Society of Economic Geologists Student Chapter University of Miskolc

Field trip report

Industrial minerals in the NE part of Hungary

Telkibánya

November 5–8. 2018

Supported by Stewart R. Wallace Funding

The SEG Student Chapter University of Miskolc held between 05–08 of November 2018 a 4

day long field trip in NE–Hungary. The main purpose of this field was the introduce the often

forgot materials, which give us the basis of our society: building stones, limestone, gravel,

perlite, zeolite, diatomite, barite.

Participants of the field trip:

Péter Gurcsik (KőKa Ltd.) leader in Alsózsolca

Ottó Csordás (KőKa Ltd.) leader in Mexikó-valley

Péter Hacskó (Perlite 92 Ltd.) leader in Pálháza

Attila Kasó (Rotaqua Ltd.) leader in Rudabánya

Szabolcs Tóth (Rotaqua Ltd.) leader in Rudabánya

Máté Leskó (University of Miskolc) leader in Erdőbénye and Rátka

Richárd Papp (University of Miskolc) leader in Erdőbénye

Prof. Iuliu Bobos (University of Porto)

Marcela Rodrigues (University of Porto)

Prof. Norbert Zajzon (University of Miskolc)

Lívia Majoros (University of Miskolc)

Gábor Jakab (University of Miskolc)

Oszvald Oross (University of Miskolc)

Máté Simon (University of Miskolc)

Júlia Mekker (Eötvös Loránd University – Budapest)

Tamás Papp (Eötvös Loránd University – Budapest)

Summary

On the first day the trip (Monday) started from the University of Miskolc. The first stop was

near to the village Alsózsolca. We visited one of the biggest gravel mine in Hungary. Péter

Gurcsik (KőKa Ltd.) had a great lecture: he introduced the history, methods & technology and

the product of the mine. After the presentation we visited a different part of the mine.

After lunch we had a great time in the Mexikó-valley limestone quarry. The group was guided

by Ottó Csordás (KőKa Ltd.). We visited the quarry and the different part of the mining area:

we saw the crushers, controlling room. At the evening we reach our accommodation in

Telkibánya.

The second day started with one of the biggest andesite quarry in Central-Europe, which can

be found in Tállya. We were getting familiar with the great history of the mine and the hard

rock mining methods. Near to Tállya different zeolite outcrops and little mines are available.

We visited the “Rátka V” zeolite mining area, where we heard more about the zeolites and the

applications of zeolites.

After that we reached the closed andesite mine in Erdőbénye, where the student could collect

some nobel opal, tridimite, spherosiderite and mauritzite. After the mineral colleting we

visited the diatomite mine of Erdőbénye. The participants were guided through the open pit,

and they were getting familiar with the geology and applications of diatomites. At the evening

Prof. Iuliu Bobos (University of Porto, Portugal) had an excellent lecture about the critical

raw materials and metals: “Raw minerals and critical metals for the European economy of the

21th century. A new challenge for the economical geology”, within we find some raw

material, what we visited during the field trip.

On Wednesday (3rd

day of the field trip) we visited the perlite mine in Pálháza. Péter Hacskó,

(Perlit 92 Ltd.) presented the geology and the history of the mine. After his presentation the

group was guided by him, and we visited the open pit and the laboratory of the mine, where

we saw the expandetion process of the perlite. After the long day, the group had an

outstanding dinner with wine tasting in Tállya.

On the last day the participants traveled to Rudabánya to visit an old closed iron mine, and the

visit an active exploration area to barite. Our guides were Attila Kasó and Szabolcs Tóth

(Rotaqua Ltd.). They presented the geology of the area and the different stages of the the

exploration. After a long da the group reached University of Miskolc, and everyone travelled

to home with new knowledge, friends and many pieces samples.

Presentation of Péter Gurcsik in the Alsózsolca gravel mine

Gravel mining ship on the lake Alsózsolca

Different product from the gravel

Mexikó-valley, Bükk Mts., Miskolc in the background

Within the limestone quarry

Presentation in Tállya, Andesite mine

Tállya, Andesite-quarry

Investigation of the different type of andesite

“Rátka V” zeolite mining area

Erdőbénye, Hubertus-quarry

Mineral collecting in Hubertus-quarry

Abandoned mining area, Erdőbénye

Diatomite mine, Erdőbénye

Looking for some fossils

Telkibánya, Gyöngykő-outcrop (perlite)

Perlite mine, Pálháza

Column-joint perlite, Pálháza

Lunch in the medival millstone mine, Sárospatak

Winetasting in Tállya

Abandoned iron mine, Rudabánya

Lake-Rudabánya

Financial summary

SEG Stewart R. Wallace Funding donation: 1500 USD ~423 000 HUF

Participant fees: 15 000 HUF /person (~53 USD) 165 000 (585 USD)

Other donations: 200 000 HUF (~709 USD)

Income: 788 000 HUF (~2794 USD)

Rent bus: 100 000 HUF (~354 USD)

Gas: 80 000 HUF (283 USD)

Accomodation: 264 000 HUF (936 USD)

Meal: 220 000 HUF (780 USD)

Other cost: 100 000 HUF (354 USD)

Outgoings: 764 000 HUF (2710 USD)

1 USD = 282 HUF (5. November 2018)