2022
General information and occurrence
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for the production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to 2 major types in a relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for the production of keramsite (called as gliniec in Poland),
- raw materials suitable for the production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
The raw materials used in the production of keramsite are characterized by an expansion during the thermal treatment. The process of the keramsite production involves a roasting of an appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in a temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume due to the gases emanation in a soft pyroclastic mass and their external layer begins to melt forming a parched shard. The obtained porous, light-weight ceramic aggregate is characterized by a low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and a high resistance to several agents. The coefficient (the quotient of clay volume in a swollen state and volume in a state output) characterizing that property, that is the swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. To increase the raw material swell there are the technological additives used, such as: brown coal, diesel oil, alkalis. Usually, the raw material for the keramsite production can also be used for the production of building ceramics wares: brick, ceramic concretes etc. In this case, the roasting process is being carried out in the lower temperatures than during the keramsite production – below the swelling coefficient for a particular raw material.
The keramsite is used mainly in a building industry for the production of concretes and construction elements and as an insulating and draining material. It is also used in the road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
There have been 8 deposits of the raw materials for keramsite production documented in Poland: Budy Mszczonowskie (located in Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Gniew II (Pomorskie Voivodeship), Gołaszyn (Lubelskie Voivodeship), Nawra (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship), Ruda (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), Uniejów (Łódzkie Voivodeship), Wierzchocin (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) and Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).
Currently, the exploitation is being carried out only from the Quaternary dammed clays deposit – Gniew II. Previously, till 1995 the keramsite was also obtained from the Oligocene septarian clays and, since 2015, from the Pliocene clays in Budy Mszczonowskie town located in the Mazowsze area (nowadays, the production plant is closed, the clays deposit is temporarily exploited for purposes other than keramsite production).
The raw materials used for the production of the agloporit are not expanding in the course during the thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. The process of the agloporit production involves the roasting of a granulated mixture of the clayey raw material and easily combustible particles. The combustible particles in the result of roasting make the obtained material highly porous and relatively of a low density. In Poland, the agloporite was produced from the 1960s to 1980s of the 20th century. For the production there were boulder clays, fluvic cambisols and the Pliocene clays used. The aggregates were used mainly in the building industry for the production of light concretes, concrete blocks and hollow bricks, however the production was abandoned due to the low raw material quality and high production costs.
The clay raw materials that can be used for the agloporit production are fairly common throughout the whole country. The quality requirements which should be matched by the raw material of this type are generally low. The majority of 33 documented deposits of the agloporit raw materials are represented by the Quaternary glacial loams and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Quaternary stagnant lake clays or Neogene clays.
The prospective of the usage of the raw materials for the agloporite production – according to their primary destiny – are nowadays highly unlikely due to the changes which took place within the building requirements, the building technology and as a result of the availability of better and cheaper building materials. The alternative ways of usage can be: cement industry or mass building sector, but it depends on the demand in a given region. Other, possible usage ways are: ecological building based on loams and the building materials production based on the loam (unfired). Such technologies and materials have been rarely used so far.
The so-called ‘fired shales’ represent a material close to the agloporit. It is also being called ‘shale-porite from dumps’. This material originates in the result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of the coal waste produced in hard coal mining operations. The fires turn clay-shales, which form a large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into a strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in the building and road construction. They are treated as a reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance…’.
Resources and output
Table 1 shows the current state of the exploration and development of these deposits. The anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2022 amounted to 165,673 million m3 (about 331,346 million tonnes) from which the resources for the keramsite production were equal 39,528 million m3 (about 79,056 million tonnes) – 23.9 % of the total resources. The anticipated economic resources for the agloporite production amounted to 126,146 million m3 (about 252,292 million tonnes) – 76.1 % of the total resources.
In 2022, there were 2 new documentations with recalculated resources (supplements) for the clay raw materials for agloporite production approved: the loesses deposit Dębówka in Lubelskie Voivodeship and the Quaternary loams, sands and clays deposit Dębica in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship:
- Dębówka – the deposit boundaries were changed, excluding areas which owners want to develop in other way than the exploitation and areas occupied by the road (−0.906 million m3);
- Dębica – the supplement was elaborated to the resources settlement and crossing out the deposit from the registry (−1,055 million m3). It resulted from i.a.: type and low quality of the raw material, complex geological structure with glacitectonic origin, location within the buffer zone of the Elbląg Highland Landscape Park and of the Elbląg Highland Protected Landscape Area. The deposit has not been exploited so far.
The resources drop is equal 1,961 million m3 in total.
In 2022, there were 2 deposits exploited: Gniew II located in Pomorskie Voivodeship and Budy Mszczonowskie in Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The raw material output amounted to 0.109 million m3, including: for keramsite production 0.102 million m3 (from the Gniew II deposit), for other purposes 0.007 million m3 (from the Budy Mszczonowskie deposit). In comparison with 2021, the output (in total) dropped by 0.003 million m3, that is by 2.7 %. The output of the raw material for keramsite production (from the Gniew II deposit) decreased by 0.010 million m3 (8.7 %).
