The purpose of the paper is to present the possibilities of the three-dimensional representation of geological strata in underground (access) workings in a hard coal deposit in the SW part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, using CAD software and its flagship program AutoCAD. The 3D visualization of the results of underground workings’ mapping is presented and illustrated on two opening out workings (descending galleries). The criteria for choosing these workings were based on their length and the complexity of geological settings observed while they were driven. The described method may be applied in spatial visualization of geological structures observed in other deposits, mines and existing workings (it is not applicable for designing mine workings), also beyond the area of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). The method presented describes the problem of the visualization of underground mine workings in a typical geological aspect, considering (aimed at) detailed visualization of geological settings revealed on the side walls of workings cutting the deposit.

There was done an inventarization of 41 coal mining dumping grounds, gathering waste material from 27 mines. Considering the fact, that five mines belong to multi-motion plants the research comprised 32 hard coal deposits. Source data with localization of particular dumps have been obtained from archival materials from the mines and municipalities, in the boundaries where the dumps occur as well as free accessible published materials (books, scientific papers). The data have been verified, in the beginning on the basis of topographical maps, orthophotomaps and aerial photographs and then, after vision done during field works they have been drawn on the topographic base, what resulted in creating the map of post-mining dumping grounds. Valorisation of coal mining waste dumps, using already repeatedly presented method, included defining of: name of the dump, coal mine from where the wastes come from, state of the dump, surface of the dump, type of technical and biological reclamation, accessibility of the object, possibilities of recovery of coal and the results have been drawn on the map. On the basis of collected and elaborated data there was done an attempt of defining of potential possibilities of recovery of coal from the dumps and connecting of coal quality in exploited deposits and coal content in waste material. The results showed that in spite of initial information that the majority of the dumps comprise potential objects of coal recovery of coal from waste material, eventually only in some cases (thirteen objects) the recovery seems to be economically justified.

The purpose of the study was determining of degree of contamination of soil cover as a result of disposing of different industrial wastes and comparison of the soil quality with quality of soils and the grounds described in standards in relation to the reclamation works carried out on the dump. Analysed waste dump belongs to the sparse objects of this type in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, where both coal mining wastes as well as flying ashes occur. During investigations there was done a collection of 9 soil samples around the dump using Egner`s cane from the depth of 30 cm. The content of heavy metals was determined (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) using method of emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and phase composition studies using the X-ray diffraction method (XRD ). Obtained results enabled determination of impact of disposed wastes on the degradation of pedosphere of studied area, which represents III group of fallow lands. The contents of heavy metals in soil samples vary in wide spectrum, but do not exceed permissible content of metals and metalloids for the aforementioned soil group. The highest concentrations reaches iron (average content 0,6%), while concentrations of other elements do not exceed 0.02%. In the mineral composition of soil samples the dominant components are typical for soils in the area of post-mining dumps, i.e. quartz, feldspars, clay minerals, represented by kaolinite and illite. The presence of muscovite with a share of < 5% was also found. Minerals from the carbonate group – calcite (< 3.5%) and dolomite (< 0.3%) occur rarely. In the investigated samples there was identified presence of mullite, component typical for wastes coming from energy sector.

The subject of this study is the effects of various concentrations of niobium pentoxide nanoparticles (Nb₂O₅ NPs) on the physical, optical, and thermal properties of thin films of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The obtained results indicate that the addition of nanoparticles significantly affects the physical properties of the investigated materials, limiting their optical UV transmittance in the range of 300–500 nm by approximately 20–40% and increasing the material’s resistance to moisture that is present in the surrounding environment. Based on the thermal measurements performed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and variable temperature spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), two distinct glass transition temperatures T_g for pure PVP and its Nb₂O₅ composites were revealed, with an additional intermediate T_g appearing in the composites, varying in the range of 135–168 °C (ellipsometric temperature cycle). This intermediate transition indicates the formation of an interfacial region with modified polymer chain mobility due to the interactions occurring between Nb₂O₅ nanoparticles and the PVP matrix. The results obtained from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and detailed Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analyses also confirmed the presence of this interfacial area and indicated that it arises from nanoparticle agglomeration and surface cluster formation. The contact angle measurements revealed that the composites containing 15% and 25% Nb₂O₅ exhibited greater hydrophobicity. These results suggest that the investigated composite coatings could be employed as surface coverings to protect against external, environmental influences, such as moisture and UV radiation.

The cataloging of over 220 coal mining dumping grounds after hard coal mining was carried out on the area of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). Considering the significant content of coal particles in the waste, these object may be perceived as perspective anthropogenic deposits. In order to define the possibilities of recovery, an attempt of linking the quality of coal in the deposit and the in waste material was performed. Another step is the reclamation and use of dumping grounds after completing effective recovery processes. The purpose of the research was the cataloging, mapping and valorization of coal mining waste dumps from Katowicki Holding Węglowy coal mines, for the needs of reclamation and management of examined objects and defining the potential recovery of coal from the dumps. The valorization of the post-mining waste dumps was done with the use of original methodology, considering the problems of: reclamation, management, accessibility of the dumps as well as environmental hazards. T he directions of the technical reclamation (e.g. landscape objects, tabular dumps) and biological reclamation (e.g. forest direction, mixed reclamation (grass and tree reclamation), grass cultivation, lack of reclamation) were defined. Accessibility with regard to open access/closing of the dump area and the roads leading towards the object were evaluated. T he connection of coal quality in the deposits of KHW S.A. and in waste material enabled the definition and evaluation of the potential possibilities of recovery of coal from the post mining dumping grounds.