European Minerals Day 2013 Events in Czech Republic

Exploring the world of minerals at the heart of the Czech Karst!

Beroun - The lime plant (Vapenka Certovy schody), the limestone quarry (Velkolom Certovy schody) and the Museum of the Czech Karst (Muzeum Ceskeho krasu), in Beroun, prepared an interesting program for the public in the frame of European Minerals Day 2013, May 24-25, 2013. Friday was reserved for local elementa-ry and high school students and teach-ers, while Saturday was dedicated to the general public. After the successful participation in the European Minerals Day 2011, we sticked to the program which was almost identical to the one in 2011. For transportation and touring capacity as well as safety reasons there were three groups limited to 40 people per group per day. The program for each group took about 5 hours and was divided into two parts with the bus transfer between parts. The participants started in the Beroun Museum where they had the oppor-tunity to see interesting exhibitions: the exhibition on Fossils, Geology and Paleontology was displayed inside the Museum, whereas the other one, called Geological Park, is permanently located in the backyard of the Museum. The participants benefitted from the profes-sional expertise and guidance given by the Museum‘s geological and paleonto-logical experts. They could directly ask about and discuss a variety of subjects with these experts, which made the exhibition much more interesting.

After visiting the exhibitions, the partic-ipants boarded a bus to cover the 15km distance to the Certovy Schody Quarry. The first stop was at the East quarry. Participants got out and gathered directly at the active quarry upper edge to see the overall view of the quarry and the lime plant behind it. Lhoist experts explained to them the process of stone drilling, blasting and loading as well as the further treatment of the stone required for all the high quality end-products. The history of lime produc-tion and environmental protection were also explained and discussed here.Then, after a short journey the partici-pants found themselves in a completely different location full of vegetation with a small lake and croaking frogs and chirping birds all around. It is a small quarry after reclamation. The visitors could marvel at nature’s success in taking back what was temporarily borrowed by humans in order to extract valuable mineral deposits. People could observe and easily imagine here the ac-tive quarry and its eventual final image and features after its closure and rec-lamation. Land reclamation processes and the quarry’s co-operation with the Landscape protected area authorities were also explained and discussed here.The next stop was to the upper edge of the West quarry, which enabled the visitors to watch real stone handling – loading, hauling and unloading with huge equipment, the dumpers and loaders. The 410 million year history of the stone deposit and the final purpose of the land after reclamation were also described.

See also www.mineralsday.eu/events/czechrepublic

The European Minerals Day 2013welcomed more than 30.000 visitors tomore than 170 events at 113 sites in 24countries.

Total visitors: 255+Open door days: 2School projects: 2

Themes: Exploration of the world of minerals, Geology, Paleontology, biodiversity, history of lime production, environmental protection, safety, edu-cational and fun activities for children.

Partners: Museum of the Czech Karst

Number of articles: Web publications:

The European Minerals Day was initiated in 2007. This pan-European awareness raising and educational event takes place every two years. It aims to increase public understand-ing of the importance of minerals in daily life and promote biodiversity conservation and enhancement. Mineral raw materials produc-ers show how the sector contributes to a sustainable European economy by illustrating their role in resource efficiency, innovation and regional development.

Companies invite the local communities to take part in open days and school projects - while their European trade associations ensure the coordination, support and visibility at European level.

Lead: IMA-EuropePartners: CEMBUREAU, EUSalt, Eurometaux, Euromines, ETP SMR, EuroGeoSurveysWith the support of the European Commis-sion, IndustriAll (trade union), ELO, Association of Geologists, IUCN, UEPG, Cerame-Unie, and Members of European Parliament.

European Minerals Day 2013 Events in Czech Republic

After, the bus transferred visitors 150m below to the quarry bottom, where they got out and there were snacks and refreshments waiting for them. Here, they could explore hands-on the giant Caterpillar dumper and loader, speak with drivers, feel the comfort of the cabin, take pictures inside the loader shovel and understand better the relative size and operation of these ve-hicles. Toyota off-road cars were also prepared for people to enjoy riding over the quarry’s rugged terrain. Some of them even tried driving, which was an amazing experience for them.Finally, surrounded by the high quarry stone cliffs, close to the tremendous machinery, people enjoyed lunch and the overall atmosphere. Full of positive impressions and new actual informa-tion about the quarry, its purpose and the future, people left having lost any former trepidation about the “terrible hole” in their proximity and thanking the Lhoist guides for a great experi-ence. That was the aim of European Minerals Day 2013.

Prachovice - Holcim welcomed the public, schools and its customers to the opening of an educational trail “Around Prachovice quarry”, an educa-tional excursion at its East quarry site. The excursion consisted of 5 stages: explanations about geology and hydrology, the presentation of mining machinery, mining and recultivation, fauna and flora and the ceremonial blast.

The company organised several in-teresting and educational activities, such as an exhibition of fire services, activities for small children - painting on small stones, a competition for the best painted picture and an in-flatable castle. They offered refresh-ments and finished the exciting day with a disco party.

See also www.mineralsday.eu/events/czechrepublic