Historical Ore Mining Sites in Lower Silesia (Poland) As Geo-Tourism Attraction

Home , Gierczyn, Kaczawa, Kowary, Krobica, Kwisa, Mirsk

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26

Historical ore mining sites in Lower Silesia (Poland) as geo-tourism attraction

MACIEJ MADZIARZ KGHM CUPRUM RDC Ltd., Wroclaw, Poland (E-mail: [email protected])

ABSTRACT Article presents the possibilities of using of the remains of old ore mining tradition in the Lower Silesia as major attractions of industrial tourism and geo-tourism, against a background of the mining development in that area and characteristics of the research work conducted systematically for many years at former mining and metallurgical sites by the Mining Institute of Wrocław University of Technology. The article presents a project for the preservation, conservation and modern-day use of the survived remains of tin and cobalt ore mining in the vicinity of Krobica- Gierczyn-Przecznica at the foot of the Izerskie Mountains in the neighbourhood of Świeradów Zdrój, which is executed by KGHM CUPRUM Sp. z o.o.

Key words: history, ore mining, exploration and exploitation of deposits, Sudety Mountains

LOWER SILESIAN ORE MINING IN silver and copper, the mining origin of HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE which is covered with mists of history and can be traced back to as early as the bronze „…There is land of such a nature that if age. Although the territorial notion of you sow, it does not yield crops, but if you Silesia underwent essential changes dig, it nourishes many more than if it had throughout its history, the mining of borne fruit …” different ores had been successfully carried This timeless Xenophanes thought was on here for many ages. To the north and to cited in the introduction to „De Re the east of its boundaries no mining activity Metallica” – the first ever complex study had been carried on, it was only in the concerning mining, metallurgy and distant Bytom and Tarnowskie Góry region mineralogy, by its author Georgius (the Polish Ore Basin) that mining activity Agricola, a 16th-century researcher, was carried on a large scale. To the west, scientist, physician and philosopher, one of the nearest mining activity area was the the most eminent intellects of the region of Freiberg. It should be stressed that Renaissance. The above maxim perfectly despite the distinct separation of the Lower reflects the importance of mining carried on Silesian mining, it took advantage of the over the ages in the area of Lower Silesia, experience of other, important mining especially in the Sudety Mts., where centres in Europe, achieving a high level of adverse weather conditions and poor soils mining and metallurgic technology did not favour stock-farming and plant- (Dziekoński, 1972). In order to respect the growing, and the real source of wealth and old divisions, the notions of Lower Silesia - prosperity of their inhabitants were the Silesia Inferior, Niederschlesien for the treasures hidden deep in the mountains by west Silesia and the Upper Silesia - Silesia the Nature. These treasures are made up of Superior, Oberschlesien for the east Silesia numerous mineral deposits, especially were used. The borders of Poland on the metal and ore deposits, including gold, Bóbr and Kwisa Rivers were established in

