Comments Off on SGA Keynote Speaker Dr. Jakub Ciążela in Prague
Jan Mráček, SGA Student Chapter Prague
The SGA Student Chapter Prague had the honour of welcoming Dr. Jakub Ciążela to a special seminar titled Unlocking the Ocean’s Treasure: Metal Migration, Ore Formation, and Exploration of Polymetallic Deposits in the Oceanic Lithosphere. The lecture took place on December 3rd at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague.
Dr. Ciążela completed his master’s and PhD degrees at Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany, where he focused on the geochemistry of chalcophile elements in the oceanic crust. During his postdoctoral studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he became actively involved in extraterrestrial geology. He is now an Assistant Professor at the Polish Academy of Sciences, where he continues to explore these two interesting fields – planetary geology and ore formation processes in the Earth’s mantle and the lower oceanic crust.
This lecture provided a unique perspective on the fascinating processes of metal migration, which are crucial for understanding geological processes and the formation of mineral deposits. In his lecture, Dr. Ciążela introduced us to the different types of polymetallic deposits in the oceanic lithosphere, explained their formation, and presented the results of his research. He shared his own experiences from drilling ship expeditions and introduced us to a fascinating methodology for studying such polymetallic systems. The seminar was also streamed online, with 20 participants joining from various countries around the world, including Poland, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Argentina. The lecture was recorded as well – if you are interested in accessing the recording, please email the president of the SGA Student Chapter Prague, Jan Mráček (mracekja@natur.cuni.cz).
The seminar was held in cooperation with the SGA Student Chapter Prague and the Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University. The event was fully funded by the SGA Keynote Speaker Program.
Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank Dr. Jakub Ciążela for his outstanding lecture and extend our gratitude to the SGA Keynote Speaker Program for its essential support in making this event a success.
Fig.1 – Dr. Ciążela delivering the lecture in the Mineralogy Lecture Hall.
Comments Off on Field trip to Western Bohemia, Czech Republic
Jakub Ptáček1,2, Jan Mráček1,2
1Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
2Czech Geological Survey, Prague, Czech Republic
SGA Student Chapter Prague organized its 2024 autumn field trip to selected geological sites in the Western Bohemia. From October 25 to 28, 2024, a total of 25 members participated in the excursion.
1st day
The first stop of our field trip was the Příbram mining district, located in Central Bohemia. This district is one of the largest uranium-polymetallic hydrothermal vein-type deposits in the world (Pauliš et al. 2016). The veins in this district were formed during the Variscan orogenesis, with the vein system extending over an area of approximately 25 x 2 km at the boundary between the Teplá-Barrandian Unit (TBU) and the Moldanubian Zone. The veins are hosted in Neoproterozoic to Lower Paleozoic sedimentary or volcano-sedimentary rocks of the TBU, in close exocontact with the Upper Devonian to Carboniferous granodiorites of the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex, separating TBU and the Moldanubian Zone of the Bohemian Massif (Černoch et al. 1995; Janoušek et al. 2010; Pauliš et al. 2016). On numerous tailing heaps, it is possible to collect primarily calcite vein material, occasionally accompanied by sphalerite, hematite, galena, and, more rarely, radioactive uraninite.
Our next stop was a historical underground kaolin mine in Nevřeň. The site features extensive hand-dug spaces, with halls reaching up to 12 meters in height and 8 meters in width, carved into Carboniferous arkosic sandstones and arkoses. The elevated kaolinite content in these sediments resulted from the weathering of nearby feldspar-rich plutonic bodies. Kaolinite remains one of the most significant natural resources in Western Bohemia.
The third stop of our journey was the Pb-Zn-Ag polymetallic deposit of the Stříbro mining district. Mining in Stříbro began in the 12th century. The village was given the name Stříbro which translates to English as “Silver“ because silver ore was found right under the surface. Unfortunately, the silver mineralization was present only at the uppermost part of the deposit. Upon our arrival, we visited a locality directly above the historical mine to collect samples with pyromorphite, which is a supergene mineral of Pb ore. Continuing our exploration of the deposit, we arrived at a nearby spoil heap close to the village of Sytno, where we found numerous quartz crystals, galena, and occasionally sphalerite. We concluded our visit to the Stříbro mining district with a guided tour of the historic Prokop adit (Fig. 1), located right in the town of Stříbro. Most common minerals include galena and sphalerite and in smaller amounts pyrite, marcasite, and chalcopyrite.
