Feb_March_AMP_Digital

6 A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 0 MINING HISTORY IN BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA, SLOVAKIA My wife, Marguerite, and I recently visited Banská Štiavnica, in South-Cen- tral Slovakia. This “Silver Town” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in an an- cient volcanic crater atop formerly rich silver and gold deposits and was once one of Europe’s most important min- ing centers. These deposits were discovered between the third and second centu- ries BCE and near-surface mining was recorded from the 11th century ACE. By royal invitation, Saxon and Tyrol mining experts introduced timbering and venti- lation methods to facilitate sub-surface mining. The expanded production sup- ported regional mints supplying much of medieval Europe’s coinage. From 1627, gunpowder supplanted historical hammer and chisel rock breaking tools. By 1700, the extensive tunnels, up to 300 m (950 ft) deep, posed a mining cri- sis in ground water drainage. The water column pump was developed and res- ervoirs were constructed to impound stream water to power mining equip- ment. Hapsburg Empress Maria The- resa decreed the founding of the Min- ing and Forestry Academy here in 1762, the world’s first technical college. It de- veloped new mining technologies and trained some 10,000 specialists for the European mining industry. Mining ac- tivity continued into the 20th century, with the cessation of silver and gold ex- ploitation in 1947 and polymetallic ore production in 1993. Visitors interested in the History of Science and Technology may see much in Banská Štiavnica: The Berggericht, former Mining Court, houses the Visitor Center, a Min- eralogical Exhibition, and a courtyard mine tunnel entrance. The Knocking Tower, above the town, holds a large wooden block, once knocked loudly to summon miners to work, plus the miners’ treasury and a prison for rebellious miners. The Kammerhof, former seat of the Main Chamber Earl, houses muse- ums on the history of both mining and book printing in Slovakia. Exhibits cov- er every ore and mineral found in Slova- kia; the history of the Mining and Forest- ry Academy; historical mining and assay tools, mine measurement (survey) ap- paratus, miners’ festive uniforms, and models of historic mining equipment. The Open-Air Mining Museum, a short tour tram ride outside town, sits atop the tailings pile of the histor- ic Ondrej Shaft. Above-ground displays feature a Geological Exhibit, a histor- ic water column hoist in the shaft-head engine house, and 20th century min- ing transportation equipment. The be- low-ground guided walking tour is a 90 minute, 1.2 km (0.75 mile) long loop through the two uppermost horizon- tal tunnels of the Ondrej Shaft – Bar- tolomej and Ján. Sections include 17th to 19th century linear and spatial struc- tures and a few 20th century struc- tures. Hard rock tunnels have no sup- ports. Soft rock tunnels feature timber or masonry rock supports in older sec- tions and iron arch or concrete casings in newer sections. Displays compare historic vs. modern mining techniques, FEEDBACK The Kammerhof Museum. Map of Slovakia. Courtesy of Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. Ceremonial miner’s tools in the Kammerhof.