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 the year of 1000, when the Wrocław monocline situated north of Lubin bishopric was created and they did not (Dziekoński, 1972). The historically known undergo any major changes throughout the deposits were exploited over many ages and Middle Ages. The south border constituted they were mostly the so-called “open the massifs of the Sudety Mountains deposits”, i.e. the ore bodies of those (Czapliński et. al., 2002). Despite the deposits were at least partly exposed by the complex and turbulent political history of erosion surface, which allowed their early the Silesia, mining activity has always an discovery and extraction (Dziedzic et al., important economic role, providing 1979). livelihood for their inhabitants and for German scientists Cloos, Berg, Bederke regional development opportunities. The and Petrascheck were the first to undertake origin of many Lower Silesian places is work aimed to systematise the information associated with mining. Gold, ores of silver on Lower Silesia deposit occurrence and and lead, copper, tin, arsenic, cobalt genesis, in combination with geological and chromium, iron, coal, lignite, building structural assumptions. In 1936, the stone, and even mineral waters constituted comprehensive study “Schlesien. large resources of that region. However, the Bodenschätze und Industrie“, containing subject of interest for former miners were, the evaluation of geological basis for the first of all, numerous, small polymetallic development of mineral extraction and ore deposits, usually containing a few basic processing within the area of Lower Silesia, ore minerals, exploited in a documented was completed by a group of German manner over the period from the 13th to 20th scientists and researchers of that period, century (Dziekoński, 1972). In Lower such as O. Spangenberg, E. Bederke, O. Silesia, more precisely in the Sudety Mts., Eisenkraut, I. Bartsch, L. Gäbler, F. Ilner, these types of ore formations encompass a A. Metzing, M. Morgeroth, E. Pralle, D. number of deposits and occurrences Rademacher, F.W. Siegert, H. Sinnreich, characterised by multicomponent and W. Thust (Madziarz, 2009). Since 1945 that variable mineralisation. The area of their work has been intensely continued by the occurrence is the Sudety Mts. and their Polish researchers and it has resulted in the foothills, where veins or mineralised zones discovery of a huge polymetallic deposit of reach the length of more than 2 km copper and silver, and consequently in the (Radzimowice), and the depth of more than modern-day boom in the ore mining in 300 m (Kowary) (Dziedzic et al., 1979). In Lower Silesia. The deposits on the Fore- the initial mining period, first of all the Sudeten monocline, which were discovered richest and easily available deposits at only after World War II, are ranked among small depths have been exploited, and the the largest in the world and are nowadays vein deposits initially evaluated as abundant intensely exploited in the three modern often turned out to be small and difficult in underground mines. exploitation. The history of Lower Silesian ore Lower Silesia is divided into six main mining is well known and mostly regions in respect of the useful mineral associated with the gold mining which was occurrence These are: Kłodzko Land, carried on in many centres and was of Sowie Mountains along with the Wałbrzych special importance to them (Dziedzic et al., region, the foothills of the Karkonosze 1979; Dziekoński, 1972; Quiring, 1948; Mountains, exploited gold-dust deposits in Sachs, 1906). First of all, the area in the the vicinity of Lwówek, Złotoryja and former Legnica Duchy, between the rivers Legnica, the so-called North-Sudeten Kaczawa and Bóbr in the region of Zechstein depression (having outcrops Lwówek, Złotoryja, Mikołajowice and south of Lwówek and Złotoryja and near Bolesławiec was distinguished by the Grodziec), and Fore-Sudeten Zechstein volume of production. The boom in gold

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 mining took place in the years 1180–1241, with the influence of Celts, who stayed in and only in the first half of the 13th century the Silesia in the period of the 4th to 3rd the mining law was introduced for the gold century B.C. (Celtic silver and bronze coins mines as one of the earliest in Europe are known). It is also known that in the (Lwówek in 1278, Złotoryja in 1342). On period of the so-called “Lusatian Culture”, the European scale, Złoty Stok became a in the neighbourhood of Legnica and recognised centre of gold mining and Złotoryja arms and tools were locally made metallurgy, where the arsenic ore deposits of bronze – an alloy of copper and tin, by containing gold were exploited. There, the casting in stone moulds, with the shortages beginnings of mining goes back to 1291, replenished with imports from Carpathians and the largest boom is traced back to 15th and Eastern Alps. In the bronze age this century and the first half of the 16th century. area was within the reach of the so-called Till the end of the 17th century the goal of “Unietic Culture”, which formed from the mining activity was the production of around 2100 B.C., especially south of gold, and since the beginning of the 18th Wrocław. Numerous copper products as century the activity had been concentrated well as those made of bronze and gold, on the production of arsenic, with gold including arms, daily necessities, being recovered as a by-product. The ornaments, etc. are found in the discovered exploitation in Złoty Stock was finally skeleton graveyards of that culture. It is brought to an end in 1962. According to known that its twilight occurred as a result German researcher Quiring the name Sowie of the fall of already-existing copper mining Mountains – in German: Eulengebirge, and processing centres, which were located comes from the Celtic word meaning gold in the areas where that culture evolved (Quiring, 1948). In fact, in the already- (Czapliński et. al., 2002). The documented exploited ore veins in the Sowie Mountains history of copper ore mining in Lower there were small amounts of that precious Silesia – the metal which, besides gold, was metal. the earliest and initially most extensively Hidden behind the fascinating shine of used one in the human history, both in gold is the forgotten but yet several- ancient times and nowadays, encompasses century-old and noble history of Lower the period of at least 700 years, as the first Silesian mining and metallurgy of many survived information on the existence of other ores among which ores of copper, “Cuprifodina in montibus” – which simply lead and silver, tin and cobalt, arsenic, iron means „a copper mine in the mountains” in and, later, uranium were historically most Latin (Dziekoński, 1972; Madziarz, 2010), significant. It is worth stressing that gold in the vicinity of Miedzianka near Jelenia and copper - the earliest used and mined Góra, comes from the year of 1311. The metals by human being (Craig et al., 2003) copper and arsenic ore deposits in the area were fairly abundant in relatively easy to of northern Karkonosze Mts., in the vicinity find polymetallic vein deposits in the area of Miedzianka i Ciechanowice, of Lower Silesia, which can indicate very Radzimowice and Czarnów have an early beginnings of their exploitation in that essential role in the development of mining area. Although as yet there is no material in Lower Silesia. The second area in Lower evidence that the history of Lower Silesian Silesia, where copper mining activity was ore mining goes back more than one carried on was the neighbourghood of thousand years, there is no way not to recall Złotoryja, where already in the 18th century here again the works of German scientist H. in the place called Leszczyna a copper ore Quiring, who linked the beginnings of mine of sedimentary origin was started, in mining works in the Sudeten with the the form of cupriferous shales poor in metal activity of Cretans – already around 2 but ensuring stable production. The gently thousand years B.C., and their continuation and uniformly declining bed exploited there

