Mineral resources of the Czech Republic in percent. Natural resources and minerals of the Czech Republic. Natural resources of the Czech Republic

Minerals of the Czech Republic.

1. General information

On ter. Ch. a large number of births has been established. k.k. many species and different genetics. types; there are several sources of iron, manganese, barite, gold, tin, fluorite, uranium, molybdenum, lead, zinc and copper, but no chromium, platinum (Table 1). Among the EU countries, the Czech Republic ranks 6th in terms of graphite reserves, 7th in diatomite, 8th in brown coal, and 9th in kaolin (Gluckauf, No. 1, 2002). At the same time, China lacks oil, natural gas, and metal ores. They also import chemical raw materials - sulfur, phosphates, potassium salts. All mineral resources of China can be classified into the following sections: 1. Raw materials, deposits of which are practically absent in the country: chromium, platinum, sulfur, phosphates and potassium salts. 2. Raw materials, iron, manganese, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, cobalt, asbestos, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, limestone, coal, lignite, bitumen and graphite are available in limited quantities. 3. Raw materials that can meet domestic industrial needs in the future: feldspar, quartz. 4. Raw materials currently meeting domestic industrial needs: kaolin, refractory ceramic clays, bentonite and antimony. 5. Raw materials that are in such large quantities that their development requires solving issues of production-consumption balance and protection environment: limestone, clay, gravel and stone. 6. Raw materials exist in very limited quantities and cannot be used at the current level of technology development: molybdenum, trace elements.

2. Some minerals of the Czech Republic as of 1998-99

3. Certain types of minerals

Coal. Prom. Coal content is associated with deposits of the Carboniferous and Tertiary periods. Largest Coal Bass. - Ostrava-Karvinsky coal mine. Sir. thickness 2.4-3 m. Brown coals are concentrated. in the North Bohemian Basin.

Uranus. The reserves of uranium ore in Chechnya are quite significant. Basic The type of mineralization is represented by the U-Ag-Bi-Co-Ni formation developed in the Ore Mountains. More births. Jáchymov, discovered back in 1516, the ore reserves have already been worked out. Rodov., located in the areas of Zadnie Chodov (Zach. Bohemia), Příbram (North Bohemia) and Dolní Rožinka (Pivd. Moravia), are represented by hydrothermal types, and in the area of ​​Hamr na Ezer (North Bohemia) - uranium-bearing types Cretaceous sandstones.

Non-ferrous metals and polymetals. Childbirth. non-ferrous metal ores are presented in translation. polymetallic ores. These include previously now worked out births. Pribram (Pb, Zn, Ag), associated with diabases, and similar genera. Kutna Hora. Another well-known metallogenic area is the Jesenik Mountains, where in the vicinity of Zlato Gora up to quartzites of Lower Devonian age are confined to genera. Cu, Pb and Zn, as well as vein genera. Zn + Pb of the same age: Horni Benešov, Horni Mesto, etc. In the Ore Mountains region, pneumatolytic and hydrothermal mineralization of tin-tungsten genera is of great importance. greisen type - Tsinovets, Krasno (containing 0.2-0.3% Sn; 0.05% W). In the Moravian Upland there is a large but poor copper-nickel (cobalt) deposit. Old Ransky, associated with rocks of basic composition. Silver is found in some polymetallic genera. Ch. silver reserves were concentrated in the clans. Pribram.

Non-metallic minerals particulars of genera are presented. kaolin, refractory and ceramic clays, magnesite, bentonite, glass sands, feldspathic and quartz raw materials, limestone and other materials, including facing and ornamental stones. A special group of mineral raw materials are genera. graphite and fluorite. Graphite belongs to the traditional types of carbon steel. Czech Republic. Childbirth. represented by crystalline lenses. graphite in the development of moldanubicum East. Czech Republic (Cesky Krumlov, Lazec) and childbirth. amorphous graphite Vost. Czech Republic and North Moravia (Konstantin, Jesenik). Fluorite and fluorite-barite genera. Parts associated with the Lower Mesozoic and Oligocene-Miocene mineralization. Number high quality ceramic deposits. kaolin with a thickness of 15-40 m containing a useful component of sulphur. 29% are known in the vicinity of Karlovy Vary, they were formed as a result of weathering (kaolinization) of granites in the Tertiary period. In the vicinity of Pilsen, deposits of kaolin, suitable for the paper industry, were formed by arkosives and arkoses sandstones of Carboniferous age. The thickness of the deposits is 20-30 m, the content of the useful fraction is approx. 20%. Similar births. famous in the Podboran region (Zech. Czech Republic). Childbirth. high-quality refractory clays are confined to the coal deposits of the Czech Republic (Rako-Horzkovets, Rakovnik), in the Cenomanian West. Moravia and the Czech Republic. High-quality ceramic clays occur in the Pliocene deposits of the East. Czech Republic, Miocene - in the vicinity of Pilsen. Large births. bentonites for foundry production are confined to tertiary pyroclastic deposits in the Czech midlands. Feldspathic raw materials are associated with Quaternary accumulative terraces of Luznice (Pivd. Czech Republic), with pegmatites and leucocratic granites. There are significant genera with quartz raw materials. glass sands of Coniacian and Middle Turonian age in the Czech Cretaceous Basin. In addition, in Ch. there is a birth. magnesite, limestone, dolomite, diatomite, talc, zeolite. There is a large number of births in the Czech Republic. Proterozoic pyritized shales containing 10-15% sulfur and about the same amount of manganese (Chvalitice). Large reserves of these shales (approx. 430 million tons) are a potential S, Mn resource.

