The impact of industrial plants

“Machów” Sulphur Mines

and “Siarkopol” Chemical Plants

on the environment.

- Location of the city- Tarnobrzeg Sights- “Machów” Sulphur Mine- “Siarkopol” Chemical Plants- Chemical products- Summary

Table of contents

MAPY!

The city is located in the south-east of Poland, in the Sandomierz Valley, on the right bank of the Vistula.

The city was founded in 1593 by the Tarnowski family.

Location of Tarnobrzeg

Tarnobrzeg area occupies 86 km2. It has approximately 50, 000 inhabitants.

Today the city has county rights in the Podkarpackie Voivodship.

The city developed after the Second World War as a centre of sulphur mining.

Until recently, it was also a major centre for processing of sulphur in Poland and the largest producer of sulphuric acid.

It was called “the capital of Polish sulphur industry”. 

Tarnobrzeg Sights

The Tarnowski Family Castle Museum

The Dominican Church and Monastery

The Church in Miechocin

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Monument to Bartosz Głowacki

The Tarnowski Family Castle was built in the fourtenth century and rebuilt several times.

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The Dominican Church and Monastery were founded by the Tarnowski family in 1676 to keep the miraculous painting of the Holy Virgin.

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Monument to Bartosz Głowacki – unveiled on 9th September, 1904.

PREVIOUS

St. Mary Magdalene Church in Tarnobrzeg-Miechocin built in 1340. There is a Gothic door to the sacristy and a baptistery from 1484.

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History Museum – founded in 1991. Located in the building of the former granary.

It collects documents, memorabilia and works of art connected with the traditions of the city and its

surroundings.

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“Machów” Sulphur Mine

The exploitation of native sulphur deposits by opencast method began in 1970.

The extraction of ore in the mining pit constituted the base of the production of sulphur using the flotation

and rafination methods. 

The exploitation of sulphur ore and its processing had a damaging impact

on the environment. 

By the end of 1992, the extraction of sulphur in Machów open pit was finished and the mine was closed down.

 

The excavation was flooded to form an artificial lake.

Ms Ewa Świca, representing the Mine “Machów”, is explaing the stages of forming the lake in the excavation.

A group of students on the observation deck of the former Mine “Machów”.

While gathering materials in the Mine “Machów”.

“Siarkopol” Chemical Plants

In “Siarkopol” Chemical Plants.

The products of “Siarkopol” Chemical Plants

• Sulphur- used for: - fabrication of black powder and fireworks, - production of remedy for parasites of plants, - production of medecine, pesticides, matches and paper, - rubber vulcanization.

The following fertilizers are produced:

- for agriculture,

- for horticulture,

- ecological.

• Mineral fertilizers – used as a means of enriching the soil with the necessary nutrient to improve the growth of plants.

• Sulphuric acid- mostly used to produce other acids, dyes,

fertilizers, artificial fibres and explosives.

• Bleaching earth – used in refining of edible oil and animal fat as well as for decolorisation of petroleum oils.

• Fluorine gas – used for production of monomers, fluorine alkenes from which Teflon and its derivatives are made.

• Fluoride hydrogene – used for the etching of glass.

• Accumulator acid - used as electrolyte to fill leaded accumulators.

Zosia is thanking Mr Andrzej Chrząstek, an engineer working for “Siarkopol” Chemical Plants.

Sulphur mine and chemical plant t

Annual extraction/production in the highest business activity time and now.

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

3000000

3500000

4000000

sulphur sulphuric acid minerals fertilizers bleach soil

1990r.

2008r.

Sulphur mine and chemical planttys.

The area and employment in the highest business activity and now.

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

area quantity of workers

1990r.

2008r.

Sulphur mine and chemical plant m3

Water use and refuse water amount in the highest business activity and now.

0

10000000

20000000

30000000

40000000

50000000

60000000

70000000

80000000

water sewage gass and dusts

1990r.

2008r.

Summary

The Sulphur Mine “Machów” and Chemical Plants“Siarkopol” had an important role for our society. They have influenced

our town`s development and the life of inhabitants:• there were lots of work places in our region,• thanks to them our town could develop,• they founded a lot of cultural, sports and educational centres,• they contributed greatly to the construction

of such buildings as: our school-Gimnazjum number 2, “Siarkowiec” estate, St. Barbara Church, sports facilities in Tarnobrzeg,

• the castle in Baranów Sandomierski was rebuilt and renovated thanks to them.

Castle in Baranów Sandomierski

The work connected with the closure of the Sulphur Mine “Machów” followed

by the reclamation of post-extraction areas: 

- is leading to the revitalisation of devastated areas,

- has already brought about a considerable improvement in natural environment,

- has helped the damaged fauna and flora to grow again,

- has created new leisure grounds for the inhabitants,

- enbles the development of tourism.

Lovers of water sports.

The nearby area is getting more and more popular among the tourists.

Windsurfing on the lake.

The former mining pit was flooded to make an artificial lake for recreation.

We are grateful for help, support and kindness

in realisation of our project given from workers

of “Machów” Sulphur Mine

and “Siarkopol” Chemical Plants in Tarnobrzeg.

This presentation has been prepared by students from classes IIIB and IIB with the help

of their Geography teacher, Ms Urszula Staniszewska.

Urszula Staniszewska

Małgorzata Staniszewska

Zofia Łukasiewicz Szymon Halat Anna Tomczyk Radosław Kokoszka Anna Franecka Kacper Antoniewicz

Anna Mysiak Paweł Strużyk Marta Kalisz Maciej Tyniec Agata Jaromek