Mariusz Czop

Radiological Hazard of Mine Water from Polymetallic and Uranium Deposits in the Karkonosze Mountains, South-West Poland

Surface and ground waters associated with abandoned uranium mines in the Kowary region, south-west Poland, has been investigated for their natural radioactivity levels. Concentrations of 238U, 234U, 226Ra, 228Ra and 222Rn isotopes were analyzed in 15 water samples collected from the old mining galleries, from Jedlica river and its inflow streams, as well as from several water supply plants in Kowary and Jelenia Gora towns. The results showed that although the protection measures against leaching of radioactive elements from the old galleries in the Kowary region have been undertaken and cultivation of the mining area had been performed, the levels of radioactivity in surface and ground waters on the study area are still relatively high.

Natural processes caused by soil resaturation in the Patnow open-pit cone of depression

Patnow Open-Pit is one of the largest brown-coal post-mining workings in Poland. Natural flooding processes started in March 2001. Groundwater discharge to the open-pit is aided by water taken from a dewatering system based on a barrier of wells. This article presents the first stage of research and includes hy-drogeological conditions in Pataow area, piezometric water level data and chemical analysis of groundwater inflows and water supplied to the Patnow workings. It also describes some geotechnical problems connected with open-pit flooding.