The Committee of M ining PAN appreciates the commitment of all those who contributed to the success of the Archives of Mining Sciences in the last fifty years. Special thanks are due to Prof. Stanisław Knothe, whose commitment and dedication must beduly appreciated.

The A nniversary gives an excellent opportunity to express our gratitude to a largenumber of our readers, collaborators and supporters, and, first of all, to the authors ofall contributed papers.

The Committee of Mining PAN wishes the present editorial board, with the Prof.J. Siemek in charge, many successes in the next 50 years, hoping the Archives of MiningSciences will boost its international prestige.

I am certain that the A rchives of M ining S ciences has rendered great services to themining sector in Poland, academics and specialists in the area.