Construction Materials. Throughout the territory There are widespread deposits of materials (facing and decorative stone, pebbles, brick clays, etc.), but their development is often limited by environmental legislation. Known genera. various precious and ornamental stones. These are Czech garnets, tektites (moldavite), agate and jasper.

Mineral springs. Based on numbers. There are dozens of resorts operating in Czech mineral springs. Of these, the most famous are: in the West. Czech Republic (Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne, Františkovy Lazne, Jáchymov, Kinhvart, Konstantin Lazne) and Central Bohemia (Poděbrady) in Moravia - Luhačovice, Teplice nad Bečvou, Darkov, Velke Losiny, Jesenik, etc.

See also

Sources

CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Ceskoslovensko), Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (Ceska a Slovenska Federativni Republika), Czechoslovakia (CSFR), is a state in Central Europe. In the north it borders with Poland, in the east - with, in the south - with Hungary and, in the west - with Germany. Area 127.9 thousand km2. Population 15.55 million people (as of January 1, 1987). The capital is Prague. Czechoslovakia is a federation of two equal republics: Czech and Slovak. Divided into 10 regions and cities - Prague and Bratislava (as a region). The official languages ​​are Czech and Slovak. The monetary unit is the Czechoslovak koruna.

General characteristics of the farm. In the structure of national income (1986), 59.8% came from industry, 10.7% from construction, 6.9% from Agriculture; the rest goes to transport, communications and trade. In the post-war period industrial production increased 13 times. Mechanical engineering and the chemical industry developed at the fastest pace. Czechoslovakia has a relatively limited fuel, energy and mineral resource base. The most significant reserves are coal (more than 94% of fuel and energy resources).

Geological structure. On the territory of Czechoslovakia, the Czech (Bohemian) massif (part of the European Hercynides) and the Western Carpathians, which frame it in the east and belong to the Alpine belt of Europe, are structurally distinguished. The basement of most of both units is composed of Proterozoic rocks: in the core of the Bohemian Massif, the upper Proterozoic moldanubicum, Barrandien and their equivalents in the Ore Mountains, Krkonose and Orlicke Mountains, as well as crystalline rock formations cropping up on the eastern edge of the Bohemian Massif in the Brno Unit and at the base of the northern part Western Carpathians. The rocks of these formations were subjected to Baikal (Kadoma) folding and metamorphism, which were accompanied by the intrusion of granitoids from the Brno and Lusatian plutons and the formation of the Cambrian molasse strata in the Příbram-Jinec Barrandien basin - a synclinorium within the Bohemian massif. Primary mineralization is associated with volcanogenic-sedimentary formations. The Hercynides (variscides) are also composed of sedimentary rocks in Barrandien, the Ore Mountains, the Giant Mountains and Jeseniky. The Hercynian (Varissian) folding at the end of the Devonian - beginning of the Carboniferous period caused the formation of tectonic nappes. Granitoid plutons in Central Bohemia and other areas are characterized by polymetallic or tin-tungsten mineralization. At the end of the Variscan tectogenesis, molasse was formed, in some places coal-bearing (Ostrava-Karvina basin), and the consolidation of the Czech massif occurred. In the intermountain troughs in the Late Carboniferous - Permian, freshwater coal-bearing basins were formed (Pilsen, Kladensko-Rakovnitsky, Mshensky, Lower Silesian, etc.), in which sedimentation in some places occurred until the Triassic. In, and time passed the formation of lakes. This accumulation of sediments and the formation of relief is associated with tectonic movements of the late Mesozoic era of tectogenesis; In some areas, volcanic activity (continental-type basalts) actively manifested itself, accompanied by the remobilization of ore elements.

