Perspectives for copper-silver deposits in Poland : current resources and future exploration opportunities

Poland is well-known for its significant sediment-hosted stratiform, Kupferschiefertype copper-silver deposits in the Lubin-Sieroszowice Copper District hosted in the lowermost Zechstein rocks of SW Poland. These deposits have been extensively studied since their discovery in 1957. They are of great importance to the Polish economy, as the country is the largest producer of copper and silver in Europe. The Zechstein ore series in southwestern Poland contains numerous Cu-Ag deposits, prospects and occurreneces. However, the future of the copper-silver mining industry in Poland depends on the ability to access deeper deposits and improve existing extraction technologies. Exploration for new prospective areas will require advanced geological analysis to identify new ore bodies for evaluation and mining. This need for continuous exploration and development underscores the importance of continuing research and the utilization of innovative mining technologies to ensure the long-term sustainability of copper-silver resources. Almost all Cu-Ag prospective areas identified have been covered by exploration concessions in recent years, whether active or abandoned. The greatest potential for documenting Cu-Ag ore deposits exists in the copper-bearing belt which forms the northwestern extension of the Lubin-Sieroszowice deposit, as well as in the Ostrzeszów region, the Żary Pericline and the North Sudetic Synclinorium. Drilling exploration is currently ongoing in all areas with active concessions. Nevertheless, alongside these ongoing efforts, there is an increasing necessity for new brownfield and greenfield exploration, to investigate unexplored areas that have yet to be developed. Such exploration will be crucial for identifying new copper-silver deposits and securing the long-term future of Poland's mining industry.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr POPUL/SP/0154/2024/02 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki II" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki (2025).