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 in the “Stilles Glück” mine in the second knowledge about the Sudeten deposits was half of the 19th century ensured the limited to those already recognised during smoothness and continuity of production the mining activity carried on throughout (Dziekoński, 1972). Mining activity in the the centuries, in the shallow near-surface North Sudeten Zechstein depression was parts (Dziekoński, 1972). resumed only in the thirties of the 20th The documentary collection of the century, when the progress in mining former German Higher Mining Office in technology and the shift in global mining Wrocław (Oberbergamt zu Breslau, OBB towards more and more poorer ores made Breslau) is a rich source of information on the mining of those merely 0.8-1.2% ores the history of mining in Lower Silesia, in with uniform mineralisation cost-effective. which the especially rich materials come It gave the origin to the so-called “Old from the years of 1779–1852. The source Copper Basin”, operating until the nineties publications for historical studies are codes of the 20th century, in the region of containing names, summaries and full texts Złotoryja and Bolesławiec. Mining activity of documents from old chronicles. aimed at obtaining copper ores were also Furthermore, the works by Festenberg, carried on in a number of other places. The Steinbeck and Fechner contain plenty of object of exploration and exploitation in the information. Among the works published area of Lower Silesia were also after 1945, the work by Dziekoński (1972) polymetallic deposits containing silver. is of special importance as it is a Poor deposits of tin ore occur on the comprehensive source of information on the northern slopes of the Izerskie Mts., in the history of Lower Silesian ore mining. vicinity of Gierczyn and small amounts of cobalt minerals exist in their neighbourghood, in Przecznica. The tin ores REMAINS OF FORMER ACTIVITY th th were exploited in the 16 and 17 century, and the cobalt minerals were exploited in Nowadays, most of the formerly exploited the 18th and 19th century (Dziekoński, 1972; deposits in the area of Lower Silesia have Madziarz, 2008, 2012; Madziarz et al. only of historical importance. Hundreds of 2006, 2008, 2012). years of the intense mining works left The exploitation of iron ores was also numerous traces in the area, still readable carried on in Lower Silesia. The region of despite the lapse of centuries. Inherent Kowary and that of Janowa Góra were landscape element which is characteristic abundant of easily accessible magnetite. In especially for the mountains is numerous Kowary, the iron ores had been exploited remains of former mining activity. They since 1148. In the second half of the 19th constitute a precious source of knowledge century, Stanisławów near Jawor became an about the development of deposit mining important centre for mining that material. technology, providing the evidence of The mining works on the Sudeten knowledge and skills of the generations of deposits, apart from few exceptions, were miners connected over the centuries with carried on periodically. In the initial stage the area of Lower Silesia. These relics of exploitation, the richest and most easily occur in the area mostly in the form of accessible deposit parts were extracted. clearly distinguished heaps of waste rock, They often included vein deposits, initially land subsidence, and often in the form of evaluated as abundant but then turned out to partly or fully survived underground be small and difficult in exploitation, which workings: shafts and adits, often in good led to abandoning of mines. The mining condition, ruins of mine buildings, ore activity was interrupted by wars, epidemics, processing and concentrating equipment population migrations or by falling prices (e.g. stream water damming reservoirs). of raw materials. Over a long period, the These objects are usually devoid of any

