Copper Production in the Slovak Ore Mountains – New Approaches. (original) (raw)
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New Approaches on Mining Activities in the Slovakian Ore Mountains
Argenti fodina 2014. Zborník prednášok z medzinárodnej konferencie Argenti fodina 2014 v Banskej Štiavnici (Banska Štiavnica 2015) 45-57.
Alongside the Eastern Alps the Slovak Ore Mountains have supposedly been a major supplier of metal ores since the late 5th millennium BC, as suggested by archaemetallurgical research on copper and metal artefacts throughout recent decades. However, many questions on the actual use of the mountain areas, the exploitation of ore deposits, location and structure of mining sites, as well as settlements of the copper and bronze age cultures and last but not least the access patterns to the geological resources have so far remained unanswered. To address these questions the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum since 2009 takes part in a joint research project and investigates the prehistoric exploitation of metal ores and the subsequent distribution of resources in the Slovak Ore Mountains.
Zborník SNM Archeológia, 2023
The presented paper shows the preliminary results of an archaeological and geophysical survey carried out in Horná Miciná – Hájny diel (Central Slovakia). The site documents prehistoric settlement and is located outside the primarily agricultural area of the Zvolen basin. The magnetometric survey showed the existence of positive anomalies, suggesting the presence of settlement structures. The archaeological research revealed the existence of a settlement feature and a furnace pit. Elemental and mineralogical analyses witness the exploitation of local copper ores. On the basis of 14C analysis, the settlement can be dated to early Eneolithic period. Further knowledge about the settlement are provided by archaeobotanical and osteological analyses.
Geotourism Geoturystyka, 2010
The following paper summarizes the history of Gelnica, Smolník and Rožňava gold, silver, copper and iron orefields in Eastern Slovakia, which have been mined since the Medieval ages by of Slovak and German miners. In Gelnica, where mining operations date back to the XIIth century, massive quartz-sideritechalcopyrite veins with Fe-dolomite, pyrite and tetrahedrite (with silver) cut Lower Devonian phyllites and porphyroids. In Smolník, where copper mining has commenced in the first half of the XIIIth century followed by gold, then silver and iron ore exploitation, 10-11 pyrite-chalcopyrite ore horizons are hosted in Silurian phyllites. In Rožňava mining operations for iron, silver, gold and copper ores have been known since the XIIIth century and have lasted until 1992. Over 40 ore veins discovered in this field contain mostly siderite although quartz-siderite-sulphide paragenesis with Ag-bearing tetrahedrite was also observed. In all three mining districts there are numerous objects of mining heritage and other valuable historical monuments, reflecting the wealth of old Slovak mining towns.
Dissertationes Archaeologicae, 2017
The origin of Neolithic and Copper Age copper finds could not be discussed independently from archaeological interpretation due to the lack of appropriate archaeometallurgical analyses from Hungary. The overall aim of our project is to provide new data about the sources of raw materials of copper finds. By the analysis of comparative geological samples, we are able to test the idea that considered the use of local sources as a basis of the wealth of metal in the Carpathian Basin during the Copper Age. We supplement the series of lead isotope analysis carried out on copper artefacts from secure find contexts by AMS dating in the frame of complex sampling strategy. This makes us possible to reconsider the typochronological system that classifies copper finds into the same time horizons from the Balkans via the Carpathian Basin to Central Europe. As results of the project, we can shed new light on social relations related to the spread of products and technology of metallurgy. We can find evidence for confirming, rejecting or refining some widely accepted topoi of the metallurgy in the Carpathian Basin.
Territory of Eastern Slovakia - area of mining heritage of mediaeval mining
2012
This article discusses the significance of medieval mining in eastern Slovakia as a mining heritage and its application in geotourism. It represents the mining heritage from several points of view as natural, geological, cultural heritage. Shortly informs about mining towns in the East Slovak territory and in the North -East Hungarian territory, which established Association of Upper Hungarian Mining Towns.