The area of ​​the modern Carpathians developed together with the Bohemian Massif before the beginning of the Mesozoic era. Later, the Slovak block, under the influence of Alpine folding phases, broke up into smaller parts that became part of later folded structures (the crystalline core of some Slovak mountains). As a result of Alpine folding in the Western Carpathians in the Late Cretaceous (Inner Carpathians) and in the Miocene (Outer Carpathians), thick covers branched in the frontal part arose. These covers, including crystalline cores, formed a central crystalline belt. The two main nappes of the Inner Carpathians are Kriznyansky and Chochsky, the youngest is Spissky, which covers the Gemer region. The thickness of the sedimentary cover is about 2800 m. At the end of the Neogene, the Inner Carpathians were divided into a number of blocks subjected to denudation, as a result of which the crystalline core was exposed (High and Low Tatras, Mala Fatra). In the Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary times, the Carpathians and the adjacent edges of the platform were again covered by transgression, as evidenced by a thick thickness (up to 4000 m) of sandy, clayey and other sediments. To the north of the crystalline core of the Inner Carpathians, at the end of the Tertiary time, after the processes of folding and mountain building, a flysch belt was formed from the Danube to the Transcarpathian region. During folding during the Oligocene and Miocene, the flysch zone was thrown over the edge of the Czech Massif. Thus, three nappes were formed - Zdanice-Podsilesian, Silesian and in the east Magursky. Intense mountain-building movements were accompanied by the formation of faults, along which, mainly in the Miocene, but also in the Quaternary period, outpourings of volcanic rocks (andesites, rhyolites, dacites and their tuffs, etc.) occurred, especially powerful in the southern and eastern parts of the Czechoslovak Carpathians

Seismicity. The territory of Czechoslovakia belongs to weakly seismic areas. Earthquakes were known mainly in Slovakia (in the areas of Komarno, Dobra Voda, Zilina). In the Czech Republic, earthquakes reached magnitude 7 (in the areas of Kraslice, Trutnov, Opava). Most of the earthquakes recorded in Czechoslovakia had epicenters outside its territory (in neighboring areas of the young mountain formation in the Alps and Carpathians).

Hydrogeology . There are two main hydrogeological structures on the territory of Czechoslovakia: the Czech Massif and the folded region of the Western Carpathians. Within their boundaries there are a number of independent artesian basins (Czech Cretaceous, Ceske Budejovitsky and others in the Czech Massif, Turchansky, Orava, Zvolensky and others in the Western Carpathians). In the south of Slovakia, there are a number of basins confined to the depressions of the same name - the Danube, Ipel, and Potis. The main fresh groundwater resources are formed in gravel-pebble Quaternary alluvial and fluvioglacial deposits, in Cretaceous sandstones, in Mesozoic carbonate rocks, and in Neogene effusives. In Quaternary sediments, groundwater lies at a depth of 80 m. The flow rates of wells and boreholes are generally from 3 to 15 l/s, in the valleys of the Danube, Vag and other rivers - up to a few hundred l/s. Among the Cretaceous rocks (from Coniacian to Cenomanian), the sandstone strata (Czech Cretaceous, České Budejovica depressions, etc.) are characterized by high but extremely uneven water content. Artesian horizons lie at a depth of 80 to 900 m. The underground flow module is 3.5-4 l/s.km 2 . Spring flow rates are up to 5 l/s, maximum - up to 25 l/s, rarely 150 l/s. Specific well flow rates range from 0.1 to 10 l/s, less often up to 16 l/s. Among Mesozoic rocks, high water content is characteristic of karst limestones and dolomites of the Triassic (Western Carpathians). The specific underground flow in the area of ​​their development varies from 4 to 25 l/s.km 2 . The flow rates of karst springs vary from 0.1 to hundreds of l/s, while of karst-crack springs they reach hundreds of l/s or more. The ratio of minimum and maximum flow rates ranges from 1:10 to 1:57; their operational resources are about 1000 l/s. Among the Neogene effusive rocks (Slanski Mountains, Vigorlat, etc.) tuffite sandstones, sandy and gravel tuffs are water-bearing. The underground current module varies from 8 to 7 l/s.km 2 . The filtration coefficient ranges from 1.10 4 to 1.10 6 m/s. Flow rates of springs from tenths of l/s to 7 l/s, wells from 4 to 15 l/s, in zones of tectonic disturbances up to 50 l/s. Among the Eocene-Oligocene flysch deposits (Western Carpathians), sandstones serve as the main groundwater reservoir. The filtration coefficient in the zone of exogenous fracturing is from 7.10 -7 to 6.10 -9 m/s. The depth of groundwater is from 5 to 100 m or more. The flow rates of springs are from 0.5 to 7 l/s, the specific flow rate of wells is from 0.09 to 0.52 l/s. Among the Pliocene rocks developed in all depressions, only individual lenses and layers of sand and pebbles are water-bearing. Well flow rates range from 0.6 to 3.0 l/s, less often up to 30 l/s (Nitra and Vag river basins) and up to 60 l/s (Turchanskaya depression). In the area of ​​development of crystalline rocks (Bohemian Massif, Western Carpathians), fresh groundwater is formed in the zone of exogenous and tectonic fracturing; spring flow rates range from fractions to 1 l/s. The mineralization of fresh groundwater is 0.1-1 g/l, its composition is predominantly HCO 3 - - Ca 2+, Ca 2+ - Mg 2+, SO 4 2- - Ca 2+. The total natural fresh groundwater resources of Czechoslovakia are estimated at 60-90 m 3 /s. Moreover, from a third to a half of all natural resources available there are concentrated in the carbonate rocks of Slovakia. Czechoslovakia is rich in mineral and thermal waters. Over 950 manifestations of mineral waters are known on its territory, on the basis of which more than 50 resorts operate.

