Idrija Mine Museum

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Rudnik živega srebra Idrija

Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija

http://www.rzs-idrija.si

rudnikzs@siol.net

Phone386 (0) 5 374 3920

Managed byRudnik živega srebra Idrija d.o.o. (in liquidation)

Marko Cigale, Director

rudnik.idrija@s5.net

Phone386 (0) 5 374 3922

Due to the second largest mercury mine in the World (the first being Almadén in Spain) Idrija was for centuries considered to be the centre of scientific and technological progress in the region. The mercury was mined from 1490 till 1986. The administration of the Idrija Mercury Mine was housed in the Gewerkenegg Castle (16th century) which dominates the town. Today it houses the Idrija Municipal Museum, which together with the Idrija Mine Museum takes care of the region's rich technical, geological, technological, ethnological, and cultural heritage. The Idrija Mine Museum is still managed by the Mercury Mine Idrija company (in liquidation). In 2012 the Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija project was submitted to UNESCO in order to enter Idrija on its World Heritage List.

Mercury mining

History of mining in Idrija dates back to year 1490. By burning cinnabar ore, the mercury miners of Idrija mined over 13 per cent of the world production of this ore. It was the second oldest and biggest mercury mine in the world that had closed in 1995 due to commercial, geological and ecological reasons. Only Almadén mercury mine in Spain is bigger and dates back to Roman times. Both towns were so famous that their names were used in North America for mining towns of New Idria and New Almadén. Until the first world war Idrija Mercury Mine was one of the best technically equipped mine in Europe. Today the company's main task is to close down the mine and to rehabilitate the consequences of 500 year mining, that is to secure the shafts and to monitor the pollution of the environment.

UNESCO World Heritage List

The mercury mining heritage in Idrija (together with the oldest theatre in Slovenia, the warehouse, the city hall, the old town square, the science secondary school, the Gewerkenegg Castle etc.) is nominated to become the UNESCO world heritage protected site. The first project for the candidature was prepared in 2007 under the title Idrija on the Mercury Route of the Intercontinental Camino Real together with Almadén (Spain) and San Luis Potosí (Mexico). The development of the Mercury Route as part of the Intercontinental Camino Real was greatly influenced by the 1554 discovery of amalgamation in America. The process used mercury in acquiring silver and gold from ore and sparked a major increase in the demand for mercury (Idrija, Almadén). The metal was foremost exported to Mexico where it was used in silver mines. This discovery influenced the global development of manufacture, technology and trade in mercury as well as facilitated an intensive transfer of technological knowledge and changes in the global economy, social relations, science and culture. The candidature was put on hold and in 2012 the Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija, a modified version was submitted.

Museum sites

Idrija mine ore deposit is unique. Quoting Russian scientist Vladimir Ivanovich Smirnov: "I have seen many ore deposits in different parts of the world and some of them quite complex. But I openly admit that such a complex geological structure as in Idrija, I haven't yet seen. Without any doubt this is structurally one of the most complex endogenous ore deposits in the world." Mine Museum has rich geological collection with more than 800 different samples of ore and mineral from Idrija mercury ore deposit on display in Idrija Municipal Museum. While mine is now closed there are still some shafts which are maintained and turned into tourist museum shafts.

Highlight is Anthony's Main Road, the oldest part of the mine, today one of the oldest preserved mine entrances in Europe. The shaft was dug back in 1500, soon after mercury was first discovered. Named after Anthony of Padua, patron saint of miners, protector from mine accidents. The museum tour is 1,300 metres long in an authentically preserved mine. Guiding starts in Šelstev house from 18th century where miners used to get equipment early in the morning before entering the mine. Here visitors first see multivision show in the former call-in room, than professional guides take visitors through shafts and illuminated galleries with life-size mannequins which illustrate the various mining jobs, to the unique underground Chapel of the Holy Trinity, dating from the mid 18th century, the time of the greatest prosperity for the Idrija mine. Shaft was opened for public in year 1994. On entrance visitors get raincoats and are greeted with in Slovenian language SREČNO, (good luck), that gets true meaning when entering the shaft.

Francis's Shaft was sinked in year 1792, it is named after Roman-German Emperor Franz Joseph the Second (1792 -1806). It is big transport shaft with only preserved huge exporting machine Siemens - Stuckert, still in operating condition. Francis's Shaft has largest preserved steam piston machine in Slovenia and probably in Europe. This Kley's water pump was made in 1893 in Škoda - Pilsen Factory and was operating until 1948. Francis's Shaft is administered by Idrija Municipal Museum as department for technical heritage.

Joseph Shaft sinked in 1786, is 420 meters deep and connects all 15 levels of the mine. It was closed in year 2007,it consists of tower, exporting machine with big driving mechanisms, loading station of transport cable, blacksmith workshop, and dressing rooms for miners. It is now closed for public.

Ore Foundry of the Idrija Mercury Mine. Smelting of the ore was developed for 500 years from simple charcoal heap to rotating furnaces nowadays. It was part of Mine that was still operating until 1995. Čermak - Špirekova furnace, technical heritage made from 1873 to 1886 operated until 1974. Foundry consists of transport cable, separation area, transport belt, reservoir, smoke chamber with special chimney pipes. The plan is to revitalize this part of the Idrija Mercury Mine.

Whole Idrijsko region is in process of become Geopark, region with unique natural features, where local community is protecting nature, culture, geological culture and is taking care for sustainable development of countryside. Idrija Mine Museum experts completed a geological survey of the region which parts to protect.

See also

• Mercury mine heritage
• Idrija Municipal Museum
• Miner's House - Ethnological Collection
• Idrija Kamšt
• Flood Dams, Klavže
• Francis's Shaft
• Municipality of Idrija
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia

External links

• Mercury Mine Idrija website (in Slovenian)
• Idrija Municipal Museum website
• Idrija Heritage
• Anthony's Shaft (in Slovenian)

UNESCO World Heritage List

• Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija (Spain, Slovenia) (pdf)
• Evaluations of Nomination of Cultural and Mixed Properties to the World Heritage List by ICOMOS, 2012 (pdf, p. 339-352)
• Idrija on the Mercury Route of the Intercontinental Camino Real, UNESCO tentative list (Spain, Mexico, Slovenia), abandoned candidature from 2007

Further reading

• Almadén on Wikipedia
• Mercury on Wikipedia