To conclude the first day, we visited Vlčí Hora hill near Černošín to collect crystals of amphibole (kaersutite) and pyroxene (augite). Vlčí Hora is a Neogene volcano formed as part of Cenozoic Central European Volcanic Province (CEVP), estimated to be approximately 12 million years old. It is located on the northwestern edge of the TBU, emplaced within the chlorite-sericite phyllites of the Proterozoic Blovice Accretionary Complex (Pauliš 2000; Navrátil and Šrein 1997). Well-formed crystals of kaersutite and augite weather out of the pyroclastics from this volcano. These crystals can reach lengths of over 5 cm, making this site highly sought after by local collectors.
Fig. 1: A group photo at the exhibition of the mineralogical collection of the Prokop Adit in Stříbro.
2nd day
The second day of the trip focused on the mining district of Michalovy Hory, located in the western part of the Teplá-Barrandian area. This region is primarily composed of Proterozoic metamorphic volcano-sedimentary rocks, including gneisses, amphibolites, and crystalline limestones. A distinctive feature of Michalovy Hory is the occurrence of supergene minerals, which form primarily through the weathering of common sulfides in the supergene zone. During our visit, we explored three locations: Dolní Kramolín (Ag-Pb-Zn polymetallic mineralization), Michalovy Hory (Ni ores), Chodová Planá (Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization).
The highlight of the second day was a nighttime collection of secondary uranium minerals using a UV light at Kladská (Fig. 2), one of the many geologically fascinating localities in the Slavkovský Les area. The Slavkovský Les lies on the boundary between the Saxothuringian Zone and TBU. Kladská, located in the western part of the Slavkovský Les, was historically mined for tin ore in greisen-type deposits. Today, it is well known for its uranium mineralization, primarily represented by uranium micas and various stages of altered uraninite (Plášil et al. 2016).
Fig. 2: Meta-autunite [Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O] found at Kladská. Combination of white and UV (365 nm) light. Photo by J. Mráček.
3rd day
The first stop of the third day was the National Natural Monument Křížky, part of the Mnichovské hadce — the largest uncovered serpentinite body in the Czech Republic. This geological formation appears in a belt that stretches about 9 km in length and 2 km in width. In addition to the fascinating geology, we also explored the connection between different science fields. At this site, the influence of the serpentinite on the composition of the derived soils is clearly evident, as seen in the subsequent occurrence of endemic plants (e.g. Cerastium alsinifolium). These plants thrive in soils characteristic of serpentinite bedrock, which are rich in magnesium but deficient in essential nutrients (N, P, K).
The second stop of the day was the National Nature Reserve Soos, located in the center of the Cheb Basin. This site is a beautiful example of post-volcanic activity, where the movement of Tertiary tectonic faults opened a pull-apart basin with developing peat bogs and several mineral springs, highly enriched in CO2 (Fig. 3). The carbon dioxide can be also released from the water underground, accumulate within the layers of Tertiary sediments and rise to the surface through fractures, forming mofettes.
After a walk through the peat bog, the excursion continued north of Hazlov to the day’s next site, known as “U Cihelny.” In this small area in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, contact metasomatic calcareous-silicate rocks called erlan are well exposed. The mineral vesuvian is fairly abundant here, alongside with other typical erlan minerals, such as diopside, grossular, anorthite, and quartz.
The final stop of the day was the radioactive spring Břetislav – Radonka, located in the Skalná – Bad Brambach area. In this area, there are 117 springs with elevated radon content (222Rn). Of these, 48 springs exhibited activity levels exceeding 1,500 Bq/l, the threshold in the Czech Republic for classifying water as mineral water. The Břetislav – Radonka spring is the most radioactive surface outflow in the Czech Republic, with activity levels ranging from 11,431 to 13,138 Bq/l and a flow rate of 2.5 l/min. Apart from its delicious taste, this spring is considered to be beneficial for your health.
