This study characterizes ion adsorption-type rare earth element (REE) deposits in West Sulawesi, Indonesia, derived from the weathering of local granitoid bedrock. The investigation focuses on granite in Polewali Mandar and quartz monzonite in Mamasa as the primary host rocks. The research integrated fieldwork by systematic sampling of weathering profile zones and laboratory analyses, including petrography, XRD, XRF, and ICP-MS. The weathering profile is typical of ion-adsorption deposits, comprising four distinct layers from bottom to top: bedrock (C), saprolite (B), limonite (A), and topsoil (O). Mineralogical analysis identified key REE-bearing minerals such as monazite, xenotime, and zircon within the weathered layers, alongside associated radioactive minerals. Chemically, a high Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW: 96–98%) confirms intense weathering conditions. Results reveal significant REE enrichment, particularly in the limonit (Horizon A), with total REE+Y+Sc concentrations reaching up to 453.37 ppm in Mamasa. The deposits are characterized by a pronounced enrichment of Light REEs (LREE) over Heavy REEs (HREE), attributed to factors including the presence of biotite and the influence of Fe-Mn elements. While the total REE concentrations are approximately double those found in comparable deposits on Bangka Island (70–180 ppm), they are at the lower end of economically mined grades in China. Despite this, the LREE-enriched resources from West Sulawesi hold potential for various technological applications, including the manufacture of magnets, electric vehicles, catalysts, and batteries. This study underscores the regional potential of these deposits and provides a foundation for further exploration and utilization assessment.
The accumulation of metals in the sediment‑hosted Cu-Ag deposits in the Lubin–Głogów Copper District (LGCD, SW Poland) are typically characterized by strongly right‑skewed empirical distributions containing numerous outliers. This study quantifies the divergence among estimates of the population mean of metal accumulation obtained using five commonly used measures of central tendency, treated here as alternative estimators for the target mean relevant to additive resource estimation, under conditions of strong skewness and the presence of outliers. Large empirical datasets of Cu, Co, Ni, and Pb accumulation values, obtained from ore-deposit sampling in the Rudna mine workings, were treated as reference populations, with their arithmetic means adopted as reference approximations of the population mean relevant to additive resource estimation. Monte Carlo simulations were used to generate 1,000 independent random samples of sizes from empirical distributions: n = 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. Two evaluation criteria were applied: the frequency with which a given estimator produced values closest to the reference population mean, the mean relative deviation of the estimator from the reference population mean. The results show that the arithmetic mean yields estimates with negligible bias (from −0.1% to +0.4%), whereas average relative underestimation of the reference population mean by the geometric mean reaches −16.6% for Cu, −29.4% for Co, −18.3% for Ni and −66.7% for Pb. Within the adopted inferential framework, in which the target parameter is the population mean relevant to additive resource estimation and is approximated by the arithmetic mean of the reference population, the arithmetic mean most frequently yielded estimates closest to this reference value. Its advantage increased with sample size. The Winsorized and trimmed means showed intermediate performance, whereas the median and geometric mean tended to underestimate the reference population mean, particularly under strong skewness and in the presence of numerous outliers. This conclusion applies specifically within the framework of additive resource estimation and does not necessarily extend to other descriptive uses of central tendency measures. Alternative measures such as the median or geometric mean may occasionally be useful for very small data sets; however, in the present study, they did not outperform the arithmetic mean. The study also highlights the limited usefulness of individual theoretical distributions in the description of empirical metal accumulation data in the LGCD, mainly due to the large number of outliers.
China accounts for over 50% of global refined copper consumption yet contributes less than 10% of mine production, creating structural upstream vulnerabilities despite its massive midstream refining capacity. To address this imbalance, we developed an integrated system dynamics framework coupling a price-responsive geological exploration module with dynamic material flow analysis (MFA). Uniquely, this model endogenizes reserve replacement dynamics and accounts for discovery efficiency decay, enabling a realistic assessment of supply security under geological constraints (2025–2040). We evaluate three pathways: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Intense Extraction, and Circular Transition. Projections indicate refined demand peaks at ~17.8 million tons between 2030 and 2032. However, demand saturation fails to alleviate import pressure. Under BAU and Intense Extraction, the External Dependence Ratio (EDR) remains persistently above 60%, confirming a “smelting trap” where excess processing capacity necessitates chronic import reliance. Supply-side intensification proves inefficient due to diminishing returns from declining ore grades. Conversely, the Circular Transition scenario – leveraging China’s specific power-grid-dominated anthropogenic stock – elevates the secondary supply ratio to 35%, reducing the EDR to ~42% by 2040 without accelerating reserve depletion. We conclude that prioritizing “urban mining” infrastructure over greenfield exploration yields superior, sustainable risk reduction, highlighting the strategic imperative of shifting from a smelting-centric to a circular-centric paradigm.
