Phyllite, quartzitic and micaceous schists

Metamorphic phyllite, quartzitic and micaceous schists are used in the building construction as the major component of fine gravel cover of roll tar paper (phyllite and micaceous schists), in agriculture as inert dust carrier of pesticides, and in the manufacture of fire-proof materials as one of the major components of fire-proof cement (crystalline schists).

The three deposits of phyllite schists from the Opolskie Voivodeship are the only deposits of that raw material hitherto proven in Poland: Chomiąża, Dewon-Pokrzywna and Dewon-Pokrzywna 2. Anticipated economic resources of phyllite schists in Poland were estimated in 2015 at about 17,127.12 thousand tonnes and production (from Dewon-Pokrzywna deposit) at 135.01 thousand tonnes. Production decreased by 34.79 thousand tonnes (20.5%) in comparison with 2014. The anticipated economic resources of this deposit decreased by 368.89 thousand tonnes due to the exploitation and losses (including losses from previous years) and amounted to 14,554.08 thousand tonnes. Two other deposits are not being exploited. Chomiąża deposit has been abandoned since 1989 and the remaining resources are estimated at 0.31 million tonnes.

Quartzitic schists occur only within the Strzelin granite massif at Jegłowa in the Lower Silesian region (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship). Jegłowa deposit is still the only temporarily exploited deposit of that raw material which has been documented in Poland. Its anticipated resources were estimated in 2015 at 8,697.03 thousand tonnes and economic resources at 2,765.76 thousand tonnes. The resources have not changed in comparison with 2014 as there was not exploitation from this deposit carried on. Jegłowa deposit is widely known for occurrences of beautiful quartz crystals, especially clear and colorless rock crystals.

Micaceous schists occur in Orłowice deposit located near Lwówek Śląski and in Jawornica deposit in Kłodzko County. Total anticipated economic resources of that mineral raw material as of 31.12.2015 were estimated at 6,661.31 thousand tonnes, and economic resources at 4,399.56 thousand tonnes. The resources from Orłowice deposit account for 85.6% of anticipated economic resources and 88.2% of economic resources. The exploitation is being carried out from both of these deposits. In 2015, production from Orłowice deposit increased by 11.7% and reached 2.95 thousand tonnes and from Jawornica deposit decreased to 0.50 thousand tonnes (schists from this deposit are used as crushed stones).

Table 1. List of schists deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Marcin Tymiński