, contain high levels of heavy metals and chloride contamination. Around 50% of surface water systems do not meet quality standards due to such waste management.

In 1990: more than 660 million tonnes of spoils and 490 million tonnes of tailings was produced by mining and processing industries. Thus, several regions have been classified as ecologically endagered, and around half of these correspond to mining districts. (Rybicka et al) However, these mining effects are likely primarily from Poland's more dominant coal industry.

• Dust
• Copper
• Lead
• Sulfur Compounds

Copper production in Poland is depleting, with a number of mines being fully exploited and production leveling off after peak production around 2004. To manage this issue, 35 prospective areas with speculative reserves have been located in Southwest Poland. Current estimates predict that mine lifespans will range from 50-60 years with a production rate of 30 Mt/year ore. (Oszczepalski et al) While the deep Glogow mine has extended production of copper, exploration of new reserves will be crucial for Poland to maintain its copper production and maintain international demand.

The Deep Glogow mining operation seems to be the most promising area for keeping up with KGHM copper production rates for the next twenty to thirty years.

Production of Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine is approximately 12 million tonnes of ore per year. In 2018, the mine extracted over 196 thousand tonnes of copper, over 300 thousand tonnes of salt and over 428 thousand kg of silver. Estimates report that mining this deposit will shift peak production to 2028-2035. This area will also allow 10-11 million tonnes of ore and 200-220 thousand tonnes of electrolytic copper per year.

KGHM also has copper mines in North and South America:

• Robinson (open pit, USA),
• Franke (open pit, Chile),
• Carlota (open pit, USA),
• Morrison (underground, Canada)
• Sierra Gorda (one of the largest open pit mines in world, Chile)

KGHM are also developing new projects in Afton-Ajax and Victoria, Canada. (KGHM)

Bylicki, Maksymilian. "Copper Industry in Poland." IFAC Proceedings Volumes 39, no. 22 (2006): 264-267.

KGHM. 2019. Accessed From:  https://kghm.com/en/about-us/our-industry/copper-market 

Mining Technology. (Accessed Nov 18, 2019) Accessed from:  https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/kghm/ 

Oszczepalski, Sławomir, Stanisław Speczik, Krzysztof Zieliński, and Andrzej Chmielewski. "The Kupferschiefer Deposits and Prospects in SW Poland: Past, Present and Future." Minerals 9, no. 10 (2019): 592.

Poland Geological Institute. Mineral Resources of Poland. Accessed From  http://geoportal.pgi.gov.pl/surowce/metaliczne/rudy_cu-ag 

Rybicka, E. Helios. "Environmental impact of mining and smelting industries in Poland." Geological Society, London, Special Publications 113, no. 1 (1996): 183-193.