Preface

The title of the Conference XXI Conference of PhD Students and Young Scientists “Interdisciplinary topics in mining and geology” The location and the date of the conference virtual event - online conference, Poland, June 23-25, 2021 XXIth Conference of PhD Students and Young Scientists “Interdisciplinary topics in mining and geology” continues a series of events that started in 2000 at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. Scientific programme of the Conference focuses on four thematic panels: 1. Mining Engineering: sustainable development, digitalisation in mining, problems of securing, protecting and using remnants of old mining works, underground mining, opencast mining, mineral processing, waste management, mining machinery, mine transport, economics in mining, mining aeronautics, ventilation and air conditioning in mines 2. Earth and Space Science: geology, hydrogeology, extraterrestrial resources, groundwater and medicinal waters, geotourism 3. Geoengineering: environmental protection, applied geotechnics, rock and soil mechanics, geohazards 4. Geoinformation: mining geodesy, GIS, photogrammetry and remote sensing, geodata modeling and analysis. List of Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee, Editorial Team are available in this pdf.

Two sides of radon - a radioactive and healing component of water and air

This work presents two sides of radon - a radioactive, toxic element which has healing properties. Authors in this work present selected data about radon measurements in medicinal waters commonly used for radon therapy, to describe a phenomenon of radiation hormesis and healing properties of radon waters. From the other side, authors present the data about radon as a component of the atmosphere: radon-enriched air in health resorts, buildings (indoor radon). Authors present advantages and disadvantages of radon occurrence in human environment.

Gross alpha and gross beta activities measurements in groundwaters using liquid scintillation counting (LSC)

In this work Authors describe the methodology of gross alpha and gross beta activities determination in water samples. The chosen method is dedicated to LSC and is based on ISO 11704:2018 and it is suitable for ground waters with low and medium salinity, especially drinking or tap waters as well as medicinal waters (with healing properties, using in health resorts). Authors describe the proper sampling, laboratory preparation including radon removal and measurements conditions. The local and European law regulations showing the limits of radioactivity of drinking waters and medicinal waters are presented. This work presents also selected data of gross alpha and gross beta activities from selected research: the highest levels is measured in Jordanian (gross alpha) and in Brazil (gross beta) and it is respectively 3.58 Bq/L and 5.22 Bq/L.

INVESTIGATING NATURAL TREATMENT FACTORS AND INEQUALITIES OF MEDICINAL WATER INSTITUTIONS IN THE ASPECT OF TOURISM IN HUNGARY

The aim of the research is to reveal the spatial inequalities of the natural treatment factors in Hungary and the medicinal water institutions built on them, with the help of spatial research methods on the basis of secondary data. Due to the favorable geographical conditions of Central Europe, the Carpathian Basin has a considerable amount of natural resources. With the appreciation of health, in our days they represent significant value because they are becoming increasingly important in tourist services aimed at maintaining and restoring health. In Hungary, there are outstanding opportunities for this in health tourism, which provides a wide range of medical services, including medical tourism based on natural treatment factors. In order to achieve the set research goal, we used the range of the data set (range-ratio), the dispersion range (range), the relative range (relative range) and the dual measure (Éltető–Frigyes-index) as spatial inequality test methods for the geographically based examination of Hungary's natural treatment factors and the system of medicinal water institutions. The research results show that the spatial polarisation of natural treatment factors and the medicinal water institutions based on them show significant inequalities in Hungary. It has been proved that the development of the counties is outstanding in terms of medicinal waters and medicinal bath, and the spatial difference is also the lowest in the case of these treatment factors.

Quality of natural bottled water

Is there a possibility to counterfeit mineral water, and how difficult is the process of state registration of medicinal-table and medicinal waters, which is the mechanism of AOI, is organized. The answers to these questions are presented in the article.

Questions of the quality of natural bottled water

Is there a possibility to fake mineral water, how difficult is the process of state registration of medicinal table and medicinal waters organized, what is the mechanism of NMPT? The answers to these questions are presented in the article.

Фитоценотическая роль культур в севообороте

The mountainous zone is the place of origin of drinking and medicinal waters, as well as the cultivation of economically pure food products and the production of seeds of agricultural crops of the highest reproduction. To preserve natural and anthropogenic ecosystems and landscapes from pollution in mountain conditions, weed control is carried out by a combination of biological, agrotechnical and mechanical methods, eliminating the need for the use of herbicides. In this regard, the phytocenotic role of agricultural crops in crop rotations is of great importance.

Groundwater Mining in Contemporary Urban Development for European Spa Towns

Mining activity is usually associated with heavy industry, the degradation of space and areas with a clearly industrial character. In fact, mining can be associated with other functions, such as health resorts, recreation and leisure. In the case of spas specializing in balneotherapy, medicinal underground waters “mineral and thermal” are extracted from local deposits using mining methods, in borehole mines. Mining activity is not the main direction of development of these places, but it remains absolutely essential for maintaining the spa function and offering services in the field of recreation, rest and tourism. The article focuses on the relationship between mining activity and the basic function of spas, the spatial relations between urban development and the spa zone, the range of mineral and thermal water use (natural resources obtained from underground deposits using the borehole method), and above all-the manner of exposing mining facilities in spa space and explaining the importance of these elements. The basis for the discussion featured in the article is constituted the results of an original study carried out by the author, employing field research, in 2018 at the Institute of Cities and Regions Design, Faculty of Architecture of the Cracow University of Technology. Research work was performed in a dozen South-German statutory spas (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony). Four cities representing a much wider group of spa centres were selected for detailed analysis: Bad Buchau, Bad Saulgau, Bad Aibling and Bad Schandau. It was shown that the selected cities were directly related to the mining of groundwater, but at the same time differed significantly in terms of the studied features. The study's conclusions may be useful in programming the development of spa towns operating on the basis of underground medicinal waters, as well as in the creation of concepts and projects on the urban and regional scale. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2020-01-01-01 Full Text: PDF