European Underground Laboratories

The KGHM Cuprum Research and Development Centre started over fifty years ago in 1967. It was established as part of the Copper Mining-Smelting Combine in Lubin, and continues to provide complex research and design services for the Lubin and Głogów copper mining regions.

At present, all research and development activities, as well as all production activities are conducted on-site. Thus, technical solutions are tested in harsh mining conditions to ensure that the match expectations in terms of durability, quality and reliability. The specialists at KGHM Cuprum Research and Development Centre also take part in research outside Poland. Clients include non-mining enterprises and foreign partners.

Operator

KGHM Cuprum

kghmcuprum.com

Geographical location

Contact person

New projects, ideas, geomechanical risk assessment and monitoring of underground workings stability:
Witold Pytel
Head of Rock Engineering Department, Head of KGHM Cuprum Scientific Board
+48 71 78 12 403

wpytel@cuprum.wroc.pl

The facility: new research areas planned

The KGHM mines are a potential site for new underground laboratories that are located 3 km north of the Polkowice County in Lower Silesia in Poland.

The concept plan for these new underground laboratories was developed within the BSUIN project in which KGHM Cuprum Research and Development Centre participated. Care was taken to satisfy legal requirements and to follow best practices. The document deals with the planning, construction, risk assessment and operation of underground laboratories.

To ensure a comprehensive approach, two types of underground laboratories are planned at the KGHM mines into. The first is a relatively small-scale laboratory used for research, tourism and education. The second is a large-scale laboratory for the development of mining technology. The plan is for both facilities to be located at a depth of around 1000 metres.

Specialized knowledge and services

The KGHM Cuprum Research and Development Centre is responsible for managing and implementing measures to minimize risk and maximize the efficiency of mining production.

In terms of specialized knowledge, the KGHM Cuprum Research and Development Centre is currently one of the best research and development centres related to exploration and mining in Poland. The centre has over 50 years of experience, skilled scientists and good international cooperation in huge mining projects such as SIMS SIMS or I2Mine

The knowledge and experience of our staff enable the centre to offer support in three crucial aspects of the mining industry:
– Preparation of investment
– Increasing mining effectiveness
– Supervision of investments and projects

The Centre can assist with all stages of research and development activity, including scientific research, environmental impact studies, feasibility studies, project support, and supervision during execution.

Site characteristics

The copper ore deposit mined by KGHM dips monoclinally from a depth of a few hundred metres to 1500 metres. The KGHM deposit is stratabound deposit and occurs in sedimentary rocks with varying thickness up to over a dozen metres. There are many faults in the ore sequence, with displacements as great as several dozen metres.

The Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine was previously considered a possible location for the neutrino detector, Glacier. The technical feasibility study for this detector was part of the EU’s LAGUNA project. Because of the well-developed infrastructure at the site, a feasibility study for underground laboratories was also conducted within the BSUIN project. Geomechanical conditions at the mine are being investigated.

Site characteristics
Site Description and data CUPRUM

Natural background radiation
NBR Scheme Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine

Travel to KGHM mines

The KGHM mines are located about 75 km northwest of Wrocław, the capital of Lower Silesia. Wrocław has a railway station, an international airport, universities and other higher education and research institutions. The A4 motorway and the S3 interregional road guarantee comfortable access to the mines. The nearest regional airport is located 20 km away in Lubin.

Available data

All data from KGHM’s investigations and research activities are stored in KGHM’s archives located in the appropriate departments at the mines and at the main office in the Lubin headquarters. These databases will be available to authorized researchers.