On 16-17 September 2025, employees of the Central Geological Archive of the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PGI-NRI) visited the headquarters of the Czech Geological Survey (CGS).

During the visit, they familiarised themselves with the local rules and practices regarding the collection, storage and sharing of drill cores and geological documentation. The meeting was hosted by dr Zdeňek Venera, Director of the CGS, and Vit Štrupl, Director of the CGS Information Systems Department.

From left: dr Vít Štrupl, Łukasz Hincman, Wiktoria Brzezińska-Paciorek, dr Zdeňek Venera, Aleksandra Czul, Anna Dąbrowska and Agata Fudała

The Polish delegation accompanied by Patrik Fiferna (left) at the headquarters of the Czech Geological Survey, located in the former hospital for the blind and poor. The photograph has been taken in the former hospital chapel, which now serves as a meeting room

At the Department of Mineral Deposits Geology (CSG), Jakub Kryl presented the capabilities of the drill core scanner: DMT CoreScan, and a quick and easy way to prepare it for transport

In the core archive located on the premises of a decommissioned coal mine in Lužná u Rakovníka, the delegation viewed a new storage hall where collections of cores and samples placed in boxes are kept in wooden cabinets that open from the front, allowing easy access to the rock material

The visit was highly substantive and enabled a valuable exchange of experiences. The information obtained from our Czech colleagues will provide interesting material for analysis and possible changes and practical solutions at PGI-NRI.

Text: Agata Fudała, Aleksandra Czul
Photos: Aleksandra Czul, Agata Fudała, Łukasz Hincman