Fig. 3: A group photo at the National Nature Reserve Soos.
4th day
The final day began with a visit to the Silvestr lignite mine, situated on the southern edge of the Sokolov Basin. Mining began here in 1939 as a small-scale operation. The lignite was extracted from the Antonín and Anežka seams, which reached thicknesses of up to 65 meters. With an overburden of only 10 meters, the site offered highly favorable conditions for mining development. In 1953, significant investments transformed the operation into a large open-pit mine. By 1955, annual lignite production exceeded 1 million tons, peaking in 1971 at 4.153 million tons. Mining ceased in 1981, with a total output of 90 mega tons of lignite and roughly 50 million m3 of overburden extracted. As the recultivation was only carried out in part of the Silvestr mine, the visited southern unrecultivated slope, represents a unique example of an open-pit mine “taken back by nature”. Here, the mine slope is dissected by a network of erosion gullies, rill washes, and erosion ravines, separated by ridges and pyramids, resembling the “Badlands” of the American West. This location provides an exceptionally instructive and active site for studying erosion processes, accumulation, and the impact of vegetation cover on geological processes. Despite (or perhaps because of) the absence of recultivation, this area has become a habitat for protected species and a nesting site for the sand martin (Riparia riparia) birds (Rojík 2008). Through the decision not to recultivate the site, a unique record of the cyclic wildfires of Miocene rainforests has been preserved. Rojík (2008) documented 57 trees in this location and interpreted it as a forest burning approximately 22 million years ago. The charred remnants of the forest are manifested by the presence of fusain, which is often mineralized by SiO2 modifications.
After visiting the lignite mine, the group traveled to Karlovy Vary to explore its world-famous spa springs. The highlight of this stop was an excursion to the technical utility room of Vřídlo, the largest thermal spring in Karlovy Vary. Vřídlo emerges at a temperature of 73°C and, due to the high pressure of CO2 gas, reaches a stable height of up to 12 meters. The spring has a flow rate of up to 2,000 l/min, and with a mineralization of up to 6.45 g/l the intake pipes in the complex need to be replaced frequently. While this location was not a collecting site, every participant took home a piece of aragonite pipe infill, a form of aragonite commonly known in the Czech Republic as vřídlovec.
The very last location of the entire excursion was a visit to the Doupovské Hory mountains and the famous mineralogical location of Valeč, well-known for findings of glassy opal – hyalite (Fig. 4). Valeč is situated on the southeastern slopes of the Doupovské Hory volcanic complex, formed as the NE branch of the CEVP. The lower part of this volcanic complex is the most exposed part and primarily formed by pyroclastics. At this site, coarse-grained slags from a local pyroclastic cone are overlain by a lava flow. At the interface between these layers, dissolved quartz material precipitated within fissures and vesicles, forming the glassy opals. The most striking specimens are crown-like aggregates, reaching sizes of up to 7 cm. Some of the hyalites can also be covered with white layers of staffelite.
Fig. 4: Hyalite [SiO2 · nH2O] and staffelite [Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)] from the site Valeč. Photo by J. Mráček
References:
Černoch V, Staněk V, Škvor K (1995) Závěrečná zpráva ložiska Příbram. Diamo, s.p., SUL o.z., Příbram, 172 pp
Janoušek V, Wiegand BA, Žák J (2010) Dating the Variscan crustal exhumation in the core of Bohemian Massif: new U-Pb single zircon ages from the high-K calc-alkaline granodiorites of the Blatná suite, Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex. J Geol Soc London 167:347–360
Navrátil Z, Šrein V (1997) Krystalovaný olivín v tufech Vlčí hory u Černošína. Bull mineral-petrolog Odd Nár Muz (Praha) 4–5:177–178
Pauliš P (2000) Nejzajímavější mineralogická naleziště Čech. Kuttna, Kutná Hora, 112 pp
Pauliš P, Babka K, Sejkora J, Škácha P (2016) Uranové minerály České republiky a jejich nejvýznamnější naleziště. Kuttna, Kutná Hora, 557 pp
Plášil J, Sejkora J, Čejka J, Pavlíček R, Babka K, Škoda R (2016) Výskyt boltwooditu na uranovém ložisku Kladská (Česká republika). Bull mineral-petrolog Odd Nár Muz (Praha) 24:298–303
Rojík P (2008) Lesní požáry v miocénu sokolovské pánve. Zpravodaj Hnědé uhlí 4:19–27
Comments Off on Excursion to Slanské a Zemplinské vrchy 2024
