THE OSKAR LIGNITE MINE IN SMOGÓRY (LUBUSZ LAND, WESTERN POLAND)

Abstract

The paper presents history of one of the largest mines in the Lubusz Land, namely the Oskar Mine in Smogóry near Ośno Lubuskie. The mine operated between 1860 and 1945 under the name of Oskar and later as Smogóry until 1961. The paper focuses on the detailed pre-war history of the Oskar Mine, shows its mining area, location of shafts and descending galleries. Available data about the amount of extraction and employment level are presented. The paper is based on remaining German archived materials (Main Mining Office) and on Polish documents. The paper describes briefly the discovery of lignite deposits in the 19th century near Ośno Lubuskie. Underground room and pillar retreat mining used in this mine is also characterized. Complicated lignite bed structure, ­resulting from geological conditions (glaciotectonic deformation), is discussed. The geological structures is illustrated by a few geological cross-sections.