Deposits of diatomite, talc (accompanying deposits of magnesite), and zeolite have also been established on the territory of Czechoslovakia. In the Czech Republic there is a large deposit of Proterozoic pyritized shales containing 10-15% sulfur and approximately the same amount of manganese (Chvaletice near the town of Kolin). Large reserves of these shales (426 million tons) may become a potential S, Mn resource in the future.

Deposits of building materials (facing and decorative stones, pebbles, brick clays, etc.) are widespread throughout Czechoslovakia, but their development is often limited by environmental legislation.

Deposits of various precious and ornamental stones are known in Czechoslovakia. These include, in particular, Czech garnets contained in pyrophoresis pebbles in the Bohemian Middle Mountains, tektites (moldavites) in Southern Bohemia and noble opal in eastern Slovakia (Dubnik), agate and jasper in the Giant Mountains (Northern Bohemia).

Mineral springs. There are 55 resorts based on numerous mineral resorts in Czechoslovakia. Of these, the largest and most famous are: in Western Bohemia (Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne, Františkovy Lazne, Jáchymov, Kinkhvart, Konstantinovi Lazne) and Central Bohemia (Poděbrady); in Moravia - Luhačovice, Teplice nad Bečvou, Darkov, Velke Losiny, Jesenik, etc.; in Slovakia - Piestany, Trencianske Teplice, Koritnica Kupel, Bojnice, Rajecke Teplice, Bardejov, Dudince, Sliac, Czyz, etc. In addition to resorts, there are many places where there are sources of mineral water.

History of the development of mineral resources. It is known from archaeological finds that gold was mined on the territory of Czechoslovakia by the Celts (4th-1st centuries BC). The first mention of tin mining in the Czech Republic dates back to 973. The exploitation of polymetallic deposits in Banska Stiavnica has been known since the 10th century. In the 13th century Banska Stiavnica is a large city with its own mining rights; in the 16th-18th centuries. one of the largest suppliers of gold and silver in Europe. The most famous ancient mining site is the Ore Mountains (Krusne Gori). The first mention of tin and silver mining in this area dates back to 1168. Ore mining reached a significant scale in the Czech Republic in the 13th-14th centuries, when mining law was first issued (Jihlava in 1249 and Kutnogorsk in 1300, which influenced for several centuries mining legislation) and began to mint silver coins (Czech groschen). In the area of ​​Příbram, since the 13th century, ores of silver, lead, zinc, and later antimony have been mined. In 1332 the Rudnyany deposit (Slovak Ore Mountains) was discovered. Nowadays this deposit is the largest supplier of iron ore, barite, etc. in Czechoslovakia. Silver has been mined in Jáchymov since 1512, and uraninite since 1852. For the first time in the world, a depth of 1000 m was reached at the Vojtech mine (Příbram) in 1875. Mining of ores of mainly non-ferrous metals was carried out almost throughout the entire territory of Czechoslovakia, but the reserves of both non-ferrous metals and iron ore are small.

Mining. Since the early 50s. the production of mineral raw materials in Czechoslovakia constantly increased, reaching 340 million tons in 1986 (Table 2).

In 1st place in terms of volume is coal mining, in 2nd place is non-metallic building materials, and in 3rd place is industrial raw materials (limestones, kaolins, magnesites and glass sands). In value terms, the production of mineral raw materials amounted to 40.7 billion crowns (1986), incl. coal mining CZK 32.1 billion, oil and natural gas CZK 0.92 billion, ore mining CZK 3.8 billion; other minerals CZK 3.8 billion. The number of workers employed in the mining industry is about 190 thousand people (1986). The production of coal and some types of non-metallic raw materials is generally sufficient to meet the needs of Czechoslovakia and their small exports. The main exported minerals are kaolin, refractories and magnesite. At the same time, Czechoslovakia is an importer of iron (11.3 million tons) and manganese ores, non-ferrous metals, oil (16 million tons), natural gas (11 billion m3), phosphates, mineral (potassium and nitrogen) fertilizers, asbestos, sulfur, salt and some other types of mineral raw materials. Much attention is paid to the development of the mining industry in Czechoslovakia, but only 5-15% of the country’s total needs are met through its own mining (with the exception of mercury and antimony ores).