Deposits of clay raw materials for the lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Table 1. Clay raw materials for production lightweight aggregates – million m3The economic resources as of the end of 2022 were equal 1,835 million m3 (about 3,670 million tonnes). The economic resources are documented within the mining areas of the Gniew II deposit and Budy Mszczonowskie deposit.
The prognostic resources (category D) of the raw materials for the keramsite production within 5 areas were assessed at 38,081 million m3*. In turn, the prognostic resources for the agloporit production were assessed at 12,138 million m3 within 4 prognostic areas. There were also the prospective areas (category D2) identified.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
* Szczygielski W., Walentek I., 2020 – ‘Surowce ceramiki budowlanej (building ceramics raw materials), surowce do produkcji kruszyw ceramicznych i cementu (mineral raw materials for production of clay aggregates and cement clinker)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 239-257. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].
2021
General information and occurrence
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for the production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to two major types in a relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for the production of keramsite (called as gliniec in Poland),
- raw materials suitable for the production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
The raw materials used in the production of keramsite are characterized by an expansion during the thermal treatment. The coefficient (the quotient of clay volume in a swollen state and volume in a state output) characterizing that property, that is the swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. To increase the raw material swell there are the technological additives used, such as: brown coal, diesel oil, alkalis. The process of the keramsite production involves a roasting of an appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in a temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume due to the gases emanation in a soft pyroclastic mass and their external layer begins to melt forming a parched shard. The obtained porous, light-weight ceramic aggregate is characterized by a low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and a high resistance to several agents. Usually, the raw material for the keramsite production can also be used for the production of building ceramics wares: brick, ceramic concretes etc. In this case, the roasting process is being carried out in the lower temperatures than during the keramsite production – below the swelling coefficient for a particular raw material.
The keramsite is used mainly in a building industry for the production of concretes and construction elements and as an insulating and draining material. It is also used in the road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
There have been 8 deposits of the raw materials for keramsite production documented in Poland: Budy Mszczonowskie (located in Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Gniew II (Pomorskie Voivodeship), Gołaszyn (Lubelskie Voivodeship), Nawra (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship), Ruda (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), Uniejów (Łódzkie Voivodeship), Wierzchocin (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) and Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).
Currently, the exploitation is being carried out only from the Quaternary dammed clays deposit – Gniew II. Previously, till 1995 the keramsite was also obtained from the Oligocene septarian clays and, since 2015, from the Pliocene clays in Budy Mszczonowskie town located in the Mazowsze area.
The raw materials used for the production of the agloporit are not expanding in the course during the thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. The process of the agloporit production involves the roasting of a granulated mixture of the clayey raw material and easily combustible particles. The combustible particles in the result of roasting make the obtained material highly porous and relatively of a low density. In Poland, the agloporite was produced from the 1960s to 1980s of the 20th century. For the production there were boulder clays, fluvic cambisols and the Pliocene clays used. The aggregates were used mainly in the building industry for the production of light concretes, concrete blocks and hollow bricks, however the production was abandoned due to the low raw material quality and high production costs.
The clay raw materials that can be used for the agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. The quality requirements which should be matched by the raw material of this type are generally low. The majority of 33 documented deposits of the agloporit raw materials are represented by the Quaternary glacial loams and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Quaternary stagnant lake clays or Neogene clays.
The prospective of the usage of the raw materials for the agloporite production – according to their primary destiny – are nowadays highly unlikely due to the changes which took place within the building requirements, the building technology and as a result of the availability of better and cheaper building materials. The alternative ways of usage can be: cement industry or mass building sector, but it depends on the location of a particular deposit and the demand in a given region. Other, possible usage ways are: ecological building based on loams and the building materials production based on the loam (unfired). Such technologies and materials have been rarely used so far.
The so-called ‘fired shales’ represent a material close to the agloporit. It is also being called ‘shale-porite from dumps’. This material originates in the result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of the coal waste produced in hard coal mining operations. The fires turn clay-shales, which form a large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into a strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in the building and road construction. They are treated as a reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance…’.
Resources and output
Table 1 The anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2021 amounted to 167,744 million m3 (about 335,488 million tonnes) from which the resources for the keramsite production were equal 39,637 million m3 (about 79,274 million tonnes) – 23.6 % of the total resources. The anticipated economic resources for the agloporite production amounted to 128,107 million m3 (about 256,214 million tonnes) – 76.4 % of the total resources.
In 2021, there were not any new documentation for the clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production approved.
The raw material output amounted in 2021 to 0.112 million m3 and slightly increased by 0.002 million m3 (1.8 %) in comparison with 2020. The Gniew II deposit (Pomorskie Voivodeship) was the only exploited deposit of this raw material.
Deposits of clay raw materials for the lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
The economic resources as of the end of 2021 were equal 2,063 million m3 (about 4,126 million tonnes). The economic resources are currently documented within the mining areas for the exploited deposit Gniew II and for the abandonded Budy Mszczonowskie deposit.
