URANIUM MINING IN POLAND (LOCATION OF MINES)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A044400550001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 17, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

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INFORMATION REPORT INFORMATION REPORT
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY Poland
SUBJECT Uranium Mining in Poland
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
REPORTI
DATE DISTR. 17 SEP 190
NO. PAGES 1 i7Ga
REFERENCES RD
SOURCE EVALUATIONS ARE DEFINITIXE.- APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
PROCESSING COPY'
dealing with locations of operating and non-operating uranium mines in
Poland.
STATE X IARMY X NAVY X AIR
X IFBI
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
AEC
U1
L-A
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1 8
(March 95 )
General Remarks on Uranium Exploration and Mining
After the war the Soviets turned their attention to geological
explorations for the discovery of uranium deposits in Lower Silesia,
where the Germans had already opened and worked the Kowary uranium mine.
Vl aaltuul 1.11i1Ca
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'~..U''`.:., c
The uranium-bearing area in question is located between Luban
and Raciborz.
Before Gomulka came to Power, the ore used to be shipped to the
USSR, with Poland receiving little or no compensation. When the mining
activities were turned over to the Poles, the USSR was reluctant to
pay a fair price for the ore and remained the only buyer on the market,
for it seems that the Soviets forbade Poland to export uranium ore to
any other country. Then, in order to avoid large deficits, the Polish
government suspended mining activity in some uranium mines and re-
duced it in others. Actually, some mines had been shut down for the
same reason even before 1956.
It is said, however, that the uranium ore now being mined is paid
for by the USSR at the prevailing world market price.
It is also said that about the end of 1957 or the beginning of
1958 the Kowary directorate of nonferrous ore mines resumed geological
explorations for radio-active ore throughout Lower Silesia. These
explorations, however, are being conducted with Soviet technical assistance.
The Soviets began their uranium mining activity in 1945-1946, keeping
in operation the Kowary mine, which had been opened up by the Germans.
Meanwhile, they carried on geological explorations and, beginning in
1948, opened up new mining shafts at the Kowary mine. Then they gradually
opened up additional uranium mines at the following places (listed in
chronological order):
1. Ladek Zdroy (formerly Landek).
2. Russinowo, located tout 4 kilometers from Walbrzych.
3. Wojczescjcze, located near Ceplice, about 3 kilometers from
Jelenia Gora.
4. Greifow Slonsky (formerly Greiffenberg).
5. Grczyn, located about 30 kilometers from Wufka Slonsky.
6. Okseczyn, located on the Polish-Czechoslovak border near
Kamienna Gora.
7. Glubczyce.
-3-
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Ladek Zdroy Mine
Closed in 1955 because "operating costs were notcffset sufficiently
by the value of the uranium ore extracted."
Russinovo (formerly Julianov) Mine
Opened in 1949 and closed in 1955 because it was operating at a
deficit.
"Mietsko" Mine at Walbrzych
This is a coal mine which in 1951 began to extract uranium ore
found in combination with the coal. In 1953 uranium ore extraction
was suspended because the amount of ore obtained was very small.
However, exploration was continued in the area in subsequent years,
because an ever greater amount of radioactivity was found when drillings
were made for coal mining.
As a result, uranium ore (not mixed with coal) was discovered in
the area in considerable quantities and with a high percentage of radio-
activity. Rational exploitation of those deposits was began in February
1957. Since January 1958, exploration is being conducted for the dis-
covery of additional
Wojczescycze Mine
uranium ore deposits in the area.
Operations were suspended in 1956.
Greifow Slonsky Mine
Operations were
Grczin [sic] Mine
suspended in 1957.
Still in operation as
of March 1958, although it is
will be closed down shortly.
Okseczyn Mine
Operations began in 1953 with the opening of two 400-meter shafts.
The necessary geological explorations lasted 3 years.
The mine is very near the Polish-Czechoslovak border. The deposit
consisted of a vien which extended into Gzechoslovakia.
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The mine was closed down in 1957 because tunneling had reached
the Polish-Czechoslovak border. Meanwhile, the Czechs continued to
exploit the deposit on their side of the border.
Glubczyce Mine
This mine was opened "recently" and is still in operation.
Uranium Ore Sorting Plant at Kowary
All the uranium ore extracted in the area is brought to the Kowary
sorting plant, from whence it is brought by Soviet military trucks to
one of the two airports of Legnica for air shipment to the USSR.
The sorted ore is put in cylindrical metal containers, each about
50 centimeters in diameter and about 60 centimeters in length, with the
lid screwed down.
Other Radioactive Ore Mines and Explorations
Pyrite mining activity is going on in southeastern Poland, about
150 kilometers from Starachowice.
Extraction of radioactive ore was begun in 1953 and suspended in
1955. unable to state whether the radioactive ore was mixed
with pyrite or was found in a separate deposit.
Explorations for radioactive ores have also been carried out, in
the Zakopane area, but with negative results.
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