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 protection or documentation. Many of the relatively large sizes. In a number of former hitherto survived and accessible objects mining centres there still exist, in various disappear from the landscape forever, as a degree of preservation, channels supplying result of modern-day construction works water from rivers and streams to the carried on in their vicinity, incorrect processing equipment as well as water liquidation - without consideration to the dams, often in the form of reservoirs historical value of such objects, or filling located close to the drift outlet. The water them for dozens of years now with all kind energy constituted the basic source for of wastes, including hazardous. In the driving drainage, hoisting and processing works devoted to the history of Lower equipment in most of the former Lower Silesian mining the issue of preserving the Silesian ore mines until the middle of the relics of former activity and their 19th century. importance - as a source of knowledge about the old mining techniques, as well as the necessity to properly preserve and MINING AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL conserve them, or even the possibilities of WORK using them today as tourist attractions, apart from few examples, practically have not Considering the abundance of relics of the been addressed. And yet the confrontation former exploitation in the area of Lower of information derived from archive Silesia and their undeniable historical and materials with that obtained during the field cognitive value in 1995 work aimed at work can lead to the enrichment of systematic cataloguing and documenting od knowledge concerning the history of such type of objects was undertaken at the mining in Lower Silesia, and the “specific Mining Institute of Wrocław University of atmosphere” of old, underground workings Technology. Because of the special constitutes a great attraction for many character of work conducted at the objects people, which can be used to improve the of historical value which should be attractiveness of presently forgotten and subjected to preservation maintenance, the declined places connected with the old ore agreement on scientific cooperation was mining. concluded in 2006 between the Faculty of Exploratory and documentary work Geoengineering, Mining and Geology of conducted in the field reveals the traces of Wrocław University of Technology, the merely visible land subsidence marking the Institute of Archaeology and the Institute of routes of adits and galleries made at a small History of the University of Wrocław, with depth, or collapsed shafts, as well as the aim to jointly conduct work concerning perfectly survived workings, with the former mining sites in the area of South- fragments of lining, equipment, etc. There West Poland, thus the mining archaeology exist large stretches of land covered with work. The research and cataloguing work neighbouring remains of shallow shafts has been conducted at a number of former used in underground mining with the multi- ore mining centres, among which there are shaft method (e.g. on the slopes of the those of most importance from the Ołowiane Mts. in the vicinity of viewpoint of the history of mining works in Ciechanowice), traces of trenches and Lower Silesia, as well as those of smaller shallow prospecting shafts marking all the importance but having a documented multi- regions of former exploitation, naturally century history of exploration and collapsed or “spaced-out” adits outlets, but exploitation. Among the regions under the also survived large complexes of study are: the site of former copper and underground workings, with clearly arsenic ore mining in the vicinity of distinguished foreheads, exploratory adits, Miedzianka, Ciechanowice and Janowice and often with exploitation chambers of Wielkie, polymetallic ores in Radzimowice

