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Danuta Ilcewicz-Stefaniuk, AGH-University of Science and Technology (Poland)
Michal Stefaniuk, AGH-University of Science and Technology (Poland)
Tomasz Tobola, AGH-University of Science and Technology (Poland)
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The Bochnia salt mine is one of the oldest, still working industrial works in Europe. It has been working without any break since year 1248. In the mine there occur the oldest still working shaft in European mining industry named ?Sutoris? which was sunk in 1251. Recently the mine is in status of liquidation and transformation into an enterprise undertaking the touristic and sanatorium activity.
Touristic attractiveness of the Bochnia salt mine is determined by numerous old excavations and technical installations that illustrate seven centuries of mining art development and remembrances of specific culture of community naming itself as ?mining estate?. The mine with its atmosphere devoid of allergens and sun radiation but saturated by microelements and iodine compounds offers specific microclimate advantageous in therapy of allergies and air passages and nerve system diseases. The small distance from dusty and smoky urban agglomerations creates prospects of wide use of mine excavations in sanatorial therapy and in recreations.
Underground mine workings expose numerous, interesting tectonic deformations and sedimentary structures, characteristic for the Miocene evaporate series. During centuries they provided many interesting mineralogical and petrographical specimens while recently they allow beautiful forms of secondary crystallization and salt sinters to be observed. Great didactic and touristic advantages present the set of excavations exposing numerous parts of salt deposits and surrounding rocks. Arrangement of chambers and galleries in the Bochnia mine is extremely differentiated as a result of complex geological structure of the deposit and various techniques of exploitation being applied during centuries. Therefore, the chambers reveal extraordinary scenic value. Typical are long and imposingly high workings, which are related to extraction of almost vertically dipping, high-purity rock-salt layers. The chambers are subjected to permanent destruction due to relaxation of rock formations and probable pressure from the Carpathian orogen. The results are recently visible in mine workings as damage of lining and common rockfalls. During centuries of mining operation the convergence caused complete constriction of early workings. Having in mind that the original workings might have been several meters wide and looking at the recent traces which are from several to several dozen centimeters wide, one can conclude about forces operating within the rocks.
The mine is rich with historical mining tools and installations, which illustrate the development of so-called ?art of mining?. These include old shafts or hoisting machinery i.e. the hundred-years-old steam engine at the ?Campi? shaft which has operated until the mine closure, the water-wheel, ventilator, etc. Great historical, cultural, geological, touristic and didactic advantage place the mine among classical and attractive geotouristic objects.
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