The excursion took place from 24.4.-28.4.2024 in the locality of the neovolcanic Slanské vrchy mountain range, which extends in the eastern part of Slovakia east of the city of Prešov and with its length of 100 km extends to the territory of neighboring Hungary. The Slovak part of the mountain range consists dominantly of andesite stratovolcanoes reaching heights from 800 m.a.s.l. up to 1092 m.a.s.l., which stretch in a crescent-shaped chain from north to south. They were formed at the fault interface between the tectonic units of the Západní Karpaty (gemerikum, fatrikum) in the west and hard-to-classify units in the east – zemplinikum, Pozdišovsko-Inačovská unit. The first magmatic activity is dated to the Lower Miocene as a result of the Alpine orogeny. The well-recognizable stratovolcanoes include, from north to south: Šťavnica, Zlatobáňský, Makovica, Strechovy vrch, Bogota, Hradisko, Bradlo and Velký Milič. During their formation, parts of them also underwent significant hydrothermal transformation, during which ore and opal mineralization were established.
some visited localities:
Zlatá Baňa – Zlatobansky stratovolcano – 140 types of minerals described -polymetallic (Mo-Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag) and antimony mineralization – antimonite, amethyst, bournonite, boulangerite, metastibnite, cinnabarite, galena, pyrite
Fig. 1 – Zlatá Baňa locality
Dubnik – the southern part of the Zlatá Baňa stratovolcano – the formation of mineralization in andesite lava flows by post-magmatic hydrothermal activity – significant deposit of opals (precious, milky, hyalit) -historical mining of cinnabarite as an ore of mercury
Fig. 2 – Dubnik precious opal
Herlany -Strechový vrch stratovolcano – the famous mäsovy opal of a brown-red color
The next part of the excursion took place in an elevation formed by Permocarbon continental sediments with anthracite and thick layers of tuffs – the Zemplinské vrchy. It is a synclinal structure of a complex structure consisting mainly of highly metamorphosed rocks (mainly gneisses, amphibolites).
Byšta – Brezina -near the Velký Milič stratovolcano – agates, chalcedony
Velká Trňa – the western slope of the Zemplinské Vrchy -Anthracite
Fig. 3 – Excursion checking the geological map in the field
Comments Off on SGA Student Chapter Prague autumn field trip to the Ore Mountains, Czech Republic (petrological overview, mining history, and current mineral deposits)
Jan Kamenský1,2, Jan Kulhánek1
1Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic 2Czech Geological Survey, Prague, Czech Republic
The SGA Student Chapter Prague honours its long-standing tradition of organizing an annual autumn field trip, and this year was no exception. Scheduled for late autumn (November 17–19, 2023) the trip was strategically planned to allow the participation of first-year bachelor geology students. Our destination of choice this year was the captivating mineralogical sites and historically significant localities of the Ore Mountains in the NW Czech Republic. Sixteen students participated in the excursion, led by chapter advisor Dr. Jan Kulhánek and president Jiří Klepp.
Geological settings: The European Variscan Belt finds its easternmost exposure in Central Europe, shaping the Bohemian Massif. The Ore Mountains, a historically significant mining region, are situated within the Saxothuringian Zone (SZ), the SW–NE-trending belt which extends in the NW part of the Bohemian Massif (see Figure 1). The SZ is tectonically separated from the Teplá-Barrandien unit (TBU), lying along its southeastern border. Within this framework, the SZ represents the lower plate that underwent subduction beneath the hanging wall of the TBU along a prominent Variscan suture (e.g., Franke, 1989; Jouvent et al., 2022). Comprising primarily complexly over-thrusted and over-folded metamorphic nappe units of diverse metamorphic grades, the Ore Mountains exemplify accretionary wedge formation between the SZ and TBU. From the deeper levels of the subduction channel, rocks of high- to ultra-high-pressure metamorphism, such as eclogites, blueschists, and coesite- or diamond-bearing paragneisses and granulites, have been exhumed (see Jouvent et al., 2022). The Variscian and post-Variscan tectono-magmatic activities are closely associated with the formation and subsequent remobilization of the polymetallic ores in the area. The Bohemian Massif also underwent significant magmatic and volcanic activity during the Cenozoic era. Much of this volcanic activity was concentrated along the Eger Rift, aligning with the Saxothuringian Variscan suture, and constituting the northeastern branch of the European Cenozoic Rift System (Ulrych et al., 2011). Evidence of this volcanic activity is also observable in the Ore Mountains, where well-preserved remnants of Cenozoic volcanism, erupting through the metamorphic basement, form prominent hills in the surrounding landscape.
