Rock Mining in Poland – Current Status and Conditions for Development

Abstract

This work presents development of extraction of rock raw minerals in the period 1950 - 2017 with particular emphasis on the extraction and production of natural aggregates in the last 30 years. In that time, share of rock raw minerals in the extraction of solid minerals in Poland increased from 36.8% to 66.9%, while the share of extraction of natural aggregates also increased by 30%, from 23.9% to 53.9%. One threat for the production of gravel aggregates is gradual decrease of gravel fractions in deposits, which are in great demand in the construction sector. Dol - nośląskie, świętokrzyskie and małopolskie Voyvodships are of primary importance for the extraction and production of crushed aggregates (42 %, 35% and 12% respectively). In świętokrzyskie Voyvodship resources in developed deposits are at the stage of depletion. Development of rock mining, despite large and increasing demand for mineral materials, faces many difficulties, resulting, among others, from ecological (environmen - tal), urban planning, social, economic conditionings.