South Moravian Lignite Mines Hodonín

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South Moravian Lignite Mines Hodonín on the map

Location: The South-Moravian Region, Hodonín and Břeclav area

Brief history

The South-Moravian lignite basin of an area totaling 320 km2 is made up of the Kyjovská and Dubňanská seams. The lignite seam has a thickness of approx. 4 m and lies from 0 do 260 m beneath the surface. Mining here began in 1824 (Herbert Mine, Adolf - Stefan Mine) and the last operating mine is Mír Mine in Mikulčice with an annual output of 460,000 metric tons. The site was gradually opened by more than 220 major mine shafts and about 45 others (winzes, adits). From 1825 until 1994 a total 93 of 180,200 metric tons of lignite were extracted. Government constriction was imposed on the site in 1991 (Phase I. – mining field G - South, Dukla Mine).

Type of activity

  • Underground lignite mining.
  • Beginning with the excavation of adits, then later with walling.
  • The extracted lignite was used for home-heating, in local glassworks, sugar refineries, brick masons’ and in time at thermal power plants in Hodonín, Nováky and Opatovice.

Present-day conditions

The Osvobození Ratíškovice mine, just as the Dukla in Šardice, l. Máj in Dubňany, and the mined out part of the Mír Mine in Mikulčice have all been dismantled. All technical equipment and material including mine water contaminants (oil, diesel, emulsions etc.) have been removed. The underground and major tunnels have been dismantled in light of the urgency to stabilize the surface. Usable structures and areas have been sold, including Mír Mine in Mikulčice. The underground of the dismantled mines is being filled with water.

The Environmental Problem and its Solution

Effects on the Landscape

Monitoring and gradual repair of depressions due to mining is in progress. The dismantling of the mines’ major tunnels has been done to mining regulation standards, and rehabilitation, repair, seeding, and ultimate reclamation are underway.

Mine Water

No outflow of mine water to the surface.

Tailings Impoundments

None.

Waste Dumps

Tailings waste dump has been cleared.

 
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