The prognostic resources (category D) of the raw materials for the keramsite production within 5 areas were assessed at 38,081 million m3*. In turn, the prognostic resources for the agloporit production were assessed at 12,138 million m3 within 4 prognostic areas. There were also the prospective areas (category D2) identified.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
* Szczygielski W., Walentek I., 2020 – ‘Surowce ceramiki budowlanej (building ceramics raw materials), surowce do produkcji kruszyw ceramicznych i cementu (mineral raw materials for production of clay aggregates and cement clinker)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 239-257. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].
2020
General information and occurrence
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for the production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to two major types in a relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for the production of keramsite (called as gliniec in Poland),
- raw materials suitable for the production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
The raw materials used in the production of keramsite are characterized by an expansion during the thermal treatment. The coefficient (the quotient of clay volume in a swollen state and volume in a state output) characterizing that property, that is the swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. To increase the raw material swell there are the technological additives used, such as: brown coal, diesel oil, alkalis. The process of the keramsite production involves a roasting of an appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in a temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume due to the gases emanation in a soft pyroclastic mass and their external layer begins to melt forming a parched shard. The obtained porous, light-weight ceramic aggregate is characterized by a low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and a high resistance to several agents. Usually, the raw material for the keramsite production can also be used for the production of building ceramics wares: brick, ceramic concretes etc. In this case, the roasting process is being carried out in the lower temperatures than during the keramsite production – below the swelling coefficient for a particular raw material.
The keramsite is used mainly in a building industry for the production of concretes and construction elements and as an insulating and draining material. It is also used in the road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
There have been 8 deposits of the raw materials for keramsite production documented in Poland: Budy Mszczonowskie (located in Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Gniew II (Pomorskie Voivodeship), Gołaszyn (Lubelskie Voivodeship), Nawra (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship), Ruda (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), Uniejów (Łódzkie Voivodeship), Wierzchocin (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) and Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).
Currently, the exploitation is being carried out only from the Quaternary dammed clays deposit – Gniew II. Previously, till 1995 the keramsite was also obtained from the Oligocene septarian clays and, since 2015, from the Pliocene clays in Budy Mszczonowskie town located in the Mazowsze area.
The raw materials used for the production of the agloporit are not expanding in the course during the thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. The process of the agloporit production involves the roasting of a granulated mixture of the clayey raw material and easily combustible particles. The combustible particles in the result of roasting make the obtained material highly porous. The obtained sintered granules are subsequently crushed which allows to get the aggregates characterized by a high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in the building industry for the production of light concretes, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Nowadays, the agloporit is not produced and deposits of that raw material are abandoned.
The agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. The quality requirements which should be matched by the raw material of this type are generally low – lower even than those put for the raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for the building industry. The majority of documented deposits of the agloporit raw materials are represented by the Quaternary glacial loams and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Quaternary stagnant lake clays or Neogene clays.
The so-called ‘fired shales’ represent a material close to the agloporit. It is also being called ‘shale-porite from dumps’. This material originates in the result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of the coal waste produced in hard coal mining operations. The fires turn clay-shales, which form a large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into a strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in the building and road construction. They are treated as a reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance…’.
Resources and output
Table 1 shows the current state of the exploration and development of these deposits. The anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2020 amounted to 167,856 million m3 (about 335,712 million tonnes) from which the resources for the keramsite production were equal 39,749 million m3 (about 79,498 million tonnes) – 23.7 % of the total resources. The anticipated economic resources for the agloporite production amounted to 128,107 million m3 (about 256,214 million tonnes) – 76.3 % of the total resources.
In 2020, there were not any new documentation for the clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production approved.
The raw material output amounted in 2020 to 0.110 million m3 and slightly increased by 0.001 million m3 (0.9 %) in comparison with 2019.
Deposits of clay raw materials for the lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
The economic resources as of the end of 2020 were equal 2,174 million m3 (about 4,348 million tonnes). The economic resources are currently documented within the mining areas for the exploited deposit Gniew II and for the abandonded Budy Mszczonowskie deposit.
The prognostic resources (category D) of the raw materials for the keramsite production within 5 areas were assessed at 38,081 million m3*. In turn, the prognostic resources for the agloporit production were assessed at 12,138 million m3 within 4 prognostic areas. There were also the prospective areas (category D2) identified.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
* Szczygielski W., Walentek I., 2020 – ‘Surowce ceramiki budowlanej (building ceramics raw materials), surowce do produkcji kruszyw ceramicznych i cementu (mineral raw materials for production of clay aggregates and cement clinker)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 239-257. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].
2019
General information and occurrence
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for the production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to two major types in a relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for the production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates),
- raw materials suitable for the production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
The raw materials used in the production of keramsite are characterized by an expansion during the thermal treatment. The coefficient (the quotient of clay volume in a swollen state and volume in a state output) characterizing that property, that is the swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. To increase the raw material swell there are the technological additives used, such as: brown coal, diesel oil, alkalis. The process of the keramsite production involves a roasting of an appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in a temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume due to the gases emanation in a soft pyroclastic mass and their external layer begins to melt forming a parched shard. The obtained porous, light-weight ceramic aggregate is characterized by a low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and a high resistance to several agents. Usually, the raw material for the keramsite production can also be used for the production of building ceramics wares: brick, ceramic concretes etc. In this case, the roasting process is being carried out in the lower temperatures than during the keramsite production – below the swelling coefficient for a particular raw material.