Figure 1. The schematic geological map of the Saxothuringian Zone according to Faryad & Kachlík (2013).
1st day: The field trip began at the hut at Boží Dar, an old mining town near the Czech-German border, on the evening of November 16, 2023, which served as our base for the entire excursion. The following morning, November 17th, visit of several localities followed after the broad geological introduction at the hut. Our first visit took us to Abertamy town, where we visited private collection of mining artifacts and ore minerals sourced from the surrounding localities, such as Abertamy, Jáchymov, or Stříbro.
Continuing our trip, we embarked on a brief tour of the surrounding of the closed Mauriticius mine, the oldest tin mine in the Czech part of the Ore Mountains, with its origins tracing back to the 16th century. This historical site, now open for tourists, offered a glimpse into centuries-old mining practices. Our time at the Mauriticius mine also afforded opportunities for mineralogical sampling, with notable finds including specimens of hematite and quartz (amethyst variety) sourced from the mine’s excavation sites and observation of the metasomatic process causing formation of greisens and associated tin mineralization along the veins cutting the granitic body. In the vicinity of the Mauritius mine was also possible to observe Schnepp’s pinge, a sinkhole formed atop the remnants of a former tin mine, following the steep vein planar orientation. In the vicinity of the Mauritius mine was also possible to observe Schnepp’s pinge, a sinkhole formed atop the remnants of a former tin mine, following the steep vein planar orientation.
Our itinerary then led us beyond the confines of the Ore Mountains to the significant mineralogical site of Huber Stock, situated near Horní Slavkov (GPS: 50° 8′ 19″ N, 12° 48′ 28″ E). Geologically characterized as a greisenized plutonic elevation, Huber Stock stands as a testament to the region’s diverse mineral wealth, with notable occurrences of tungsten and tin mineralization. Historical records indicate subsurface mining activities dating back to the 13th century, with a notable period of pit quarry operations from 1973 to 1976. Notably, Huber Stock boasts a rich mineralogical diversity, with 117 documented minerals, including five designated type localities, underscoring its significance in the field of mineralogy.
2nd day: Our second day of the trip began with a visit to Meluzína Hill, a prominent feature in the landscape. Comprised mainly of eclogite, a high- to ultra-high metamorphic rock, Meluzína Hill offers insights into the region’s geological history. Originating from the subducted oceanic Saxothuringian plate, the rock was subducted deep beneath the TBU plate into the Earth’s mantle before being exhumated back to the crustal levels, shedding light on past plate tectonic processes. Discussions at the site focused on reconstructing the pressure-temperature conditions that shaped these rocks, along with an examination of the “atoll texture” of garnets commonly observed in metamorphic rocks of the area.
Our journey then took us to Horní Halže, where we explored remnants of iron ore mining. Here, a small heap served as a reminder of the area’s industrial past, with quartz veins often displaying a distinct violet color, earning the site the nickname “Amethyst heap.”
Next, we visited Mědník Hill in Měděnec, where iron ore extraction occurred from the 15th to the 19th century. The site’s skarn body, associated with the polymetallic mineralization, showcased visible garnet, diopside, and magnetite grains, providing insights into the region’s mining heritage.
Finally, we arrived at Volyně u Kadaně, a forested area housing loose rocks indicative of mining activity focused on a quartz hydrothermal vein renowned for the associated fluorine and tungsten mineralization. Characterized by a brecciated and honeycombed texture due to fluorite leaching, the vein revealed small fluorite and scheelite crystals, well-recognizable under the short-wave UV light (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Photo of collected scheelite-rich samples from the site Volyně u Kadaně under short-wave UV light. Photo by A. Ignasheva.
