Copper mineralization in the Rudna concessions occurs over an area of 40.0 km2. The distribution of the various lithological types of ore is controlled by the relief of the top of the White Footwall Sandstone, principally by the disposition of elevations (hills) and flats (depressions or valleys). From south to north, the main elevations are:
- Southern Rudna Elevation on the 900 m level : isometric dome with a size of 1 km by 1 km in plan view.
- Central Rudna Elevation between the 950 m and 1,000 m levels : 300 m to 1,000 m wide ridge elongated west-northwest with flanks sloping 10 degrees southeast and northwest.
- Northern Rudna Elevation on the 1,050 m level : west-northwest elongated ridge with dimensions similar to the Central Rudna Elevation.
- Tarnówek Elevation on the 1,100 m level, with a width of about 800 m.
- Zelazny Most Elevation, interpreted from drill intersections in the northern margin of the Rudna mining area.

It appears that these elevations are simply ridges between broad and flat valleys of preZechstein origin. This hypothesis is supported by wedging out of the Cupriferous Shale over the elevations.

There are fundamental lithological differences between the elevations and the flats. A typical profile for the flats contains all lithological units, such as the White Footwall Sandstone, Boundary Dolomite, Cupriferous Shale and Basal Dolomite. Profiles through the elevations, on the other hand, begin with the White Footwall Sandstone which contains irregular patches of anhydrite cement and is overlain directly by the Basal Limestone unit, which begins with patches of algal dolomite and organogenic dolomite, locally covered by sandy dolomite. The higher units, beginning with streaky dolomite, are similar to those on the flats.

The monoclinal structure is complicated by two east-northeast-trending structures. The southwestern part of the mining area is cut by east-northeast-trending faults of the Biedrzychowa Fault system, extending from the Polkowice area. Throws are to the northwest and range from 40 m to 140 m. There are local elevations around shaft R-6 in the footwall block and, further north, the block is traversed by the west-northwest-striking Main Rudna Fault (200 m wide) with a throw up to 30 m to the north. This fault abuts the Biedrzychowa Fault. The second main structure, called Paulinowa, is situated to the west of the western shafts. The Paulinowa structure is a 20 m to 30 m deep syncline parallel to the Biedrzychowa Fault.

Characteristics and parameters of copper mineralization are controlled by lithological differences between the flats and elevations. The main zone in the south of the mining area follows a broad flat that extends into the Polkowice and Lubin areas. Mineralization extends from the top part of the White Footwall Sandstone (0.8 m to 4 m), through the Cupriferous Shale (0.4 m), clayey dolomite (0.1 m to 0.6 m) and streaky dolomite (1.2 m to 3 m), into the bottom part of the calcareous dolomite. The overall thickness of mineralization varies from 2 m to 6.5 m, the average being 4.5 m. Profiles through other flats are similar. The mineralized thickness in the flat between the Central Rudna Elevation and the Northern Rudna Elevation varies from 2 m to 7 m, but does not exceed 6 m in the flat between the Northern Rudna Elevation and the Tarnówek Elevation. In contrast, copper mineralization in elevated areas occurs in the White Footwall Sandstone and calcareous dolomite only. The mineralized thickness generally exceeds 7 m and locally exceeds 20 m. The extent of mineralization within the White Footwall Sandstone is controlled by the type of cement. Typically, the top parts of the elevations contain irregular patches of sandstone cemented by anhydrite or a mixture of anhydrite and clay cement and this type of sandstone is barren. When patches of anhydrite sandstone are thin, copper mineralization may continue uninterrupted beneath, but when anhydrite cement persists to greater depths, copper will not occur at all. On the whole, sandstone ore is more important and makes up a dominant proportion of the Balance Reserve at Rudna.

Mining in KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. is performed by three mining Divisions: Lubin, Rudna and Polkowice-Sieroszowice.

The technology of mining the copper ore in all 3 mines is based on the room-and-pillar system with the use of blasting technology for ore extraction. This involves access and preparatory work, comprised of the excavation of a drift network on all sides of the site to be mined, cutting of the unmined rock mass with rooms and drifts separating a number of operating pillars, as well as extraction of the ore followed by the transport of the ore to underground dumping stations, where the large rocks are crushed and sifted through a grate, and then the crushed muck is transported to the storage areas near the shafts, from which it is transported to the surface by skip hoisting shafts.