The keramsite is used mainly in a building industry for the production of concretes and construction elements and as an insulating and draining material. It is also used in the road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
There have been 8 deposits of the raw materials for keramsite production documented in Poland: Budy Mszczonowskie (located in Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Gniew II (Pomorskie Voivodeship), Gołaszyn (Lubelskie Voivodeship), Nawra (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship), Ruda (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), Uniejów (Łódzkie Voivodeship), Wierzchocin (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) and Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).
Currently, the exploitation is being carried out only from the Quaternary dammed clays deposit – Gniew II. Previously, till 1995 the keramsite was also obtained from the Oligocene septarian clays and, since 2015, from the Pliocene clays in Budy Mszczonowskie town located in the Mazowsze area.
The raw materials used for the production of the agloporit are not expanding in the course during the thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. The process of the agloporit production involves the roasting of a granulated mixture of the clayey raw material and easily combustible particles. The combustible particles in the result of roasting make the obtained material highly porous. The obtained sintered granules are subsequently crushed which allows to get the aggregates characterized by a high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in the building industry for the production of light concretes, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Nowadays, the agloporit is not produced and deposits of that raw material are abandoned.
The agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. The quality requirements which should be matched by the raw material of this type are generally low – lower even than those put for the raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for the building industry. The majority of documented deposits of the agloporit raw materials are represented by the Quaternary glacial loams and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays, Poznań clays or Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
The so-called ‘fired shales’ represent a material close to the agloporit. It is also being called ‘shale-porite from dumps’. This material originates in the result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of the coal waste produced in hard coal mining operations. The fires turn clay-shales, which form a large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into a strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in the building and road construction. They are treated as a reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance…’.
Resources and output
Table 1 shows the current state of the exploration and development of these deposits. The anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2019 amounted to 167,969 million m3 (about 335,938 million tonnes) from which the resources for the keramsite production were equal 39,862 million m3 (about 79,724 million tonnes) – 23.7 % of the total resources. The anticipated economic resources for the agloporite production amounted to 128,107 million m3 (about 256,214 million tonnes) – 76.3 % of the total resources.
In 2019, there were not any new documentations for the clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production approved, therefore the resources did not change.
The raw material output amounted in 2019 to 0.109 million m3 and increased by 0.009 million m3 (8.7 %) in comparison with 2018.
Deposits of clay raw materials for the lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
The economic resources as of the end of 2019 were equal 2,287 million m3 (about 4,574 million tonnes). The economic resources are currently documented within the mining areas for the exploited deposit Gniew II and for the abandonded Budy Mszczonowskie deposit. The exploitation within the area of Gniew II deposit was carried out both within the economic resources and within the sub-economic resources (the resources drops amounted to 0.093 million m3 and 0.016 million m3, respectively).
The prognostic resources (category D) of the raw materials for the keramsite production within 5 areas were assessed at 38,081 million m3*. In turn, the prognostic resources for the agloporit production were assessed at 12,138 million m3 within 4 prognostic areas. There were also the prospective areas (category D2) identified.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
* Szczygielski W., Walentek I., 2020 – ‘Surowce ceramiki budowlanej (building ceramics raw materials), surowce do produkcji kruszyw ceramicznych i cementu (mineral raw materials for production of clay aggregates and cement clinker)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 239-257. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.
2018
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for the production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to two major types in a relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for the production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates),
- raw materials suitable for the production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in the production of keramsite are characterized by an expansion during the thermal treatment. The coefficient (the quotient of clay volume in a swollen state and volume in a state output) characterizing that property, that is the swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. To increase the raw material swell there are technological additives used, such as: brown coal, diesel oil, alkalis. The process of keramsite production involves a roasting of an appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in a temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume due to the gases emanation in a soft pyroclastic mass and their external layer begins to melt forming a parched shard. The obtained porous, light-weight ceramic aggregate is characterized by a low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and a high resistance to several agents. Usually, the raw material for the keramsite production can also be used for the production of building ceramics wares: brick, ceramic concretes etc. In this case, the roasting process is being carried out in lower temperatures then during the keramsite production – below the swelling coefficient for a particular raw material.
Keramsite is used mainly in a building industry for the production of concretes and construction elements and as an insulating and draining material. It is also used in the road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
There have been 8 deposits of the raw materials for keramsite production documented in Poland: Budy Mszczonowskie (located in Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Gniew II (Pomorskie Voivodeship), Gołaszyn (Lubelskie Voivodeship), Nawra (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship), Ruda (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), Uniejów (Łódzkie Voivodeship), Wierzchocin (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) and Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).