3rd day: Our final day began with a visit to the Kovářská site, where we examined fluorite-barite veins that were actively mined in the 1970s and 1980s. Though mining activities have ceased, remnants of these veins remain, offering opportunities for mineral collection. Participants had the chance to collect specimens of fluorite and barite from surrounding mining heaps, providing tangible connections to the area’s mining history. Moving on, we also visited a reclaimed heap near Hradiště u Kadaně, focusing on collecting hematite crystals, characteristic of the area. Our excursion concluded at the Blahuňov locality, known for hydrothermal veins cutting through gneiss formations. Here, participants observed collectible fluorite-quartz specimens, with the quartz exhibiting a carnelian variety.
With our cars loaded with mineral samples, we concluded our excursion and returned to Prague, reflecting on our experiences over the past three days. Our exploration had not only yielded valuable specimens but also deepened our understanding of the mining and geological history of the Ore mountains.
Figure 3. Group photo in front of the historical mining gallery in Měděnec. Photo by J. Klepp.
Acknowledgments: We wish to extend our gratitude to the company Severočeské uhelné doly a.s. and to the UNESCO International Geoscience Programme (project ČNK-IGCP 637) for their financial support.
References: Faryad, S. W., & Kachlík, V., 2013. New evidence of blueschist facies rocks and their geotectonic implication for Variscan suture (s) in the Bohemian Massif. Journal of metamorphic Geology, 31(1), 63–82.
Franke, W., 1989. Tectonostratigraphic units in the Variscan belt of central Europe. Geological Society of America Special Paper, 230, 67–90.
Jouvent, M., Lexa, O., Peřestý, V., & Jeřábek, P., 2022. New constraints on the tectonometamorphic evolution of the Erzgebirge orogenic wedge (Saxothuringian Domain, Bohemian Massif). Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 40(4), 687–715.
Ulrych, J., Dostál, J., Adamovič, J., Jelínek, E., Špaček, P., Hegner, E., & Balogh, K., 2011. Recurrent Cenozoic volcanic activity in the Bohemian Massif (Czech Republic). Lithos, 123, 133–144.
Comments Off on SGA Keynote speaker Professor Hartwig E. Frimmel in Prague
Jan Kulhánek1,2
1SGA Student Chapter Prague 2Institute of Petrology and Structural Geology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
The SGA Student Chapter Prague was honoured to host a seminar for the entire geological section of the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, featuring Professor Hartwig E. Frimmel from the University of Würzburg, Germany. The lecture, held on November 3rd, 2023, drew a diverse audience ranging from bachelor students to professors, reflecting the broad appeal of the topic, “Giant Impacts and the Formation of Ore Deposits,” within the geological sciences community.
The presentation was supplemented with a succinct annotation: “Some of the largest impact sites known on Earth overlap in space with exceptional concentrations of ore deposits. This has led to speculations on a potential addition of extraterrestrial metal compounds to the Earth’s crust on an economic scale. Using the three largest impact structures as reference, the likely controls of large impacts on metallogeny will be discussed, and it will be shown that metal endowment is strongly controlled by the regional geological make-up of the crust prior to impact.”
Inviting Professor Hartwig to our faculty provided a unique opportunity not only to hear his lecture but also for students to engage with a renowned figure in the field of geology. To underscore the significance of Professor Hartwig’s contributions, we would like to share a brief overview of his biography:
Hartwig E. Frimmel, who obtained his PhD in geology at the University of Vienna, is Professor and Chair of Geodynamics and Geomaterials Research at the University of Würzburg, Germany. He is also associated with the University of Cape Town where he had previously climbed the academic ladder from lecturer to associate professor. He was leader of the Earth Science subprogram within the South African National Antarctic Program, member of the Geoscience Scientific Standing Committee of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), former president of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA), and director of Lithoscope consultancy. He has served on several editorial boards (incl. Mineralium Deposita for the past 23 years), on the International Commission on Stratigraphy, as assessor for numerous national research funding and government agencies, and as consultant to mining/exploration companies as well as government bodies. His research interests developed over more than three decades from metamorphic geology and fluid-rock interaction to metallogenesis and economic geology. A special focus has been the study of sediment-hosted base metal and gold deposits, especially those of the Witwatersrand-type. His research output includes more than 200 articles and book chapters as well as three books.