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 and Czarnów, tin and cobalt ores in in the operating area of former lead and Gierczyn and Przecznica, chromite in the silver ore mines in Bystrzyca Górna (Sowie Ślęża Massif, iron and uranium in the Mts.) and those conducted in the historical region of Kowary, iron in Stanisławów, region of tin and cobalt ore mining in lead and silver in Marcinków, Bystrzyca Gierczyn and Przecznica (Izerskie Mts.) are Górna and Modliszów. presented below. Each centre of former exploitation the mining works were carried on periodically within the space of several centuries. With FORMER LEAD AND SILVER ORE the development of knowledge and MINING SITES IN BYSTRZYCA technology, the previously abandoned GÓRNA (SOWIE MOUNTAINS, IN workings were revisited several times and NEIGHBOURHOOD OF ŚWIDNICA) the depth of exploitation was continually increased with the aim to make use of the The area of the occurrence of quartz- newest achievements in mining technology barite veins with polymetallic and geological knowledge. The effect of mineralisation (mainly lead and silver such type of activities is a large number of minerals) in the neighbourhood of former mine workings and surface building Bystrzyca Górna in the Sowie Mountains remains, often spread even within a single was, within the space of more than five centre of former mining works over a large, centuries, subjected periodically to fairly usually undulating area. Traces of former intense exploration and exploitation works works are usually obliterated as a result of (Madziarz, 2008). In the area formerly different kind of works carried on after known as “Goldener Wald” (Golden abandoning the mining works, e.g. forestry Forest), and more precisely, in the area works. The precise study of a single site, known as “Silber Wiese” (Silver Meadow) even without giving consideration to the following mines operated in a underground workings is a long-term and chronological order: Segen Gottes, arduous work requiring the participation of Christinenglück, Victor Friedrich, a team of experts, including mining Wilhelmine, Beathe and probably Berthe. archaeologists. The identification and Although the documented information on examination of underground workings the mining works in the neighbourhood of entail speleological works, and the access to Bystrzyca Górna concerns only the year of the interiors of former mines often requires 1539 (Dziekoński, 1972) it is no way not to reopening of their outlets that had been rule out the considerably earlier moment of filled up for hundreds of years. This type of their beginning, the sign of which can be activity involves, which is obvious, the the shape and size of the cross-section of necessity to make many formal and legal the workings reopened during the mining arrangements, to say nothing about the and archaeological work. The first mine considerable costs of its completion. Due to operating in the described region was Segen the above reasons, most of the hitherto Gottes, which was relatively large for the completed research and cataloguing work Sowie Mountains’ conditions. As known has been limited to the superficial from the survived documents, while driving identification of former mining work sites the workings the traces of „old works” were and still accessible parts of workings. encountered, which was the sign of Due to the importance of the historical considerably earlier time of starting the mining centres, the scope and results of mining works on the deposit in the Widna completed research work, and what is mountain (Dziekoński, 1972). The particularly important – the possibilities of documented attempt to resume the using them in industrial tourism and geo- exploitation there was undertaken for the tourism, the results of the work carried out last time in the year of 1844, in the mine

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 called Beathe, however, the mining works owner of that land – the State Forests, part were stopped after a few years – probably of the workings of the Beathe mine were because the deposit was depleted. The area reopened in 2008, first the so-called „upper of the former mines in the north part of the adit” located on the highest level (fig. 1), Sowie Mountains, was revisited after the then the 18th-century lower adit (in 2009). Lower Silesia had been reunited with The charting of the workings completed in Poland. The exploration works were comparison with the archive plans from the initially aimed to evaluate the prospects of collection of the former OBB Breslau made the occurrence and extraction of uranium it possible to prove that the examined ores, and then barite (Madziarz, 2008). Beathe mine located in the Silber Wiese, Despite the numerous source materials, made use of the main opening-out headings the proper identification of the mine of the mines operating there in the previous workings mentioned in the survived centuries, i.e.: Segen Gottes, literature and historically operating in the Christinenglück, Victor Friedrich and region of Bystrzyca Górna became possible Wilhelmine. In this way, it was possible to only today owing to the mining prove without any doubts that the location archaeology work carried out in the Widna and layout of the workings in the Widna Mountain in the years 2006–2010. In Mountain corresponds to the mines known consultation with the Institute of from the literature and operating in that area Archaeology of the University of Wrocław in the period from the 16th to 19th century and after obtaining the consent from the (Madziarz 2008).