The exploitation is being carried out only from the Quaternary dammed clays deposit – Gniew II. Still in 2015 there were the Pliocene clays from Budy Mszczonowskie deposit in the Mazowsze area exploited, but the processes of the exploitation and production were abandoded. Till 1995 the keramsite was produced also from the Oligocene septarian clays of Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) deposit located in the city of Szczecin.
Raw materials used for the production of agloporit are not expanding in the course during the thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. The process of agloporit production involves the roasting of a granulated mixture of the clayey raw material and easily combustible particles. The combustible particles in the result of roasting make the obtained material highly porous. The obtained sintered granules are subsequently crushed which allows to get the aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in the building industry for the production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Nowadays, the agloporit is not produced and deposits of that raw material are abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by the raw material of this type are generally low – lower even than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for the building industry. The majority of documented deposits of agloporit raw materials are represented by the Quaternary glacial loams and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays, Poznań clays or Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
The so-called ‘fired shales’ represent a material close to agloporit. It is also being called ‘shale-porite from dumps’. This material originates in the result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of the coal waste produced in hard coal mining operations. The fires turn clay shales, which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into a strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in the building and road construction. They are treated as a reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance…’.
Table 1 shows the current state of the exploration and development of these deposits.
Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2018 amounted to 168,078 million m3 (about 336,156 million tonnes) from which the resources for the keramsite production were equal 39,971 million m3 (about 78,742 million tonnes) – 23.8 % of total resources.
The resources decreased by 0.108 million m3 in comparison with the previous year due to the exploitation and resources losses.
The raw material output amounted in 2018 to 0.100 million m3 and decreased by 0.005 million m3 (4.8 %) in comparison with 2017.
Deposits of clay raw materials for the lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources as of the end of 2018 amounted to 2,381 million m3 (about 4,762 million tonnes). The economic resources are currently documented within the mining areas for the exploited deposit Gniew II and for the abandonded Budy Mszczonowskie deposit.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
2017
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for the production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to two major types in a relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for the production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates),
- raw materials suitable for the production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in the production of keramsite are characterized by an expansion during the thermal treatment. The coefficient (the quotient of clay volume in a swollen state and volume in a state output) characterizing that property, that is the swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. To increase the raw material swell there are technological additives used, such as: brown coal, diesel oil, alkalis. The process of production of keramsite involves a roasting of an appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in a temperature of 1,050-1,300°C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume due to the gases emanation in a pyroclastic mass and their external layer begins to melt forming a parched shard. The obtained product is of the porous light-weight ceramic aggregate type, characterized by a low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and a high resistance to several agents. Usually, the raw material for the keramsite production can also be used for the production of building ceramics wares: brick, ceramic concretes etc. In this case, the roasting process is being carried out in lower temperatures then during the keramsite production – below the swelling coefficient for a particular raw material.
Keramsite is used mainly in a building industry for the production of concretes and construction elements and as an insulating and draining material. It is also used in the road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
Resources of clays suitable for the production of keramsite have been documented in 8 deposits in Poland: Budy Mszczonowskie (located in Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Gniew II (Pomorskie Voivodeship), Gołaszyn (Lubelskie Voivodeship), Nawra (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship), Ruda (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), Uniejów (Łódzkie Voivodeship), Wierzchocin (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) and Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).
Raw materials used in the production of agloporit are not expanding in the course during the thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. The process of agloporit production involves the roasting of granulated clay containing easily combustible particles. The combustible particles mixed with clay are burnt out during firing which makes the obtained material highly porous. The sintered granules are subsequently crushed to obtain aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in the building industry for the production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. The production of agloporit was phased out and deposits of that raw material became abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by these raw materials are generally low – lower even than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for the building industry. The majority of documented deposits of agloporit raw materials comprise Quaternary glacial tills and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays, Poznań clays or Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
‘Fired shales’ represent a material close to agloporit. This material originates in the result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of the coal waste production in mining operations. The fires turn clay shales which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into a strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in the building and road construction. They are treated as a reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance…’.
Table 1 shows the current state of the exploration and development of these deposits. Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2017 amounted to 168.19 million m3 (about 336.38 million tonnes) from which resources for the keramsite production were equal 40.07 million m3 (about 80.14 million tonnes) – 23.8 % of total resources.
The resources decreased by 0.373 million m3 in comparison with the previous year. The majority of this drop (0.267 million m3) is caused by the updating of the resources and borders of Budy Mszczonowskie deposit. These changes were included in a new documentation prepared for this deposit due to the exploitation abandonment. Remaining 0.106 million m3 is a result of the exploitation and losses from Gniew II deposit.
The raw material output amounted in 2017 to 0.105 million m3 and increased by 8.5 % in comparison with 2016. It was the highest level since 2012.
Deposits of clay raw materials for the lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources in 2017 amounted to 1.16 million m3 (about 2.32 million tonnes) and accounted for only 54.6 % of the level recorded in 2016.