Oil and natural gas production is relatively low (Table 2), despite significant exploration work in the most promising Vienna and East Slovak basins. Exploration is carried out to a depth of several kilometers. Oil and natural gas deposits are small in size and well flow rates are low. Depleted natural gas deposits were partly used to create underground storage facilities, which are of great importance in Czechoslovakia, since they provide the opportunity to equalize seasonal fluctuations in its supply in accordance with gas consumption. Their gas storage capacity reaches 2.4 billion m3.

Coal industry . Solid fuel is extracted in the following basins: hard coal - in Ostrava-Karvinsky (22.6 million tons), Kladensky (1.7 million tons), Pilsen (0.45 million tons), East Bohemian (0.65 million tons) and Rositsky (0.24 million tons); brown coals - in North Bohemian (74.1 million tons), Sokolovsky (21.1 million tons), Gandlovsky-Novatsky (2.9 million tons) and South Slovak (Modrikamensky) (1 million tons) ; lignites - in South Moravian (2.2 million tons) and Novatsky (1.4 million tons). All mining of hard coal and lignite is carried out using the underground method, and 91.8% of the volume of brown coal production is carried out using the open-pit method. The average thickness of the developed coal seams, incl. of high-quality coking coals, in the Ostrava region is 1.07 m (1985), in the Karvinsky region - 2.32 m (1985). In the East Bohemian basin, the thickness of the developed seams is on average 1.3 m. The coal is very hard, with a high

The Czech Republic is sufficiently supplied with fresh water. For the Czech river system, the country's position within the main watershed of Europe is significant. The river network is dense and belongs to three main drainage basins: the river. Laby (Elbe) with the main tributary of the river. Vltava; R. Morava, the left tributary of the Danube, and Odra. Only Laba and Vltava (from Prague) are navigable. There are also many small lakes and ponds throughout the country.

Forest resources

The Czech Republic is one of the most forested countries in Europe. Forests cover approx. 30% of its territory. Industrially valuable coniferous species predominate, primarily spruce (61% of the tree stand) and pine (22%). Above the forest line there are alpine meadows.

Minerals

A large number of deposits of many types of minerals of different genetic types and economic significance have been established on the territory of the Czech Republic.

Oil and natural gas fields have been discovered and are being exploited in the Vienna Basin. The deposits are, as a rule, small, with the exception of a few larger ones (the Grushki - oil, Visoka - gas fields). Searches and exploration of new deposits are concentrated in the Cis-Carpathian trough, along the south-eastern slopes of the Czech Massif, in the Vienna Basin. Deposits have been discovered on the southeastern slopes of the Czech Massif (Zdanice field - about 15 million tons of oil) and in the Vienna Basin (Zavod field - over 10 billion m 3 of gas). Fossil coal deposits are represented by hard coal, brown coal and lignite. Industrial coal content is associated with deposits of Carboniferous and Tertiary age. The largest coking coal basin is the Ostrava-Karvinsky coal basin. The second most important region is the Central Bohemian group of basins, uniting the Pilsen, Kladensko-Rakovniki, Slansk, Mshensk (Melnik) basins. The average thickness of coal seams is from 2.4 to 3 m. The East Bohemian basin (Zaclerz, Male Svatonowice) - a continuation of the Lower Silesian coal basin of Poland - covers an area of ​​600 km 2. The coal seam usually reaches 1 m in thickness, rarely 3 m. The largest basin for the extraction of brown coal is the North Bohemian brown coal basin (Khomutovsko-Mostetsko-Teplitsky). The Sokolov and Cheb basins are also significant. The Sokolov basin is the second largest brown coal basin in the Czech Republic. Its area is over 200 km 2 and contains 3 coal seams of working capacity. Coals contain a large amount of resinous substances and briquet well. 750 million tons of coal have been explored. The Cheb basin (area about 300 km2), like the Sokolov basin, is filled with Miocene deposits. Coal reserves are about 1 billion tons. Contains 1 layer of low quality brown coal.

Uranium ore reserves are quite significant. The main type of mineralization is represented by the U-Ag-Bi-Co-Ni formation developed in the Ore Mountains. The most famous deposit is Jáchymov; ore reserves have already been mined. The deposits are located in the areas of Zadni Chodov (Western Bohemia), Příbram (Middle Bohemia) and in the Hamrajon-Jezere area (Northern Bohemia).