Fig. 1 Historical mining works in Bystrzyca Górna

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26

After completing the charting and gradual decrease in tin ore extraction at the photographic documentation the workings end of the 18th century in Gierczyn were preserved and filled up again. The converged with the beginnings of complex of workings of the former mines in exploitation of cobalt ores in nearby the neighbourhood of Bystrzyca is wide, it Przecznica, providing the basic component has a great historical value and absolutely for a very expensive cobalt paint. The requires further research and cataloguing exploitation of cobalt ores in Przecznica has work, as it constitutes an example of the of great economic importance, since it mining work development within the space supplied about 10% of the then European of about 500 years, and the condition of its production of that dye. The mining and workings has not been impaired as a result metallurgical works in the Sct. Maria-Anna of exploration works for uranium ores – as mine were carried on until the middle of the it was the case in many similar former ore 19th century. The German authorities mining centres in Lower Silesia. became interested again in the abandoned Based on the work results the concept of workings of the Reicher Trost and creating a tourist path presenting the Hundsrücken tin mines in 1939, in attractions of the Bystrzyca River valley, connection with the war preparations. After among which the special role should play 1945 the area of the occurrence of tin the relics of the former mining works, deposits became the subject of long-term including the complex of perfectly geological exploration. On the basis of preserved underground workings dated documented resources, the “Initial project back to the period from the 16th century to for the construction and exploitation of the the beginning of the 19th century has been Gierczyn mine” was completed in 1957, developed. The authorities of Świdnica which was operating on the basis of the Commune are interested in the study results former workings, with the mining works and are in favour of making the complex of limited to the prospecting works only. The historical mine workings in the Widna exploitation was never started because the Mountain available for the tourist traffic as deposit was too poor (Madziarz, 2008; an industrial tourism and geo-tourism 2009; 2012, Madziarz et al., 2008). attraction. Numerous mining objects are the remains of the more than 400 years’ documented history of mining works in the region FORMER TIN AND COBALT ORE Krobica – Gierczyn – Przecznica. During MINING SITES IN GIERCZYN AND the cataloguing work carried out in the PRZECZNICA REGION (IZERSKIE analysed region, the complexes of mines MTS.) and their superficial infrastructure, which are known from archive materials, have The beginnings of mining works in the been found and identified. They include: region of Gierczyn and Przecznica in the Sct. Maria-Anna, Drei Brüder and Fryderyk Kamienicki Ridge of the Izerskie Mts. are Wilhelm in Przecznica; Morgenröthe, traced back to the 16th century, when the tin Kupfer Zeche and Reicher Trost in ore mining and metallurgy reached the Gierczyn, St. Carol and Hundsrücken in apogee there (Dziekoński, 1972). The Kotlina, St. Johanes and Leopold in mining works were stopped in time of the Krobica. Special attention should be paid to Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), there were the remains of shafts of the former mines several attempts of their resumption, but Reicher Trost and Hundsrücken, on the they were not successful. The exploration basis of which the mine Gierczyn was and exploitation works were carried on designed in the post-war period (Madziarz until the beginning of the 19th century, and et al., 2006; 2012). Due to their relatively they were finally stopped in 1815. The good condition, the complex of workings of

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 the former mine Sct. Johannes and the adit equipment. Leopold in Krobica as well as the adit The results of the conducted work have Fryderyk Wilhelm in Przecznica (Madziarz aroused interest of the Mirsk Commune et al., 2008) seem to be very interesting in authorities, in the area of which the remains terms of their use as a tourist attractions. of former mines are located. After the Also, part of the underground workings of proper preservation and preparation, these the Sct. Maria-Anna mine in Przecznica is objects should add to an increase in the in perfect condition. In the flooded shaft of tourist attractiveness of Mirsk Commune, that mine there still may exist extremely and consequently bring measurable precious from the historical point of view economic and social benefits. This idea is remains of the original water drive drainage

Fig. 2 Former tin and cobalt ore mines (16th to 19th century)