The economic resources drop was equal 1,394 million m3. The majority of it – amounted to 1,287 million m3 – constitutes the economic resources of Budy Mszczonowskie deposit which were crossed out from the evidence due to the exploitation end. The remaining 0.106 million m3 constitute drops resulting from the exploitation and losses from Gniew II deposit.
Economic resources are currently documented only for this part of Gniew II deposit which is located within the mining area.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
2016
Clay raw materials for production of light-weight aggregates, exploited in Poland, may be assigned to two major types in relation to their usability: raw materials suitable for production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates) and raw materials suitable for production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in production of keramsite are characterized by expansion during thermal treatment. The coefficient (the quotient of clay volume in a swollen state and volume in a state output) characterizing that property, that is swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. To increase the raw material swell there are technological additives used such as: brown coal, diesel oil, alkalis. The process of production of keramsite involves roasting of appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in temperature of 1,050-1,300°C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume due to the gases emanation in a pyroclastic mass and their external layer begins to melt forming a parched shard. The obtained product is of the porous light-weight ceramic aggregate type, characterized by low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and high resistance to several agents.
Keramsite is used mainly in building industry for concretes and construction elements and as insulating and draining material. It is also used in road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
Resources of clays suitable for production of keramsite have been documented in 8 deposits. Two of them are exploited: Budy Mszczonowskie deposit located in Mazowieckie Voivodeship where Pliocene cIays are exploited and Gniew II deposit located in Pomorskie Voivodeship where Quaternary stagnant-lake clays are being produced. Till 1995 keramsite was produced also from Oligocene clays exploited in Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) deposit located in the Szczecin area. The remaining deposits – Gołaszyn, Nawra, Ruda, Uniejów and Wierzchocin – have not been exploited up to now.
Usually, the raw material for keramsite production can also be used for production of building ceramics wares: brick, ceramic concretes etc. In this case, the roasting process is being carried out in lower temperatures then during keramsite production – below the swelling coefficient for a particular raw material.
Raw materials used in production of agloporit are not expanding in the course during thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. Process of agloporit production involves roasting of granulated clay containing easily combustible particles. The combustible particles mixed with clay are burnt out during firing which makes the obtained material highly porous. The sintered granules are subsequently crushed to obtain aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Production of agloporit was phased out and deposits of that raw material became abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by these raw materials are generally low – lower even than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for building industry. The majority of documented resources of agloporit raw materials comprise Quaternary glacial tills and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays, Poznań clays or Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
"Fired shales" represent a material close to agloporit. This material originates in the result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of coal waste production in mining operations. The fires turn clay shales which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in building and road construction. They are treated as reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance…’.
Table 1 shows the current state of exploration and development of these deposits. Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2016 amounted to 168.56 million m3 (337.12 million tonnes) from which resources for keramsite were equal 40.44 million m3 (80.08 million tonnes) – 24.0 % of total resources.
The resources decreased by 0.097 million m3 in comparison with the previous year due to the exploitation of the raw material for keramsite production. The output remains at the same level as in 2015.
There has not been any new documentation approved in 2016.
Deposits of clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources are documented only for these parts of exploited deposits which are located within the mining areas. These resources in 2016 amounted to 2.55 million m3 (5.10 million tonnes) and decreased by 0.01 million m3 due to the exploitation.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
2015
Clay raw materials for production of light-weight aggregates, exploited in Poland, may be assigned to two major types in relation to their usability: raw materials suitable for production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates) and raw materials suitable for production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in production of keramsite are characterized by expansion during thermal treatment. The coefficient characterizing that property, that is swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. The process of production of keramsite involves roasting of appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume and their external layer begins to melt. The obtained product is of the porous light-weight ceramic aggregate type, characterized by low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and high resistance to several agents. Keramsite is used mainly in building industry, road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
Resources of clays suitable for production of keramsite were documented in 8 deposits, two of which are exploited. Pliocene clays are exploited at Budy Mszczonowskie in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Quaternary stagnant-lake clays – at Gniew in the Pomorskie Voivodeship. Till 1995 keramsite was produced also from Oligocene clays exploited in Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) deposit in the Szczecin area. The remaining deposits – Gołaszyn, Nawra, Ruda, Uniejów, Wierzchocin – have not been exploited so far.
Raw materials used in production of agloporit are not expanding in the course during thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. Process of production of agloporit involves roasting of granulated clay containing easily combustible particles such as anthracite. The combustible particles mixed with clay are burnt out during firing which makes the obtained material highly porous. The sintered granules are subsequently crushed to obtain aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Production of agloporite was phased out and deposits of that raw material became abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by these raw materials are generally low and even lower than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for building industry. The majority of proven resources of agloporit raw materials comprise Quaternary glacial tills and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays and Poznań clay and Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
"Fired shales” represent a material close to agloporit. This material originates in result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of coal waste production in mining operations. The fires turn clay shales which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in building and road construction. They are treated as reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from ‘The balance...’.
Table 1 shows the current state of exploration and development of these deposits. Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2015 amounted to 168.66 million m3 (337.32 million tonnes) from which resources for keramsite were equal 40.54 million m3 (81.08 million tonnes) – 24.0 % of total resources.