Deposits of non-ferrous metal ores are represented mainly by polymetallic ores. These included, first of all, the now depleted Příbram deposit (Pb, Zn, Ag) and the Kut na Gora deposit with similar mineralization. Another well-known metallogenic region is the Jeseniky Mountains, where in the vicinity of Zlate Gory quartzite deposits are associated with Cu, Pb and Zn deposits. In the Ore Mountains region, the most important mineralization is the tin-tungsten deposits of the greisen type - Tsinovets, Krasno. In the Bohemian-Moravian Upland there is a large but poor Stare Ransko copper-nickel deposit associated with mafic rocks. Relatively large contact-metasomatic gold ore deposits are known in the area of ​​the middle reaches of the Vltava River (Mokrsko, Čelina deposits), in the area of ​​development of moldanubicum (Kasperske Gori) and in the vicinity of the city of Rožmital pod Třemšinem. Silver is found in some polymetallic deposits. The main reserves of silver were concentrated in the Příbram deposit.

Non-metallic mineral resources are represented, in particular, by deposits of kaolin, refractory and ceramic clays, magnesite, bentonite, glass sands, feldspathic and quartz raw materials, limestone and building materials, incl. facing and ornamental stone. A special group of mineral raw materials are deposits of graphite and fluorite. Graphite is one of the traditional types of minerals in the Czech Republic. The deposits are represented by lens-shaped deposits of crystalline graphite in the area of ​​development of moldanubicum in Southern Bohemia (Cesky Krumlov, Lazec) and deposits of amorphous graphite in Southern Bohemia and Northern Moravia (Konstantin, Jesenik). Numerous deposits of high-quality ceramic kaolin with a thickness of 15-40 m and with a useful component content on average of 29% are known in the vicinity of Karlovy Vary. In the vicinity of Pilsen there are deposits of kaolin suitable for the paper industry (Kaznejov, Horni Brzyza deposits); The thickness of the deposits is 20-30 m, the content of the useful fraction is about 20%. Similar deposits are known in the area of ​​Podborany (Western Bohemia).

Deposits of high-quality refractory clays are confined to Carboniferous deposits (Rako-Horzkovec, Rakovnik) and to the Cenomanian (Visehorzovice, Brnik). High-quality ceramic clays occur in Pliocene deposits of the Cheb Basin and elsewhere in the Czech Republic. These include deposits in the Southern Bohemia (Zliv, Klikov, Borovani), deposits in the vicinity of Pilsen (Kisice). Large deposits of high-quality bentonites for foundry production are confined to volcanic rocks in the Doupov Mountains and the Czech Middle Mountains. Feldspathic raw materials are associated with Quaternary accumulative terraces of the Lužnice River (Southern Bohemia). Of the quartz raw materials, the most significant are the large deposits of glass sand in the Czech Cretaceous Basin (Strzelec, Srni).

The Czech Republic has significant reserves of limestone and dolomite. The main centers of limestone distribution are: Central Bohemia, Moravian Kpac. Deposits of facing stone are represented by metamorphosed limestones, marbles, travertines and granitoids.

In the Czech Republic there is a large deposit of Proterozoic pyritized shales containing 10-15% sulfur and approximately the same amount of manganese (Chvaletice near the town of Kolin). Large reserves of these shales (426 million tons) may become a potential S, Mn resource in the future.

Deposits of building materials (facing and decorative stones, pebbles, brick clays, etc.) are widespread throughout the Czech Republic, but their development is often limited by environmental legislation. In the Czech Republic there are known deposits of various precious and ornamental stones. These include, in particular, Czech garnets contained in pyrophoresis pebbles in the Czech Middle Mountains, tektites (moldavites) in Southern Bohemia, agate and jasper in the Giant Mountains (Northern Bohemia).

The Czech Republic (its official name is the Czech Republic) is located in Central Europe. Its territory has common borders with such states as Slovakia, Austria, Poland, and Germany. The area of ​​the Czech Republic is 78,703 square meters. km. This territory contains rich natural resources and mineral deposits. What are these resources and how are they located on the territory? How is mining carried out in the Czech Republic? It is these issues that require careful consideration.

Relief and minerals of the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has a varied topography, consisting of plains, hills and mountain ranges. The Czech Republic has medium-high mountains, which are indicated on the map as:

• Czech forest;
• Czech Massif;
• Krkonose;
• Bohemian-Moravian Upland.

Mountain ranges stretch along the borders of the Czech Republic. In a relatively small area there are 16 mountain ranges and 400 peaks. The mountains of the Czech Republic are lower in height than the Swiss, but they are located in denser, frequent ridges.

The country is landlocked, but there are about 15,000 ponds and small lakes on its territory.

