HISTORICAL MINING REMAINS PRESERVED IN THE PRESENT-DAY RELIEF OF THE EUROPEAN HERCYNIAN MOUNTAINS – CASE STUDIES FROM HOLY CROSS MOUNTAINS (POLAND) AND ARDENNES (BELGIUM)

Abstract

The historical anthropopressure on Polish (Old Polish Industrial District) and Belgian (Ardennes) iron ore mining fields led to create very clear relief transformations. These post-mining forms have different arrangement and size. This is probably related to the geological structure, relief, period of exploitation and different technology. Also important is fact of different time of individual shafts use, as well a time of impact of denudation processes on this forms. Currently abandoned mining shafts are subject to natural processes that are constantly changing the relief. Aims of this study is to compare two selected mining fields from two diverse places in Europe, different in terms of use but also among other by geological structure. For this purpose field observations and statistical methods based on DEM were carried out. Observations and statistical analyzes showed some similarities between post-mining shafts in Belgium and Poland. This can be associated with similar iron ore mining technology in both places and probably same the time of use of these forms. The morphometry allows to recognize the probable age of these forms.

Keywords

• : geomorphology
• historical mining
• poland
• belgium
• iron ore