The resources decreased by 0.103 million m3 in comparison with the previous year – it was due to the exploitation and losses.
Deposits of clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources are documented only for these parts of exploited deposits which are located within the mining areas. These resources in 2015 amounted to 2.65 million m3 (5.30 million tonnes) and decreased by 0.01 million m3.
The output was equal 0.097 million m3 and slightly increased (by 0.003 million m3 – 3 %) in comparison with the previous year (table 2).
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
2014
Clay raw materials for production of light-weight aggregates, exploited in Poland, may be assigned to two major types in relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates),
- raw materials suitable for production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in production of keramsite are characterized by expansion during thermal treatment. The coefficient characterizing that property, that is swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. The process of production of keramsite involves roasting of appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume and their external layer begins to melt. The obtained product is of the porous light-weight ceramic aggregate type, characterized by low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and high resistance to several agents. Keramsite is used mainly in building industry, road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
Resources of clays suitable for production of keramsite were documented in 8 deposits, two of which are exploited. Pliocene clays are exploited at Budy Mszczonowskie in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Quaternary stagnant-lake clays – at Gniew in the Pomorskie Voivodeship. Till 1995 keramsite was produced also from Oligocene clays exploited in the Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) deposit in the Szczecin area. The remaining deposits – Gołaszyn, Nawra, Ruda, Uniejów, Wierzchocin – have not been exploited up to now.
Raw materials used in production of agloporit are not expanding in the course during thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. Process of production of agloporit involves roasting of granulated clay containing easily combustible particles such as anthracite. The combustible particles mixed with clay are burnt out during firing which makes the obtained material highly porous. The sintered granules are subsequently crushed to obtain aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Production of agloporite was phased out and deposits of that raw material became abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by these raw materials are generally low and even lower than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for building industry. The majority of proven resources of agloporit raw materials comprise Quaternary glacial tills and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays and Poznań clay and Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
‘Fired shales’ represent a material close to agloporit. This material originates in result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of coal waste production in mining operations. The fires turn clay shales which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in building and road construction. They are treated as reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from this Report.
Table 1 shows the current state of exploration and development of these deposits. Anticipated economic resources as of 31.12.2014 amounted to 168.76 million m3 (337.52 million tonnes) from which resources for keramsite were equal 40.64 million m3 (81.28 million tonnes) – 24.1 % of resources. The resources decreased by 72.49 thousand m3 in comparison with the previous year – it was due to the exploitation and losses (−103.02 thousand m3) whereas the resources growth was only 30.53 thousand m3.
Deposits of clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources documented only for exploited deposits in 2014 amounted to 2.75 million m3 (5.50 million tonnes) and decreased by 0.05 million m3. The output was equal 100 thousand m3 and almost has not changed in comparison with the previous year.
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
2013
Clay raw materials for production of light-weight aggregates, exploited in Poland, may be assigned to two major types in relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates),
- raw materials suitable for production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in production of keramsite are characterized by expansion during thermal treatment. The coefficient characterizing that property, that is swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. The process of production of keramsite involves roasting of appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume and their external layer begins to melt. The obtained product is of the porous light-weight ceramic aggregate type, characterized by low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and high resistance to several agents. Keramsite is used mainly in building industry, road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
Resources of clays suitable for production of keramsite were documented in 8 deposits, two of which are exploited. Pliocene clays are exploited at Budy Mszczonowskie in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Quaternary stagnant-lake clays – at Gniew in the Pomorskie Voivodeship. Till 1995 keramsite was produced also from Oligocene clays exploited in the Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) deposit in the Szczecin area. The remaining deposits – Gołaszyn, Nawra, Ruda, Uniejów, Wierzchocin – have not been exploited up to now.
Raw materials used in production of agloporit are not expanding in the course during thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. Process of production of agloporit involves roasting of granulated clay containing easily combustible particles such as anthracite. The combustible particles mixed with clay are burnt out during firing which makes the obtained material highly porous. The sintered granules are subsequently crushed to obtain aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Production of agloporite was phased out and deposits of that raw material became abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by these raw materials are generally low and even lower than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for building industry. The majority of proven resources of agloporit raw materials comprise Quaternary glacial tills and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays and Poznań clay and Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
‘Fired shales’ represent a material close to agloporit. This material originates in result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of coal waste production in mining operations. The fires turn clay shales which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in building and road construction. They are treated as reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from this Report.
Table 1 shows the current state of exploration and development of these deposits. Anticipated economic resources decreased in 2013 by 0.12 million m3 and were reported to be equal 168.83 million m3 (337.66 million tonnes) from which resources for keramsite production account for 24.1 % (40.72 million m3 – 81.44 million tonnes).
Deposits of clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources in 2013 amounted to 2.80 million m3 (5.60 million tonnes) and decreased by 0.28 million m3 – mainly due to the new deposit management plan approved for Budy Mszczonowskie deposit. The output was equal 99 thousand m3 (decreased by 4.7 %).