The work related to mining of the copper ore is fully mechanised, in a 4-shift labour system, with the use of motorised mining rigs, most of which are equipped with air-conditioned cabins and systems supporting the work of the operators. Mining work is conducted in the following cycle: drilling the blasting holes with the support of motorised drilling rigs, loading blasting material into drilled holes by motorised blasting rigs, group blasting in mining divisions, followed by the ventilation of the areas blasted (from 30 minutes to 2 hours; in seismically- sensitive areas this time may be longer). The next stage involves the loading of the muck using motorised loaders into haulage vehicles and its transport to dumping stations, along with protection of the exposed face by roof anchor bolts using bolting rigs. The crushed muck is transported by conveyor belts or mine rail trolleys to the storage sites near the shafts, and is then transported to the surface. After the muck is unloaded at the shaft top, it is transported by conveyor belts or railway to the ore concentrators located at each of the three mines

Rudna Mine.
The Rudna mine extracts both sandstone and shale-carbonate ore, with sandstone being the more predominant ore type. The flats contain the full mineralized geological section of sandstone, shale and carbonate rocks, while, in the elevations, the shale horizon is missing. Ore in the flats typically ranges in thickness between 2 and 6.5 m, with an average of about 4.5 m. In the elevations, on the other hand, ore thickness typically exceeds 7 m and locally exceeds 20 m. The overall average ore thickness at Rudna, at about 5 m, is significantly greater than at either Lubin or Polkowice-Sieroszowice. Hydraulic backfill is used to facilitate mining of the thicker ore zones, as well as excavating the support pillars.

Rudna is the deepest of KGHM’s mines, with the underground workings extending between depths of about 920 and 1,170 m. Rock temperatures at the deeper elevations are higher than at KGHM’s other mines and this required the introduction of refrigerated air earlier than at Polkowice-Sieroszowice.

Initial shaft sinking commenced at Rudna in 1970, with start-up of the mine and processing plant in 1974. The mine, which is currently well developed throughout its southern, shallower area, remains relatively undeveloped down-dip, to the north.

The Rudna mine is serviced by a total of eleven shafts, of which one (R-2) is dedicated solely to production, two (R-1, R-3) operate as both production and service shafts, one (R-7) is used for both service and ventilation purposes, and seven (R-4, R-5, R-6, R-8, R-9, R-10, R11) are used almost exclusively for ventilation. The total capacity of the three production shafts is about 56,000 tonnes per day, and it is this hoisting capacity which imposes the limit on underground production. Total intake ventilation capacity is of the order of 180,000 m3 /min, with a total exhaust capacity of 240,000 m3 /min. The additional exhaust air is drawn from the Lubin and Polkowice-Sieroszowice mines.

The Rudna mine is developed by a series of levels, at depths below surface of 900, 950, 1,000, 1,050, 1,100, 1,150 and 1,200 m. Ore transport is based entirely on the use of belt conveyors.

There are 13 production areas at Rudna, which include 25 mining districts. Individual areas produce between 750 and 1,500 tonnes of ore per shift. Five of the areas are categorized as “high temperature”, typically experiencing temperatures of between 28 and 35° C. The mine currently produces about 38,000 to 40,000 tonnes of ore per day at an average grade of about 1.8% Cu.

An initial cut, about 5 m high, is taken in the upper level under a competent dolomite roof.
The lower portion of the ore zone is then mined by bench blasting. Hydraulically-transported and placed sand backfill is used to fill the resulting void as tight to the hanging wall roof as possible. The fill line is carried at a minimum of 70 m and a maximum of 120 m from the active face. Overall mining conditions are good.

There are two main faults at Rudna, striking northwest and with displacements of 20 to 70 m. There are associated parallel rolls and faults at irregular intervals, but these subsidiary faults have displacements of only 2 to 5 m. These faults do not have a significant impact on mineability or dilution control.

Rock bursts are a cause for concern. Rudna, which is the most tectonically disturbed of the three mines, experiences the most seismic activity and the most rock bursts. In areas of high rock burst hazard, mined-out areas are backfilled completely. Backfill is used in about 10% of the stopes at Rudna.

The ventilation system at Rudna appears to be operating satisfactorily.

RECOVERY METHODS.
Production in KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. is a fully integrated process, in which the end product of one technological phase is the starting material (half-finished product) used in the next phase. Mining in KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. is performed by three mining Divisions: Lubin, Rudna and Polkowice-Sieroszowice. In the subsequent phase the Concentrators Division prepares concentrate for the smelters and refineries, while the Tailings Division is responsible for storing and managing the tailings generated by the copper ore enrichment process. The organisational structure of KGHM includes two metallurgical facilities: the Legnica Copper Smelter and Refinery and the Glogów Copper Smelter and Refinery, as well as the Cedynia copper wire rod plant.

The operations and processes applied at each of the three ore concentrators are the same. However, due to the varied lithological and mineralogical composition of the ore from individual mines, the production layout of ........