The purpose of the study is to examine the geoecological consequences of the development of non-metallic deposits in Kyrgyzstan, with an emphasis on the impact of mining activities on the environment and sustainable development of the region. The work analyses the main environmental risks associated with open-pit mining, including land degradation, pollution of water bodies, and deterioration of air quality. Particular attention is paid to the impact of mining of building materials such as clay rocks and quartz sands on ecosystems and water resources, especially in areas with intensive mining, where a large number of mining enterprises are concentrated. The study shows that pollution of water resources with chemicals and heavy metals during the processing of minerals requires the introduction of effective purification systems, quality control of reservoirs, and the development of environmentally friendly technologies. Modelling the spread of pollutants in waters allowed identifying the main factors influencing the degree of pollution in different geographical areas and identifying regions with the greatest risk to ecosystems. It is proven that the use of bioremediation and agronomic remediation methods is an effective tool for restoring ecosystems disrupted by mining activities. The study also explores the prospects for the introduction of innovative technologies aimed at reducing environmental impacts, improving the efficiency of mining processes, and minimizing environmental pollution. The results obtained underline the need for an integrated approach to solving environmental problems and the importance of improving environmental monitoring, control systems, and land rehabilitation after the completion of mining. The conclusion underlines the need to improve the skills of environmentalists and specialists in the field of environmental management and the development and implementation of more effective environmental laws and methods of monitoring the activities of mining enterprises to ensure long-term environmental safety and the development of the region.
The ongoing decarbonization of the Polish energy sector will lead to a substantial decline in synthetic gypsum production, currently constituting 60–75% of the domestic gypsum supply. Synthetic gypsum, generated as a by-product of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) in coal- and lignite-fired power plants, is directly linked to fossil fuel combustion. Based on energy transition scenarios and projected reductions in hard coal and lignite use, synthetic gypsum production in Poland is expected to decrease from approximately 2.5–2.6 Mt in 2024 to about 1.9 Mt in 2030, 1.2 Mt in 2035, and 0.6 Mt in 2040. Assuming an annual demand of ~4 Mt and a stable natural gypsum output of ~1 Mt, a significant supply deficit is anticipated after 2025. The study evaluates documented and prospective gypsum deposits in Poland, taking into account geological conditions, resource categories, environmental constraints, and land-use restrictions. Although total geological resources are substantial, many deposits are located within Natura 2000 sites or other protected areas, limiting the feasibility of opencast mining. As an alternative, underground mining using the room-and-pillar method is proposed. This approach reduces surface disturbance and enables underground pre-processing, minimizing environmental impact. The Winiary and Siedliska deposits are identified as particularly suitable for such exploitation due to favorable geological parameters. Underground development of selected deposits may therefore constitute a strategic response to the projected shortage of synthetic gypsum in Poland.
The green transition will require a substantial supply of energy critical materials, including nickel emerging a critical for that. A part of the transition is the electrification of the vehicle industry. The electric vehicle (EV) has been significantly rising on major markets worldwide. In 2023 14.2 million electric vehicles were sold and which was 35 per cent over the previous year (EV-Volumes 2023). Increasing EV sales driving up global battery demand. The battery capacity reached 750 GWh in 2023, a 40 per cent increase comparing to the last year. (International Energy Agency, 2024). To keep up with rising that demand, nickel is a critical material and its production will need to expand. Indonesia is taking part in that growth reaching around half of the global supply of nickel-containing chemistries by 2030. (Transport & Environment 2023). Since 2019 Indonesia has been accelerating its plans to position the country as a key player in global EV value chain. Indonesia holds the world’s largest nickel reserves with an estimated 55 million tons (U 2024). However, not all types of nickel can be used as a material for EV batteries. The way how the nickel is mined from laterite ores leads to increase total costs for nickel production (Mudd 2010). Therefore, Indonesia should focus on including more advanced technologies into the mining process that can reduce the environment impact. The increasing number of newly operating coal plants in Indonesia increased the emissions by 21 per cent in 2022. In addition, they are off-grid coal plants which supply energy to domestic metal industry and large infrastructure projects. The key purposes of this review paper are threefold: firstly, to investigate the increasing role of Indonesia in the global battery value chain; secondly to identify the social and environmental concerns related to adopted nickel mining technology, and thirdly, to identify the ways to maintain future Indonesian mining more sustainable.
