1st SaltAges Conference

The conference, organized by the Polish Association of Salt Mining and AGH, has brought together nearly 60 specialists from around the world who focus on the geology of salt deposits-articularly the so-called salt giants. The main objective is to define the typical characteristics and classification of the world’s largest salt deposits. This knowledge will contribute to the creation of publicly accessible educational resources about large evaporite deposits, a type of sedimentary rock formed through water evaporation. The event also fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange within the international community of salt researchers.

During the session at the Saltworks Castle, the management and staff of the Cracow Saltworks Museum present the history and modern functions of the salt mine. They also discuss the geology of the Wieliczka deposit, archaeological research, the development of tourism, and the project to establish the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe: “Historical Salt Production Centres in Europe.” The employees of the Cracow Saltworks Museum delivered the following presentations: Jan Godłowski, Director of the Cracow Saltworks Museum, spoke about "The History of the Preservation and Opening to the Public of the Historic Salt Mine in Wieliczka"; Piotr Krzywiec, Dr. Hab. Eng. Krzysztof Bukowski, Rafał Zadak, and Agnieszka Prytek presented "The History and General Geology of the Wieliczka Salt Mine"; Karolina Fajerska, Jarosław Fraś, and Katarzyna Lajs-Klose discussed "The Activities of the Archaeological Department of the Cracow Saltworks Museum in Wieliczka"; Dr. Mateusz Gil and Jakub Strynowicz provided "A Historical Outline of the Wieliczka Salt Mine"; and Monika Dziobek-Motyka introduced "The New Cultural Route of the Council of Europe: Historical Centres of Salt Production in Europe."

Following the presentations, the guests will tour the Saltworks Castle and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, gaining insights into both its historical significance and contemporary operations.


After the substantive part, the guests will visit the Saltworks Castle and the Salt Mine, learning about both its history and its contemporary operation. Earlier, the conference participants held discussions in Kraków. The session at Castle took place on the 4th day of the conference. On the last day, the participants will spend time in the Ponidzie region.


The aim of this conference is to bring together experts studying salt giants worldwide to identify salt giant archetypes, review the scientific tools for studying salt giants and create openly accessible educational resources on large evaporitic deposits and their exploitation. The conference will run over the course of five days from 31st March to 4th April 2025, with the first three days devoted to scientific sessions and round-tables, followed by two days of fieldtrips to Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Ponidzie region (NE of Kraków) at the northern rim of the Carpathian foreland basin.

The conference is organized by the COST Action SaltAges CA23124 - Social, biological and climatic impacts of salt ages, the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics, and Environmental Protection of Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza (AGH) University of Kraków, the Polish Association of Salt Mining, and Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Organizing committee: 
Piotr Krzywiec, Krzysztof Bukowski, Marta Adamuszek, Konstantina Agiadi

This conference is organized by:
COST Action SaltAges CA23124 – Social, biological, and climatic impacts of salt ages, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics, and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Kraków, Polish Association of Salt Mining, Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Co-organised by the Cracow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka

Organizing Committee: Piotr Krzywiec, Krzysztof Bukowski, Marta Adamuszek, Konstantina Agiadi