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| − | Due to the [[Idrija Mine Museum|second largest mercury mine]] in the World the town of [[Municipality of Idrija|Idrija]] was for centuries considered to be the centre of scientific and technological progress in the region. 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). | + | Due to the [[Idrija Mine Museum|second largest mer |
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| − | In 2012 the ''Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija'' project was submitted to UNESCO in order to enter Idrija on its [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia|World Heritage List]].
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| − | ==Mercury mining in Idrija==
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| − | History of mining in Idrija dates back to the year 1490. Only the 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 the mining towns of New Idria and New Almadén. Until the World War I the Idrija Mercury Mine was one of the best technically equipped mine in Europe. By burning cinnabar ore, the mercury miners of Idrija mined over 13 per cent of the world production of this ore. In 500 years Idrija exported 107.700 tons of this liquid metal.
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| − | In 1986 the decision was made to close it down due to commercial, geological and ecological reasons. The mine had finally closed in 1995 but some of its shafts and facilities remain open for tourists. Today the company's main task is to close down the mine and to manage the consequences of 500 year mining, that is to secure the shafts and to monitor the pollution of the environment.
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| − | ==UNESCO World Heritage List==
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| − | The [[:Category:Mercury mining heritage|mercury mining heritage in Idrija]] (together with the oldest theatre house 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 Sites in Slovenia|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.
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| − | == Museum sites ==
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| − | The Idrija mine ore deposit is unique on the world. Quoting a Soviet geologist Vladimir Ivanovich Smirnov (1910–1988): "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." The Mine Museum has a rich '''geological collection''' with more than 800 different samples of ore and mineral from Idrija mercury ore deposit on display at the [[Idrija Municipal Museum]].
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| − | The '''Anthony's Shaft''' is the oldest part of the mine, today also 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, a patron saint of miners and protector from mine accidents. The museum tour is 1,300 metres long in an authentically preserved mine. It starts in ''Šelštev house'' from 18th century where miners used to get the equipment early in the morning before entering the mine. Here the visitors watch the multivision show in the former call-in room, than the professional guides take them 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. The shaft was opened for public in 1994. At the entrance the visitors get raincoats and are greeted with ''SREČNO'' (good luck), that gets true meaning when entering the shaft.
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| − | The [[Francis's Shaft]] was sinked in year 1792 and 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 the [[Idrija Municipal Museum]] as department for technical heritage.
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| − | '''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.
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| − | '''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.
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| − | 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.
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| − | == See also ==
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| − | * [[:Category:Mercury mining heritage|Mercury mining heritage on Culture.si]]
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| − | * [[Idrija Municipal Museum]]
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| − | * [[Miner's House - Ethnological Collection]]
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| − | * [[Idrija Kamšt]]
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| − | * [[Flood Dams, Klavže]]
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| − | * [[Francis's Shaft]]
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| − | * [[Municipality of Idrija]]
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| − | * [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia]]
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | * [http://www.rzs-idrija.si/ Mercury Mine Idrija website] (in Slovenian)
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| − | * [http://www.muzej-idrija-cerkno.si Idrija Municipal Museum website]
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| − | * [http://www.idrija-turizem.si/en/1.nivo/heritage-of-city-idrija.html Idrija Heritage]
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| − | * [http://www.rzs-idrija.si/pot.htm Anthony's Shaft] (in Slovenian)
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| − | UNESCO World Heritage List
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| − | *[http://www.mizks.gov.si/fileadmin/mizks.gov.si/pageuploads/novice/pdf/SPAIN_Slovenia_AB_evaluation_Almaden_Idrija_2012.pdf Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija (Spain, Slovenia)] (pdf)
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| − | *[http://whc.unesco.org/archive/2012/whc12-36com-inf8B1-en.pdf Evaluations of Nomination of Cultural and Mixed Properties to the World Heritage List by ICOMOS, 2012] (pdf, p. 339-352)
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| − | * [http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5154/ Idrija on the Mercury Route of the Intercontinental Camino Real, UNESCO tentative list (Spain, Mexico, Slovenia)], the abandoned candidature from 2007
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| − | Further reading
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| − | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almad%C3%A9n Almadén on Wikipedia]
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| − | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28element%29 Mercury on Wikipedia]
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| − | {{gallery}}
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| − | [[Category:Monuments and sites]]
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| − | [[Category:Museums]]
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| − | [[Category:Industrial and technical heritage]]
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| − | [[Category:Mercury mining heritage]]
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