The article presents the current state of domestic and global resources of magnesite deposits, potassium-magnesium salts, and magnesium sulfate salts. The volumes of extraction and production of magnesite raw materials, as well as the directions and tendencies of their consumption, are also presented. Compared to the size and quality of the world’s magnesite and magnesium sulfate salts resources, Poland has relatively limited production capacities for magnesite raw materials, especially of high quality. New, promising prospects are the deposits of sulfate salt-type (polyhalite), which occur in the area of the Bay of Puck. They are currently being more thoroughly identified and documented. This type of salt is increasingly used in the production of, among other things, magnesium building materials (Qi 2025; Zhou et al. 2025). The use of building materials produced with the use of magnesite raw materials, in particular magnesium slabs, blocks, and cements, is gaining importance in modern construction. These products are distinguished by their high fire resistance, moisture resistance, and biodegradability, which makes them the materials of choice for construction considerations requiring durability and safety. The EU’s energy transition program and the need to reduce dependence on external sources of natural resources create new directions for the use of magnesite raw materials, such as hydrogen storage or new technologies for the production of metallic magnesium. The inclusion of magnesite raw materials in national value chains – from refractories, through advanced construction technologies, to the hydrogen economy – should become an element of a conscious industrial policy.
Coal combustion generates ash that contains trace metals with both economic and environmental relevance. This study aims to assess the concentration, variability, and inter-element relationships of nine trace metals (Sb, Co, Cu, Ga, Mo, Ni, Ag, V, Zn) in ash samples from 28 coal specimens of varying rank (lignite, subbituminous, and bituminous) collected from Polish deposits. Elemental concentrations were determined via ICP-MS, and oxide composition was analyzed to examine geochemical associations. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and predictive modeling (multiple linear regression and Support Vector Machine, SVM) were applied to characterize elemental behavior and identify reliable predictors of metal content in ash. The results show substantial variability in elemental concentrations, with several metals (e.g., Ni, V, Zn) enriched in ash relative to parent coal. Bituminous coal ashes generally exhibited higher average concentrations than lignite ashes, except for Zn. Strong linear correlations were found between selected metal pairs (e.g., Cu–Co, Ag–Co), while correlations with oxides (notably Al2O3, Fe2O3, Cr2O3) supported their role in controlling metal distribution. Regression models demonstrated predictive capability for most elements (R2 up to 0.88), with SVM models showing improved performance (R2 up to 0.94, MAPE as low as 19.78%). These findings highlight the importance of oxide composition in trace metal behavior and provide a methodological basis for assessing ash quality, environmental risk, and potential resource recovery.
Ore particle size information is an important indicator for evaluating the operating status and production efficiency of crushers. However, in the actual industrial environment, adhesion phenomena often occur during the acquisition and transportation of ores, resulting in overlapping edges and blurred contours of ores in the images. Traditional image segmentation methods are difficult to achieve high-precision recognition and segmentation. To this end, this paper proposes an RA-UNet++ adhered ore image segmentation method based on the improved UNet++ structure to improve the segmentation performance in complex scenes. Based on the UNet++ coender-decoding architecture, the residual module and the self-attention mechanism are integrated to enhance the model’s ability to extract and express the edge details of ores. Meanwhile, multi-scale atrous convolution is introduced at the end of the encoder to construct the Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) structure, expand the receptive field, enhance the multi-scale perception ability for ores of different particle sizes, and thereby improve the overall segmentation effect. The experimental results show that RA-UNet++ performs excellently in the task of image segmentation of adhered ores, significantly improving the clarity and integrity of edge segmentation. Compared with the Otsu method and the standard UNet model, this method has advantages in terms of robustness, boundary preservation, and segmentation accuracy. The pixel-level and target-level segmentation accuracy rates of adhered ore images both exceed 93%, showing good potential for industrial applications.