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 supported by the experience of similar workings from the period of the 16th to 19th projects for the restoration of historical century. This project, in its programme post-mining objects and turning them into assumptions, features the values qualifying tourist attractions in Poland and Europe. As it to the category of environmentally- a result of the undertaken activities the oriented and socially-oriented projects. The project entitled “Reclamation of the regions completion of the two basic task of the degraded by mining activity in the area of project – cleaning the objects and post- Mirsk Commune, with the creation of a mining area from different types of waste, tourist path Along the footprints of old ore and then carrying out the reclamation and mining” (Madziarz et al., 2008). The project management work, will bring about a will be executed by KGHM Cuprum considerable improvement of the Research and Development Centre in environment condition within the area of Wrocław. It will be financed by Mirsk the three villages: Krobica, Gierczyn and Commune from the European Union Przecznica in Mirsk Commune. The resources, within the framework of the revitalisation of the environment, Regional Operating Programme for the preservation and exhibition of the old Lower Silesian voivodeship for the years mining sites and, on their basis, creation of 2007–2013. Within the framework of the the tourist path with an attractive above-mentioned project, the complex underground section should contribute to reclamation of the former mining sites in the increase in tourist traffic in the region of the area of Krobica – Gierczyn – Przecznica the above-mentioned commune. It will will be carried out (towards the forest and certainly have a positive impact on the tourism direction) and the tourist and economic development of that region. educational path (about 8 km long) presenting the history and remains of the former tin and cobalt mining in that area CONCLUSION will be created. After removing the wastes the proper reclamation and management As a result of the research and work will be carried out at the post-mining cataloguing work concerning the former ore objects, in the scope resulting from the mining in Lower Silesia, a number of planned method of their management for historical mining sites hitherto known the tourist traffic needs. The main mainly from the source materials and assumption adopted for the area historical studies have been identified, management design and creation of the where the exploration and cataloguing work tourist and teaching path is the least was conducted for the last time mostly at possible interference in the existing the turn of the 40s and 50s of the 20th condition of the former mining sites and the century, in connection with the search for surrounding area. The main goal is to make uranium ores (Ocena, 1959). In order to the remains of former mining works exchange experience in the scope of available to visitors in the condition as identification and documentation of such close to the original, i.e. in the period from type of objects as well as to spread the 16th to 19th century, as possible. results of the conducted work, the The most important element of the conference “Mining heritage and history planned path “Along the footprints of old and making use of remains of former ore mining” will be the underground tourist mining works” is organised every year, route St. John’s Mine in Krobica (fig. 2), starting from 2005. However, the most being prepared on the basis of historical important effect of the conducted work workings from the years 1576–1816. seems to be the practical use of their results, Tourists, under the care of guides, will as the preparation basis for the recent cover the distance of about 350 m along the project executed by KGHM Cuprum

