Kopalnia Kwarcu "Stanisław"

The Stanisław Quartz Quarry sits at an elevation of 3,445 feet (1,050 meters) above sea level, making it the highest quarry in Central Europe, where extraction of high-purity quartz took place using open-pit mining methods across a vein stretching approximately 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) through the Izera Mountains.

Quartz extraction at this location dates back to the 13th century when early miners discovered deposits of milky and rose quartz crystals, with large-scale industrial operations beginning in the 1950s when the state-owned mining enterprise produced about 2,700 tons monthly for use in glassmaking, electronics, and metallurgy industries.

The quarry area has long attracted mineral collectors and prospectors searching for precious stones including sapphires, rubies, amethysts, and rock crystals, with large quartz specimens now displayed at mineral shows and sold in specialty shops throughout the region, continuing a tradition of mineralogical interest spanning several centuries.

Access to the quarry requires a walk of approximately 0.3 miles (500 meters) along the green trail from the Izera Crossroads, with the route suitable for hikers, cyclists, and families, taking between 2 and 4 hours to complete the round trip including time for observation and photography.

The extracted quartz contains over 97 percent silica content, reaching up to 100 percent purity in some samples, making it exceptionally valuable for industrial applications including semiconductor production and integrated circuits, with the largest milky quartz crystals found here measuring several inches in length.