It all started with coal The fate of the land called Upper Silesia was decided 330
Zinc and lead-bearing strata conveniently overlie coal se-
million years ago when lush vegetation of the Carboniferous
ams. To smelt zinc one needed coal, so zinc and coal mining
tropical forest covered vast areas of Europe. With the passa-
developed together. The abundance of coal attracted steel-
ge of time, gigantic trees and ferns turned into the greatest
-makers and soon Upper Silesia became one of the most
riches of Upper Silesia – hard coal.
industrialised regions of the world. Today, while coal is still an important commodity of the Silesian economy, heavy
But it was huge zinc and lead ore deposits that brought ear-
industry is being replaced by high-tech enterprises. It is
ly entrepreneurs to this region.
the entrepreneurial energy of well-educated young Silesians that directs the future of the region.
Janusz Janeczek, Prof. PhD hab. Mineralogist, geologist Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice Rector of the University of Silesia 2002–2008 Chairman of the Council of National Science Centre – a government agency, supervised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
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S pac e I n va d e r s / W e Da r e to I n v i t e Yo u