Acta Geoturistica volume 4 (2013), number 1, 15-26 company, under the title “Reclamation of made available for visitors, may soon the regions degraded by mining activity in become the major tourist attraction of the area of Mirsk Commune with the Lower Silesia. creation of the tourist path Along the footprints of old ore mining”. This project is a example of how to make use of REFERENCES scientific and research work that is conducted by the scientific centre - CRAIG J.R., VAUGHAN D.J., SKINNER B.J., Wrocław University of Technology, the Zasoby Ziemi, Warszawa 2003. CZAPLIŃSKI M., KASZUBA E., WĄS G., results of which have turned out to be ŻERELIK R. (eds), Historia Śląska, Wyd. interesting for practical point of view and Uniw. Wroc., 2002. become the subject of interest of the self- DZIEDZIC K., KOZŁOWSKI S., government bodies due to the expected MAJEROWICZ A., SAWICKI L. (eds), benefits associated with the improvement of Surowce Mineralne Dolnego Śląska, Wrocław 1979. the environment condition and development DZIEKOŃSKI T., Wydobywanie i metalurgia of the Commune. It is worth stressing that kruszców na Dolnym Śląsku od XIII do połowy Mirsk Commune representatives were XX w., Wydawnictwo PAN, 1972. acquainted with the results of the research FESTENBERG-PACKISCH H., Der Metallische and cataloguing work during the conference Bergbau Niederschlesiens, Wien 1881. MADZIARZ M., „Cuprifodina in montibus” o “Mining heritage and history and making historii i pozostałościach dawnych robót use of remains of former mining works”, górniczych w rejonie Miedzianki – miasta which entailed their interest in the scope of zrodzonego i unicestwionego przez górnictwo, the possibilities to make use of the mining Dzieje Górnictwa – element europejskiego heritage survived in the area of the dziedzictwa kultury, vol. 3, Wrocław 2010. MADZIARZ M., Kopalnie „Czarnów”, Commune in the development of industrial „Miedzianka” i „Stara Góra” w poszukiwaniach tourism and geo-tourism, and hence to okruszcowania uranowego oraz rud metali w significantly improve the hitherto modest latach 40. i 50. XX w., Dzieje Górnictwa – tourist proposal. element europejskiego dziedzictwa kultury, vol. In the conditions of Lower Silesia, the 2, Wrocław 2009. MADZIARZ M., Stan rozpoznania historycznie project executed on the basis of the eksploatowanych sudeckich złóż described work is an innovative and polimetalicznych w świetle wyników piloting project. At the first, has been made powojennych prac geologiczno- an attempt to save the complex of historical poszukiwawczych, Prace Naukowe Instytutu mining sites dated in the period from the Górnictwa PWr, No. 128, Series: Studia i Materiały No. 36, 2009. 16th to 19th century, which have been th MADZIARZ M., Tereny dawnych robót górniczych destroyed since the 50s of the 20 century, w Bystrzycy Górnej, Modliszowie i when the exploration works were finally Dziećmorowicach w świetle danych stopped there, and the former workings archiwalnych i badań współczesnych. (in:) have become illegal waste dumps. The Dzieje górnictwa – element europejskiego dziedzictwa kultury, Wrocław 2008. interest aroused by the described MADZIARZ M, Pozostałości dawnych kopalń rud interdisciplinary project among the self- kobaltu w rejonie Przecznicy, Dzieje Górnictwa - government of some Lower Silesian element europejskiego dziedzictwa kultury, communes in the area of which similar Wrocław 2008. remains of former mining works are located MADZIARZ M, Zadania i znaczenie sztolni w historycznej eksploatacji górniczej na przyklei and in the community of people widely zachowanych wyrobisk dawnego górnictwa rud associated with tourism – both those cyny i kobaltu okolic Gierczyna, Dzieje conducting economic activity and those Górnictwa - element europejskiego dziedzictwa making use of attractions prepared for kultury, Wrocław 2012. visiting. The remains of several-century-old MADZIARZ M., MIZERA A., DĘBKOWSKI R., Projekt „Rekultywacja obszarów mining activity, properly preserved and zdegradowanych działalnością górniczą na

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terenie Gminy Mirsk z utworzeniem ścieżki NEY R. (red) Surowce Mineralne Polski, Surowce Śladami dawnego górnictwa kruszców” jako Metaliczne: miedź, srebro. Wydawnictwo koncepcja kompleksowych działań w zakresie Centrum PPGSMiE PAN, Kraków 1997. ochrony i wykorzystania dziedzictwa górniczego PAULO A, STRZELSKA-SMAKOWSKA B., Dolnego Śląska, Dzieje Górnictwa - element Rudy metali nieżelaznych i szlachetnych, europejskiego dziedzictwa kultury, Wrocław Kraków, Wyd. AGH, 2000. 2012. COLLECTIVE WORK, Ocena uranonośności MADZIARZ M, SZTUK H., Eksploatacja rudy Sudetów, Zakłady Przemysłowe R-1, Kowary, cyny w Górach Izerskich: historia czy 1959. perspektywa dla regionu?, Prace Naukowe COLLECTIVE WORK, Zarys Dziejów Górnictwa Instytutu Górnictwa Politechniki Wrocławskiej na Ziemiach Polskich. Vol. I and II, Katowice Nr 117, Studia i Materiały No. 32, Wrocław 1961. 2006. QUIRING H., Geschichte des Goldes, Stuttgart, MADZIARZ M, SZTUK H., Kopalnia "Gierczyn" 1948. - zapomniany epizod w historii górnictwa rud SACHS A., Bodenschätze Schlesiens. Erze, Kohlen, Ziem Zachodnich, Dzieje Górnictwa - element Nutzbare Gesteine, Leipzig 1906. europejskiego dziedzictwa kultury, Wrocław 2008.