The aim of this study was to develop a clay-based mineral material with enhanced sorption properties suitable for application as an active ingredient in cosmetic formulations. Kaolin samples from the Jegłowa deposit were subjected to structural modifications through thermal treatment at 300, 600, and 900°C, as well as acid activation using a 4 M HCl solution. The resulting materials were assessed for microbiological quality in accordance with the ISO/DIS 17516 standard. In addition, mineralogical composition (X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis), specific surface area, pore structure, and sorption properties (gas porosimetry, SEM) were characterized to evaluate the influence of the type and intensity of modification on the functional properties of kaolin. Thermal modification at 600°C induced decomposition processes, resulting in a reduction in structural order and a decrease in specific surface area, which consequently limited the material’s sorption capacity. In contrast, acid activation led to a significant increase in the specific surface area of kaolin, which is advantageous for sorption processes occurring at the interface between the modified clay material and the epidermal layers. Microbiological analyses revealed that unmodified kaolin samples did not meet the requirements specified in the PN-EN ISO 17516 standard. Satisfactory microbiological quality was achieved exclusively in samples subjected to combined thermal and acid modification. Based on these results, it was concluded that unmodified Jegłowa kaolin can be incorporated into cosmetic formulations only in combination with antimicrobial agents to ensure compliance with microbiological quality requirements of the final product.
Coal mining heritage encompasses both the tangible and intangible legacies of coal mining activities. Industrial heritage objects are important in many dimensions: technical, historical, architectural, scientific, and cultural. Postmining sites serve as reminders of industrial advancements and the socio-economic transformations that have shaped regions across Europe. They are the basis of local identity and are important for economic change. On the other hand, monument protection authorities are not always able to maintain all such objects, and the process of making decisions for or against the preservation of a given object is based not only on economic criteria. Maintaining industrial heritage facilities is a multifaceted challenge that requires a tailored approach, considering the specific context of each site. Managing mining resources as cultural heritage is a multifaceted challenge requiring comprehensive strategies. These strategies must address technical, social, economic, and environmental aspects while fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, including local communities, cultural institutions, local authorities, and experts in related fields. The article presents the chosen results of a survey carried out by the Central Mining Institute-National Research Institute (GIG-PIB) within the project "Coal Heritage: Conservation and promotion of the Coal Mining Heritage as the EU's cultural legacy" financed by the Coal and Steel Research Fund Accompanying Measures. The discussion integrates key insights from experts' comprehensive and consistent perspective on the challenges in the management of mining heritage.
With the accelerated development of the new energy vehicle industry, China's demand for nickel resources has been increasing, and its external dependence has remained high for a long time. In the context of the new international development pattern and security environment, it is essential to systematically evaluate the security of China's nickel ore resource supply. Based on China's new development background and situational requirements, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for nickel resource supply security from three dimensions: global supply stability, domestic economic security, and co-existence of optimal, from the perspectives of national resource security and sustainable development, combined with the characteristics of nickel resources. The CRITIC-TOPSIS model is adopted to evaluate the level of secure nickel resource supply from 2011 to 2022. The construction of the evaluation index system for nickel resource supply security has been proven scientifically reasonable, the method used is relatively appropriate, and the evaluation results are credible. The results indicate that China's nickel resource supply capacity has generally declined since 2011, with the main influencing factors being domestic resource supply potential, global geopolitical risks, and nickel ore market price fluctuations. Therefore, it is imperative to enhance domestic nickel resource exploration efforts, increase overseas mining investments in nickel resources, improve China's global allocation of nickel resources, and elevate nickel resource reserve capabilities and smelting and production technologies.
For modelling and control of the Vibrating Ore Drawing Process (VODP) in the under-mine rail transportation, a visual perception-based detection method for controlled variables in the drawing process is proposed and applied to the Model Predictive Control for achieving the adaptive draw of the chute. First, the method for estimating ore flow parameters is proposed based on a neural network visual perception method. The neural network-based target detection algorithm is constructed by the well-known DarkNet-53 structure, which is further optimized based on the YOLOv5-MINE structure. Second, the reference model of the VODP system is established by the system identification and data fitting approach. Then, based on this, we use model predictive control to control the system and give a stability analysis of the system with the input and output block diagram under the guidance of the prediction model. Finally, combined with advanced communication technology, simple simulation examples and practical industrial applications are given to illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed methodology. Field experiments conducted at an iron ore mine in China show that the application of the Visual Perception and Model Predictive Control system eliminates inefficiencies caused by human factors, resulting in a 6.8% increase in ore loading efficiency and a reduction in the need for operators by more than 50%. The proposed system provides a significant advancement in intelligent and unmanned mining operations, enhancing safety, efficiency, and resource utilization.
Fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas are still key to ensuring energy security. Due to limited resources, most European countries must import strategic raw materials, making their security dependent on the geopolitical situation. The war in Ukraine has serious consequences for the fossil fuel market in Central and Eastern Europe. The Russian Federation, being a world leader in hydrocarbon production, was a key supplier to most countries located in this region. As the armed conflict in Ukraine developed, it became obvious that ensuring energy security would be a priority for the European countries. Diversifying the sources of strategic fossil fuels was undoubtedly one of the most challenging ventures during this time. As a result of EU sanctions against Russian raw materials, the Central and Eastern European countries were forced to review and amend their energy policies, as well as look for new suppliers of hydrocarbons. Unfortunately, for many countries, achieving these targets turned out to be a great challenge due to their significant dependence on Russia and the lack of alternative transmission infrastructure. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to significant changes in the fossil fuel market, primarily in Germany and Poland. This article presents a comparative analysis of the German and Polish fossil fuel markets in the aftermath of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The analysis covers the period of 2021-2024. The aim was to determine how the sanctions imposed on Russia affected the fossil fuel markets of Germany and Poland. The analysis covers the coal, oil, and natural gas sectors.
The problem of managing the high amounts of mine tailings has become important with the increase in production in mining activities. The tailings must be stored or disposed of in a controlled manner to eliminate or minimize their negative effects such as air, water, and soil pollution. In particular, the tailings of metal mines have acid mine drainage (AMD) risk and must be stored under safe conditions. The use of these tailings in an appropriate industry, such as concrete production, will increase the sustainability of mining activities. This study investigates the effect of gold (AuT), lead-zinc (LZT), copper (CuT), and iron (FeT) metal mine tailings as a partial substitution base material for aggregate in concrete in terms of mechanical and environmental aspects using uniaxial compression strength (UCS) tests and pH measurements, respectively. The results indicated that the strength of the reference concrete without tailing (32 MPa) could be reached or even exceeded by tailing substituted mortar samples with 5% AuT, 5% CuT, and 20% LZT. The strength of several mortar samples increased with the curing time due to the filler effect and pozzolanic activity, while it decreased due to the clay effect and sulfate attacks depending on the tailing type and the substitution ratio. The pH value of the tailings, which was between 8.5 and 9.5, was not affected significantly by atmospheric oxidation. When these tailings were used in concrete production, the suspension pH approached 13 due to the alkaline properties of the cement, almost eliminating the AMD risk.
To address the technical challenges in industrial applications involving stacked ores-particularly the difficulties in distinguishing individual particles resulting from mutual occlusion and geometric irregularities, and the limitations of conventional approaches in precisely determining optimal crushing positions-this study develops a multimodal feature fusion framework integrating ore segmentation with intelligent crushing position determination. Instance Segmentation Level: a hierarchical segmentation framework is constructed by integrating super-voxel clustering with 3D point cloud surface concavity-convexity analysis. To address edge segmentation optimization, a curvature-constrained region growing algorithm is introduced. Furthermore, an adhesion-aware concavity-convexity evaluation function is established to achieve precise separation of adherent ores, effectively mitigating the over-segmentation issues inherent in traditional Euclidean clustering methods when handling complex stacked scenarios. Positional Decision-Making Level: we propose a crushing point localization method incorporating multi-scale geometric feature fusion. Poisson surface reconstruction is employed to construct a continuous geometric model of the ore surface. This is combined with an enhanced RANSAC plane detection algorithm to identify optimal crushing planes, followed by a comprehensive analysis to determine crushing direction vectors. Experimental results demonstrate that the method can effectively segment individual ores in complex stacking scenarios and optimize crushing position determination based on geometric features, providing reliable technical support for automated crushing operations.
The magnetic induction sorting system is an automated intelligent system designed specifically for magnetite ore, which can effectively separate low-grade ores. However, the magnetic induction signals detected by this system are vulnerable to noise interference, posing a significant challenge for accurate signal acquisition, thus affecting both the sorting range and accuracy. To address this issue, this study proposes a denoising method integrating the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA)-optimized Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) with Wavelet Thresholding (WT). Firstly, SSA is employed to optimize the parameter configuration of VMD to achieve optimal signal decomposition. Subsequently, intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) are selectively filtered based on sample entropy analysis, and the retained IMFs undergo WT denoising. Finally, the IMFs are reconstructed to yield the denoised signal. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified comprehensively through experiments performed with a laboratory-developed magnetic induction sorting system. Experimental results demonstrate substantial performance improvements when compared to four alternative algorithms, achieving an average improvement of 3.3% in Noise Mode (NM) and a reduction of 14.9% in Root of Variance Ratio (RVR). Moreover, the denoising algorithm led to a 38.8% increase in detectable magnetite ores and a 12.5% improvement in sorting accuracy. These results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively suppresses noise interference during the Hall sensor's collection of magnetic signals, significantly enhancing the grade sorting range and accuracy of magnetite ore.