After the lecture, an engaging discussion was organized in the meeting room of the Institute of Petrology and Structural Geology, providing students with the opportunity to further delve into the topics covered by Professor Frimmel’s presentation. Against the backdrop of pleasant refreshments, students exchanged ideas and posed questions, enriching their understanding of the subject matter and discovering more about the Prof. Frimmel broad experiences from the world. Later in the evening, a dinner meeting was organized at a local restaurant, bringing together representatives from the SGA (Hartwig Frimmel and Anna Vymazalová, members of the SGA Executive Committee, and Prague Chapter representatives) for further networking and discussions. This gathering offered an informal setting for participants to connect with SGA representatives, facilitating valuable exchanges of ideas and insights. We extend our gratitude to Professor Frimmel for his engaging lecture and enthusiastic participation in post-seminar discussions. Our gratitude belongs to the SGA, namely SGA Keynote Speaker Program, and the Geological Section of Charles University for generously supporting the organization of this event. Their contributions made it possible to host Professor Frimmel’s lecture and facilitate enriching discussions and networking opportunities, enhancing the academic experience for all participants.
Figure 1: Flyer for the event used at the Faculty of Science, Charles University.Figure 2: After-seminar discussion in the meeting room of Institute of Petrology and Structural Geology.Figure 3: After-seminar discussion during the related sport activities.
Comments Off on SGA Student Chapter Prague – The 20th Anniversary
Since 2022 is the year of celebrations for the SGA Student Chapter Prague, we have decided to organize the annual SGA Prague Christmas meeting and the 20th Anniversary celebration on 7th December. The event took place at the Faculty of Science, Charles University. On the same day we organized an excursion to the gold mine near Jílové u Prahy took place for those interested.
SGA
The Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA) is an international scientific society that promotes the science of mineral deposits. The society consists of over 1300 members among researchers, professionals and students from universities, industry and governments interested in economic geology, mineral resources, industrial minerals and environmental aspects related to mineral deposits. SGA regularly organizes conferences, international courses and workshops. The next SGA Biennial Meeting will be held in Zürich, Switzerland between 28th August and 1st September 2023. An integral part of the organization is the long-term support of geoscience students through the SGA Educational Fund.
History of the SGA Student Chapter Prague
This year marks exactly 20 years since several students from Charles and Freiberg Universities founded the first-ever SGA Student Chapter. In 2002, a joint Prague-Freiberg Chapter was established by Dr. Anna Vymazalová and Dr. Alex Otto, both master students at the time. This newly formed Chapter’s first event was an excursion to the Svornost mine in Jáchymov, Czech Republic in April 2003. Subsequently, a division occurred and the independent SGA Student Chapter Prague was established. Despite the difficulties during the years 2020 and 2021 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the SGA Student Chapter Prague has around 70 members.
This year, we celebrate two significant anniversaries simultaneously—the 20th anniversary of the existence of the SGA Student Chapter and the 10th president in office.
SGA Student Chapter Prague Christmas meeting
We are pleased that 83 SGA supporters from the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and Slovakia gathered for the anniversary celebrations. Eleven of them took part in the international field trip. The official program in the Mineralogical lecture room started at 4:30 p.m. with an opening speech by President Jan Kamenský. This was followed by a lecture by Ivan Mateo Espinel Pachon from the University of Geneva on the topic: “Controlling the redox evolution of arc magmas on continental margins: an approach to melt inclusion”. This lecture has followed a presentation by Dr. Anna Vymazalová, one of the founders of the SGA Student Chapter Prague, with her talk on the history of the SGA Student Chapter Prague. Afterwards, representatives of the student associations SEG-SGA Barcelona and SGA Colombia-Bogóta gave a short presentation of their activities and encouraged students to cooperate internationally. After the presentations, we visited the Mineralogical Museum of the Faculty of Science and the Chlupáč Museum. The entire program ended with a meeting in the Malé sbírky lecture room, where we had a unique opportunity to discuss plans for upcoming years.