Forest resources

According to international rankings, the Czech Republic is considered the most forested country in Europe. Forest, which occupies about 30% of the country's total territory, is the most important resource for industry. The most common type of trees can be called conifers (as a percentage, they occupy about 60% of the entire forest). Coniferous forests are represented mainly by spruce and pine trees, while deciduous forests consist mainly of oak and beech groves.

There are not a large number of mineral deposits on the territory of this country, and many of the existing ones have already exhausted their resources, and their development has already ceased.

In the list of mineral resources of the Czech Republic:

• uranium ore;
• iron ore;
• oil;
• natural gas;
• lead;
• zinc;
• copper;
• silver;
• precious and semi-precious stones (garnet, jasper, agate, sapphires, rubies);
• hard and brown coal;
• sand.

Coal mining

Coal is one of the most common types of fossils found in the Czech Republic. The development of deposits is important for the country, because this material is the main fuel resource.

According to rough estimates, the volume of coal reserves reaches about 13 billion tons. The largest mining area for such minerals in the Czech Republic can be called the Ostrava-Karvina basin - it accounts for almost 70% of coking coals from all the country's reserves. The quality of the coal mined here is also much higher. This is explained by the composition, which contains a small amount of sulfur.

Smaller coal deposits are also located near cities such as Brno, Kladno and Pilsen.

Brown coal is also represented in fairly large volumes. The largest lignite basin is called the North Bohemian basin. More than half of all Czech brown coal reserves are located here.

A distinctive feature of coal deposits in the Czech Republic is the high spatial concentration of reserves, which makes it possible to use open-pit mining. This, in turn, allows for significant savings on the development of mineral resources in the Czech Republic.

Oil and natural gas

The Vienna Basin is an area where oil and gas fields are concentrated and actively being developed. Most of them are small in volume. The largest oil field is called Grushki, gas field is Visoka.

Currently, the search for new gas and oil deposits is in full swing. Work on the development of territories is carried out in the Cis-Carpathian trough near the slopes of the Czech Massif (in the south-eastern part). During this time, the Zavod gas field in the Vienna Basin and the Zdanice oil field were discovered (according to preliminary estimates, there is about 1 million tons of oil here).

Metal Ore

The number of metal ore deposits in the Czech Republic is insignificant. Moreover, the largest of them, which produced the lion's share of ore, have today turned out to be completely or almost depleted.

Most deposits contain low-grade phosphorous iron ores. Their metal content is less than 30. The Ore Mountains are the main location for minerals such as rare and non-ferrous metals.

Polymetallic ores in the Czech Republic are widespread in Pribram (Pb, Zn, Ag were mined here), Kut na Hora. Deposits of Cu, Pb and Zn were discovered near the Jeseniky Mountain.

The Czech-Moravian border is known for a very large deposit of Stare Ransko copper-nickel ore, but the ores here are poor.

Other earth resources

The reserves of uranium ore in the Czech Republic are quite large. Their deposits are located in the Ore Mountains. In the last century, a large number of polymetallic ores with a high content of native silver were mined. This figure was achieved thanks to a uranium-polymetallic deposit located in Central Bohemia. It was this that supplied the entire country with raw materials. In addition, there are smaller deposits that are currently being actively developed. They are located in the regions of Příbram (in Central Bohemia), Zadní Chodov (a region in Western Bohemia) and Gamrajona-Jezere (a region in Northern Bohemia).

As for silver, it was a by-product obtained from working in copper, uranium-metal, and lead-zinc deposits. Currently, the extraction of this mineral in the Czech Republic is no longer carried out in the fields.

Non-metallic minerals

The extraction of precious and semi-precious stones is important. The Krkonoše Mountains are home to jasper and agate. The pomegranate was found in the Czech Middle Mountains. There are small deposits here.

The glass sands of the Czech Republic are popular all over the world. They are used as raw materials in the production of colored glass and Czech crystal, which is highly valued not only in the Czech Republic itself, but also in many other countries.

The areas of Pilsen and Karlovy Vary are rich in graphite, magnesite and kaolin. The latter is mined in the vicinity of Karlovy Vary, Pilsen and Podborany (located in Western Bohemia).

The country has significant reserves of minerals such as limestone and dolomite. Quite a few deposits of building materials have been found throughout the country, represented by:

• decorative and facing stones;
• brick clays;
• pebbles.

Their production is limited, since the development of these deposits is under the protection of environmental organizations.

Udachnoye geographical position, rich nature, relief features, mineral resources of the Czech Republic open up many roads for development for the country. Among them are the development of land and natural resources, the extraction of minerals, and great opportunities in the development of tourism.

The Czech Republic is located in the very center of Europe and borders Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia. The territory of the republic is almost 79,000 square meters and unites the historical regions of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. Capital – Prague, The largest city countries. Most settlements are small. Among the large ones, we highlight the cities of Brno, Pilsen, Ceske Budejovice, Olomouc, Hradec Králové and Ostrava.

