Development of kaolin production, reserves and processing in the Czech Republic in 1999–2015
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1
Czech Geological Survey, Praha, Czech Republic
 
2
KERAMEX Group s.r.o., Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
 
3
Insitute of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Vysoká škola báňská – Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
 
4
Institute of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Vysoká škola báňská – Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
 
 
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2017;33(3):121-142
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to characterize and interpret the trends in reserves, resources, and in the mine production of crude kaolin and output of beneficiated kaolin between 1999 and 2015 in the Czech Republic. With nearly 1.2 billion tonnes of total resources, kaolin belongs to the key industrial minerals of the Czech Republic. With an annual output of about 3 to 4 million tonnes of crude kaolin and of around 0.6 million tonnes of beneficiated kaolin, the Czech Republic ranks among the top European and world kaolin producers. Mine production of crude kaolin has been relatively stable since 1997, while the output of beneficiated kaolin has been increasing gradually during the same period. The increased production and yield of beneficiated kaolin resulted from the use of progressive methods in kaolin processing, primarily high-intensity electromagnetic separation. The positive growth trend was not a reflection of the stability of the extractive sector and domestic industry, but it was the result of a pro-export orientation. The amount and share of exports are continuously increasing and constitute 80% of the entire kaolin production sector at the present time. The only exception occurred in 2005–2008, when exports declined by one-half as a result of the government´s export restrictions. The results of analyses were not optimistic for the Czech economy and indicated a sharp downturn in the domestic mining industry. Moreover, a similar situation exists in the case of other essential industrial minerals such as feldspar, clays, and silica sand.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Zasoby, produkcja i przeróbka kaolinu w Republice Czeskiej w latach 1999−2015
kaolin, wzbogacony kaolin, zasoby kaolinu, bogactwo mineralne
W artykule dokonano charakterystyki i interpretacji trendów dotyczących zasobów, produkcji surowego oraz wzbogaconego kaolinu w Republice Czeskiej w latach 1999−2015. Zasoby kaolinu szacowane są na około 1,2 mld ton i należą do najważniejszych przemysłowych surowców mineralnych Republiki Czeskiej. Z roczną produkcją około 3−4 mln ton surowego kaolinu i około 0,6 mln ton wzbogaconego kaolinu, Czechy należą do czołowych europejskich i światowych producentów kaolinu. Wydobycie surowego kaolinu jest stosunkowo stabilne od 1997 r., natomiast produkcja wzbogaconego kaolinu stopniowo wzrasta. Rosnąca produkcja i coraz lepsza jakość kaolinu wzbogaconego wynika z zastosowania zaawansowanych metod przeróbki, głównie separacji elektromagnetycznej. Ten wzrost nie był odzwierciedleniem stabilności sektora wydobywczego i krajowego przemysłu, ale wiązał się z działalnością proeksportową. Wielkość eksportu i jego udział stale rośnie i stanowi obecnie 80% łącznej krajowej produkcji kaolinu. Jedyny wyjątek miał miejsce w latach 2005−2008, kiedy eksport spadł o połowę w wyniku rządowych ograniczeń eksportu. Wyniki analiz nie były optymistyczne dla czeskiej gospodarki i wskazywały na gwałtowny spadek produkcji krajowego przemysłu górniczego. Ponadto podobna sytuacja występuje w przypadku innych, istotnych przemysłowych surowców mineralnych , takich jak: skaleń, iły i piasek krzemionkowy.
 
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