Fig. 1 – Excursion to the Pepř mine near Jílové u Prahy, author of the photo: Jan MráčekFig. 2 – Tour of the Mineralogical Museum at the Faculty of Science, author of the photo: Jan Mráček
We would like to thank our sponsors, without whose help the organization and provision of the program would be very complicated. In particular, we would like to thank the Faculty of Science of Charles University, Řeznictví Jiří Görgl (Butchery Jiří Görgl), Pekařství Kabát (Bakery Kabát) and the Vinařství Cenek (Winery Cenek).
SGA je mezinárodní organizace sdružující studenty převážně ložiskové geologie. S SGA můžete navštívit místa, kam se “normální smrtelník” nepodívá, můžete cestovat po světě, poznat nové přátele a zažít skvělá dobrodružství.
Staňte se členy SGA i vy! Vaše geologické kladivo si to žádá!
Comments Off on Fieldtrip report: Zlaté Hory deposits and history of mining
Fig. 1: Participants of the fieldtrip. Photo by V. Santolík.
At the end of October 2021, the SGA student chapter in Prague held a three-day autumn excursion focused on a mining district Zlaté Hory in Jeseníky mountains and its surroundings. The area is composed of Variscan metamorphic rocks like phyllite, micaschist, paragneiss, orthogneiss, amphibolite and limestone, which were formed from Cadomian (~570 Ma) to Variscan (~300 Ma) times. The polymetallic VHMS deposit occurs in metamorphosed Devonian formations and is currently a matter of exploration for possible gold mining.
1st day. History of Au, Fe and Mo mining in the Zlaté Hory region.
The first day was focused on surface signs of previous mining and was lead by Dr. Josef Večeřa. These are dominated by placer mining marks like pits, hollows and canals as well as underground mining marks like pits and adits. The researchers were able to define three stages of mining based on different mining techniques – medieval, modern and 19th century. Interestingly, the different stages are commonly seen at a single locality. For example, in Hláska forest near Ludvíkov village, there are several pits following a single ore bearing structure and depending on the distance between particular pits, it can be inferred, whether they correspond to the medieval or modern period. Consequently, we visited a locality near Vidly village where we found several minerals related to iron ore which was mined until 18th century, including magnetite, hematite, specularite and jasper.
2nd day. Minerals collecting in mine Zlaté Hory – west; “Blue drift”.
On the second day, we went down into the Zlaté Hory – west mine, where the current exploration takes place. The walk to the end of the drift was nearly 4 km long, unfortunately the oxygen level detector did not allow us to stay there for a longer time and search for minerals. However, during the 4-kilometer walk we still managed to find several appealing minerals, for instance pyrite, galena, sphalerite, cerussite and copper. On the way back, we entered the “Blue Drift”, which is called blue for the intriguing blue colored allophane covering the walls. After a few hours in the mine, we visited local museum with a nice exposition of minerals and rocks found in the area.
Fig. 2: Azure blue allophane covering walls in the “Blue Drift”. Photo by V. Santolík.
3rd day. History of mining – open-air museum.
On the third day morning, we visited an outdoor museum dedicated to old miners and old mining techniques. We learned about their lifestyle and tools they used for daily life as well as the methods and equipment applied for gold obtainment. At the end, we were encouraged to find some gold with a gold washing pan in the arranged containers with sand and water. The most adventurous of us could not resist despite the freezing water and managed to find a few gold grains. Finally, with minds full of new experience and bags full of new minerals, we returned back home.
Fig. 3: Gold mining open-air museum in Zlaté Hory. Photo by V. Santolík.Fig. 4: Collected quartz sample with a native gold. The biggest gold has a size of 200 µm. Photo by M. Tuhý.
Děkujeme IGCP 682 – MINE TAILING REVALORIZATION (Duration: 2019-2021) za finanční podporu, která přispěla k organizaci této exkurze / We thank IGCP 682 – MINE TAILING REVALORIZATION (Duration: 2019-2021) for its financial support, which helped to organise this excursion.