The analysis of hydrothermal carbonization technology processing showed that this technology effectively transforms hydrated biomass into high-quality hydrated and biocarbon pellets used as biofuels. One of the key advantages of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is its ability to enhance the efficiency of bio-waste recycling, leading to increased productivity in waste management. It also decreases reliance on fossil fuels by providing a sustainable alternative energy source while lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional waste disposal. The process is highly efficient, converting a significant part of biowaste carbon into biocarbon. Hydrothermal carbonization is an exothermic process operating with low energy consumption. The hydrochar produced can be utilized as a soil amendment, enriching soil and sequestering carbon. Investing in innovative technologies like HTC strengthens sustainable waste management strategies, fostering the circular economy concept. By increased use of hydrothermal carbonization, the volume of untreated biowaste can be reduced while simultaneously producing environmentally friendly materials. The development of this technology holds great potential for transforming organic waste into valuable resources, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional disposal. The assessment showed that it is possible to process approximately 50 million tons of biomass per year in Poland using the HTC method and thus produce about 16.5 million tons of carbon bio pellets.
Springs are important to ecosystems because they are naturally occurring outflows of groundwater to the surface. Spring water quality is often overlooked in areas where the main source for the water supply is, for example, groundwater. Meanwhile, springs located in urban spaces or tourist areas are used as drinking water without any awareness of their chemical state or bacteriological composition. This situation applies not only to Poland, but to many European countries. An example of formations that are highly susceptible to pollution is karst systems. The majority of the parameters continue to be normal, according to the results of physicochemical analyses. The tested waters had relatively high nitrate levels, but they didn't exceed the allowable limits for drinking water. Tests carried out in three measurement series at the spring in Le & sacute;ni & oacute;w (southern Poland) indicate episodic mercury contamination and the consistent existence of the bacterium coliform. This was confirmed by the values of the Nemerow Index (NPI), which ranged from approximately 3 to 35, while the number of coliform bacteria was in the range of 7-35 cfu/100 ml. Values of the Water Quality Index were also calculated. In two series, they were in the range of 50-100, suggesting good quality, and in the third series, they exceeded 100, which indicates poor water quality. The consumption of contaminated water can have detrimental impacts on one's health. As a result, it is critical to regularly monitor water contamination, locate pollution sources, and reduce the likelihood of pollutant migration.
Systemy krasowe należą do najbardziej niejednorodnych i anizotropowych ze względu na system kanałów krasowych i szczelin powstałych w wyniku nierównomiernego przepływu wód podziemnych, co tworzy złożone warunki hydrogeologiczne. Należą również do najczęściej wykorzystywanych zasobów wody pitnej na świecie. Jednak ze względu na negatywne oddziaływanie antropogeniczne jakość ich wody może się pogorszyć. Monitorowanie jakości wody w źródłach jest niezwykle ważne, zarówno pod względem parametrów fizykochemicznych, jak i bakteriologicznych. W trzech seriach pomiarowych zbadano 34 parametry w źródle Zygmunta w Złotym Potoku (południowa Polska). Średnia przewodność wody w tym źródle wynosi 370 μS/cm, pH wynosi około 7, a natężenie przepływu około 17 l/s. Pierwszym elementem badań nad jakością wody w źródle Zygmunta było wypełnienie formularza – tzw. znormalizowanej metody Howarda, która ma na celu określenie ryzyka dla źródła. W ramach badań obliczono Backman Pollution Index (średnia wartość –13) i Water Quality Index (średnia wartość 94). Wyniki obliczeń wskazują, że bakterie stanowią największe zagrożenie dla wody. Bliskie sąsiedztwo szlaków transportowych, pól uprawnych lub obszarów niesanitarnych może stanowić zagrożenie dla substancji nieorganicznych lub bakterii. Przeprowadzono również modelowanie geochemiczne w celu zidentyfikowania minerałów rozpuszczonych i wytrąconych w wodzie. W wyniku modelowania potwierdzono rozpuszczenie kalcytu i dolomitu oraz wytrącanie się getytu i hematytu.