Mineralogy and Petrology, 2018
The Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu epithermal deposit Banská Hodruša of intermediate-sulphidation type is located in the Middle Miocene Štiavnica stratovolcano on the inner side of the Carpathian arc in Slovakia. This deposit represents an unusual subhorizontal multi-stage vein system, related to processes of underground cauldron subsidence and exhumation of a subvolcanic granodiorite pluton. Veins are developed on a low-angle normal shear zone, possibly representing a detachment zone in andesitic wall rocks that formed during emplacement and exhumation of the granodiorite pluton. The deposit consists of two parts, separated by a thick sill of quartz-diorite porphyry. The eastern part is currently mined, and the western part has already been depleted. The Banská Hodruša mineralization was formed during four stages: (1) low-grade silicified breccia at subhorizontal structures at the base of the deposit; (2) stockwork of steep veins with rhodonite-rhodochrosite, quartz-sulphide-carbonate and quartzgold assemblages; (3) thin quartz-gold veins with medium dip in tension cracks inside the shear zone and complementary detachment hosted quartz-base metals-gold veins; (4) Post-ore veins. Gold and electrum (920-730) occur as intergrowths with base metal sulphides or hosted in quartz and carbonates, accompanied by Au-Ag tellurides (hessite, petzite). Rare Tepolybasite and Cu-cervelleite result from re-equilibration of early Te-bearing minerals during cooling. Sulphide minerals include low Fe sphalerite (~ 1.25 wt%), galena, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. The wall rock alteration is represented mostly by adularia, illite, chlorite, quartz, calcite and pyrite. Precipitation of gold, Au-Ag tellurides, Mn-bearing minerals and adularia resulted from boiling of fluids due to hydraulic fracturing, as well as opening of dilatational structures within the shear zone.
The early medieval origins of copper ore extraction in the Carpathian Mountains
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2024
The case study addresses the question of the early medieval revival of copper production in Europe. The focus of the research area is the Carpathian Basin, located on the eastern periphery of the zone influenced by European early medieval processes. The research of where and when early medieval metal production started in the region in our case also provides answers to the question of how the region was linked to the European continental economic network, which is until recently an unresolved problem. Ore extraction and the production of various non-ferrous metals (copper, silver, gold) had important centres in the Carpathian Mountains throughout the Middle Ages until the Modern Era. Concerning the Avar period, our study comprises lead isotope and chemical analyses of ‘Late Avar’ (c. 8th century AD) copper rivets, used for certain purposes alongside the copper alloys predominant in the period. As rivets were selected from the entire Avar cultural area, expanding virtually to all lowland and hilly areas in the Carpathian Basin, results are representative of the entire region. It shows that Avar craftsmen producing large quantities of copper alloy objects in the 8th and the early 9th century were supplied with copper from a single mining district, from the ore deposits of the Slovak Ore Mountains in the today Central Slovakia, a region which became an important metal-processing centre in the 11th century AD.
Gold mining and mining sites in Nitrianske Pravno and Chvojnica (Slovakia)
Gold mining and mining sites in Nitrianske Pravno and Chvojnica (Slovakia), 2024
The monograph presents all mining sites identified during the research. Most of them were built for the purpose of obtaining gold, but in some, silver or lead was mined. Due to the significant predominance of gold mines, the title of the book was influenced by this fact. The publication consists of several main chapters, which are focused on the research methodology, the definition of the investigated area, the search for the origin of the primary source of gold and the general geological characteristics, the history of mining in the vicini-ty of Nitrianske Pravno and specific mining sites in the villages of Nitrianske Pravno and Chvojnica. Within their characteristics, the research results are sorted into the following sections: defining the location, area and volume, information from previous research, topo-nyms and analysis of written sources, information obtained from site inspection and lidar image analysis, data obtained from informants, legends related to the investigated location, premises, conclusions and photo documentation.