The country's landscape is dominated by highlands and medium-high mountains - the Bohemian Massif, bordered by the Šumava ridges, the Bohemian Forest, the Giant Mountains and the Bohemian-Moravian Upland. The largest river is the Vltava, 440 km long. The Czech Republic is located on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, which is the watershed between the Elbe and the Danube. The Elbe - also known as Laba - flows through the territory of the Czech Republic, other large rivers are the Morava, Odra - also known as Oder - Ohře, Strela and Berunka.

The landscapes of the Czech Republic are amazing in their beauty and diversity. Wide valleys with a dense network of rivers and lakes give way to dense forests, hills and mountain ranges, preserving the centuries-old freshness and coolness of stalactite caves. It is here that the healing springs of the most popular European resorts are located - Karlovy Vary, Marianske Lazne and Frantiskovy Lazne - making up the “golden triangle of Czech health”.

15,000 lakes and ponds, sandstone rock formations, 2,000 mineral springs, hundreds of palaces and castles, meadows and fields - all this is the Czech Republic. The most valuable natural areas are protected by the state. They became national parks and reserves - almost 12 percent of the territory.

Climate of the Czech Republic

The climatic conditions in the Czech Republic are very favorable. The country is located in the transition zone from the Central European maritime climate to the continental Eastern European climate, i.e. is located in the climatically favorable temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. The climate of the Czech Republic is temperate, transitional from maritime to continental, more or less even throughout the country, but its regional characteristics depend mainly on the topography.

Winters are usually mild, with temperatures ranging from –2 to –4 °C in the plains and –8 to –10 °C in the mountains. On the coldest days, the temperature can reach -15 degrees, but this happens no more than once every 10 years. The average temperature in winter is approximately 0 degrees. Summers are usually moderately hot. Average daily temperatures in the warmest summer month, July, range around 19–21 °C in the plains and 4–8 °C in the mountains.

Spring in the Czech Republic begins at the end of February. Autumn begins only in October.

Statistical indicators of the Czech Republic
(as of 2012)

In terms of climate, the Czech Republic can well be called a bridge between East and West. The Czech Republic attracts tourists all year round. The Czech Republic is located practically in the very center of Europe. The landscape of the Czech Republic is amazing in its beauty and diversity. Wide valleys with a dense network of rivers and lakes give way to dense forests, hills and mountain ranges that preserve the centuries-old freshness and coolness of stalactite caves. Large temperature fluctuations are rare. But in the mountains and the Czech Forest, everything is the other way around, as cold, heavy air descends into the valleys, and warmer, clearer air layers rise into the mountains - an excellent opportunity for mountain tourism.

Skiing in the Czech Republic is well developed and very popular among the population. In the Czech Republic there are many famous ski resorts where you can relax and have a good time.

The best months to visit the country's ski resorts are January - February. As for precipitation in the Czech Republic, rain prevails here, brought mainly by westerly winds. The average annual precipitation is 550 mm on the plains and 1400 mm in the mountains. In general, the climate of the Czech Republic is very mild.

Vegetation and fauna

The Czech Republic is one of the most forested countries in Europe. Forests cover about 30% of its territory. Industrially valuable coniferous species predominate, primarily spruce (61% of the tree stand) and pine (22%). Above the forest line there are alpine meadows. Vast forests create conditions for people to relax and provide habitat for wild animals - deer, beavers, pheasants and hares. In the mountain forests there are lynxes and numerous small animals - foxes, squirrels, weasels.

Nature conservation in the Czech Republic has a long tradition and is one of the best in the world. 12% of the territory of the entire country (9270 sq. km) is occupied by nature reserves. In Western Bohemia there is a unique natural complex- Sumava Park, stretching for 125 km along the border with Austria and Germany. It is a vast region of tranquil broadleaf forests, largely untouched by human activity. Although only one small part of Sumava - the Bubin Virgin Forest, can be regarded as, indeed, a protected ancient European plant community, a more preserved complex of European mountain broad-leaved forest simply does not exist. Wild flowers abound everywhere.

The mighty Vltava, as well as the five other main rivers of the country, begins from here, creating excellent conditions for active water sports. There are also all conditions for skiing and alpine skiing. In the foothills of Sumava there are the amazingly beautiful castles of Švigov, Velgartice, and Rabi.

The Czech Republic even has its own volcanoes located in Western Bohemia. The most famous of them is the crater of the extinct volcano Komorni-Hurka. Here, between Cheb and Frantiskovy Lazne, in the vast swampy area of ​​Slavkov Forest, there are numerous mud volcanoes that emit mineral water. There is also an amazing natural formation here - the Koneprusskie Caves - absolutely amazing karst caves, where you can get absolutely freely at any time of the year.