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
2012
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to two major types in relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates),
- raw materials suitable for production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in production of keramsite are characterized by expansion during thermal treatment. The coefficient characterizing that property, that is swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. The process of production of keramsite involves roasting of appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume and their external layer begins to melt. The obtained product is of the porous light-weight ceramic aggregate type, characterized by low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and high resistance to several agents. Keramsite is used mainly in building industry, road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
Resources of clays suitable for production of keramsite were proven in 8 deposits, two of which are exploited. Pliocene cIays are exploited at Budy Mszczonowskie in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Quaternary stagnant-lake clays – at Gniew in the Pomorskie Voivodeship. Till 1995 keramsite was produced also from Oligocene clays exploited in the Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) deposit in the Szczecin area. The remaining deposits have not been exploited up to now.
Raw materials used in production of agloporit are not expanding in the course of during thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. Process of production of agloporit involves roasting of granulated clay containing easily combustible particles such as anthracite. The combustible particles mixed with clay are burnt out during firing which makes the obtained material highly porous. The sintered granules are subsequently crushed to obtain aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Production of agloporite was phased out and deposits of that raw material became abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by these raw materials are generally low and even lower than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for building industry. The majority of proven resources of agloporit raw materials comprise Quaternary glacial tills and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays and Poznań clay and Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
‘Fired shales’ represent a material close to agloporit. This material originates in result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of coal waste production in mining operations. The fires turn clay shales which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in building and road construction. They are treated as reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from this Report.
Table 1 shows the current state of exploration and development of these deposits. Anticipated economic resources decreased in 2012 by 0.08 million m3 (in comparison with 2011) and were reported to be 168.95 million m3 (337.90 million tonnes).
Deposits of clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources in 2012 amounted to 3.08 million m3 (6.32 million tonnes) and output to 104 thousand m3 (decreased by 5,2 %).
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski
2011
Clay raw materials exploited in Poland for production of light-weight aggregates may be assigned to two major types in relation to their usability:
- raw materials suitable for production of keramsite (light-weight bloated clay aggregates),
- raw materials suitable for production of agloporit (called as glinoporyt in Poland).
Raw materials used in production of keramsite are characterized by expansion during thermal treatment. The coefficient characterizing that property, that is swelling coefficient, should be equal at least 2.5 and preferably 5.0 and more. The process of production of keramsite involves roasting of appropriately prepared and granulated clay raw material in temperature of 1,050-1,300 °C. In the course of roasting the granules increase their volume and their external layer begins to melt. The obtained product is of the porous light-weight ceramic aggregate type, characterized by low soakability, high thermal insulating properties and high resistance to several agents. Keramsite is used mainly in building industry, road construction, horticulture and agriculture.
Resources of clays suitable for production of keramsite were proven in 8 deposits, two of which are exploited. Pliocene cIays are exploited at Budy Mszczonowskie in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and Quaternary stagnant-lake clays – at Gniew in the Pomorskie Voivodeship. Till 1995 keramsite was produced also from Oligocene clays exploited in the Bukowo (Szczecin-Płonia) deposit in the Szczecin area. The remaining deposits have not been exploited up to now.
Raw materials used in production of agloporit are not expanding in the course of during thermal treatment as their swelling coefficient is not higher than 1.0. Process of production of agloporit involves roasting of granulated clay containing easily combustible particles such as anthracite. The combustible particles mixed with clay are burnt out during firing which makes the obtained material highly porous. The sintered granules are subsequently crushed to obtain aggregates characterized by high open porosity and relatively low density. Such aggregates were used mainly in production of light concrete, concrete blocks and hollow bricks. Production of agloporite was phased out and deposits of that raw material became abandoned.
Agloporit clay raw materials are fairly common throughout the whole country. Quality requirements which should be matched by these raw materials are generally low and even lower than those put for raw materials for making simple thick-walled ceramics for building industry. The majority of proven resources of agloporit raw materials comprise Quaternary glacial tills and loesses (loess loams) and the remaining ones – Tertiary Krakowiec clays and Poznań clay and Quaternary stagnant lake clays.
‘Fired shales’ represent a material close to agloporit. This material originates in result of spontaneous fires of stockpiles of coal waste production in mining operations. The fires turn clay shales which form large part of the coal waste stockpiles, into strong ceramic material. ‘Fired shales’ are available at the Polish market as aggregates usable in building and road construction. They are treated as reused product from waste and thus data on their resources and supplies are omitted from this Report.
Table 1 shows the current state of exploration and development of these deposits. Anticipated economic resources decreased in 2011 by 0.11 million m3 (in comparison with 2010) and were reported to be 169.03 million m3 (338.06 million tonnes).
Deposits of clay raw materials for lightweight aggregate production (together with building ceramics raw materials) are presented on the map.
Economic resources in 2011 amounted to 3.16 million m3 (6.32 million tonnes) and output to 110 thousand m3 (increased by 15 %).
Prepared by: Wojciech Szczygielski