GEOTOUR & IRSE 2012.pdf - Fakulta BERG - TUKE

GEOTOUR & IRSE 2012
exploration. On the basis of documented resources, the “Initial project for the construction
and exploitation of the GIERCZYN mine” was completed in 1957, which was operating on
the basis of the former workings, with the mining works limited to the prospecting works
only. The exploitation was never started because the deposit was too small [8, 10, 11, 14].
Numerous mining objects are the remains of the more than 400 years‟ documented history of
mining works in the region Krobica – Gierczyn – Przecznica. During the cataloguing work
carried out in the analysed region, the complexes of mines and their superficial infrastructure,
which are known from archive materials, have been found and identified. They include: “Sct.
Maria – Anna”, “Drei Brüder” and “Fryderyk Wilhelm” in Przecznica; „Morgenröthe”
(“Süzette”), “Kupfer Zeche” and “Reicher Trost” in Gierczyn, “St. Carol” and
“Hundsrücken” in Kotlin, “St. Johanes” and “Leopold” in Krobica. Special attention should
be paid to the remains of shafts of the former mines “Reicher Trost” and “Hundsrücken”, on
the basis of which the mine “Gierczyn” was designed in the post-war period [12, 13]. Due to
their relatively good condition, the complex of workings of the former mine “Sct.
Johannes”(“Rungenschen”) and the drift “Leopold” in Krobica as well as the drift (mine)
“Fryderyk Wilhelm” in Przecznica [14] seem to be very interesting in terms of their use as a
tourist attractions. Also, part of the underground workings of the “Sct. Maria – Anna” mine in
Przecznica is in perfect condition. In the flooded shaft of that mine there still may exist
extremely precious (from the historical point of view) remains of the original water drive
drainage equipment.
The results of the conducted work have aroused interest of the Mirsk Commune authorities, in
the area of which the remains of former mines are located. After the proper preservation and
preparation, these objects should add to an increase in the tourist attractiveness of Mirsk
Commune, and consequently bring measurable economic and social benefits. This idea is
supported by the experience of similar projects for the restoration of historical post-mining
objects and turning them into tourist attractions in Poland and Europe. As a result of the
undertaken activities the project entitled “Rekultywacja obszarów zdegradowanych
działalnością górniczą na terenie Gminy Mirsk, z utworzeniem ścieżki turystycznej “Śladami
dawnego górnictwa kruszców” (Reclamation of the regions degraded by mining activity in the
area of Mirsk Commune, with the creation of a tourist path Along the footprints of old ore
mining) [14]. The project will be executed by KGHM CUPRUM Research and Development
Centre in Wrocław. It will be financed by Mirsk Commune from the European Union
resources, within the framework of the Regional Operating Programme for the Lower Silesian
voivodeship for the years 2007 – 2013. Within the framework of the above-mentioned project,
the complex reclamation of the former mining sites in the area of Krobica – Gierczyn –
Przecznica will be carried out (towards the forest and tourism direction) and the tourist and
teaching path (about 8 km long) presenting the history and remains of the former tin and
cobalt mining in that area will be created. After removing the wastes the proper reclamation
and management work will be carried out at the post-mining objects, in the scope resulting
from the planned method of their management for the tourist traffic needs. The main
assumption adopted for the area management design and creation of the tourist and teaching
path is the least possible interference in the existing condition of the former mining sites and
the surrounding area. The main goal is to make the remains of former mining works available
to visitors in the condition as close to the original, i.e. in the period from 16th to 19th century,
as possible.
The most important element of the planned path “Along the footprints of old ore mining” will
be the underground tourist route “St. John‟s Mine” in Krobica, being prepared on the basis of
historical workings from the years 1576 – 1816. Tourists, under the care of guides, will cover
the distance of about 350 m along the workings from the period of the 16th to 19th century.
This project, in its programme assumptions, features the values qualifying it to the category of
environmentally-oriented and socially-oriented projects. The completion of the two basic task
109