Name 1
LAYERED ORE IN TUFFITE
Name 2
/
ID number
002.27.Idrija
Manager / Administrator
Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Republic of Slovenia
Local / Original ID Number
480 RS – 33 (vzorci od RS – 33/1 do RS – 33/7)
Type of Object
Ore deposit
Description
Short description
Tuffite consists of flint fragments, claystones, plankton radiolaria and other particles. In tuffite binder the grains of chalcedony and pyrite can be observed. In the transected and polished sample, gradual granularity of different sized and shaped mineralised chalcedony grains can be observed. The colour of the mineralised grain is intense red.
Measures
Length 6 cm, width 4 cm, height 1.4 cm.
Materials
Tuffite, cinnabar mineralisation
Dating
Ladinian, Longobardian
Author / Producer
/
Picture attachments
Original use
At the end of Ladinian, volcanic activity increased. Volcanoes erupted large quantities of ash, which covered the entire then area of Idrija. In the Idrija tectonic rift, ash directly covered the Skonca beds. Tuffs and tuffites, the youngest rocks in the Idrija ore deposit, started to form. Mineralisation can be observed approximately 2.5m in tuffites, above the contacts in Skonca beds and it indicates the termination of hydrothermal operation in tectonic rift. The layered ores were formed with gradual granularity of mineralised grains of chalcedony and claystone.
Present use
The layered ore with gradual granularity in tuffite is being preserved, secured and presented as important natural heritage of Idrija ore deposit with exceptional universal values. It represents a unique soil “archive”, as the sample was excavated in Idrija ore deposit and also stored. It is a part of the thematic collection “syngenetic ore” of the Mine Geological Collection, displayed in the administrative premises of CUDHg, as a part of the Francis’ shaft. The described specimen is exhibited in a display case. It can also be used for temporary exhibitions and for other types of mercury heritage promotions. The described type of sedimentary mercury ore in tuffites was found only in Idrija and it therefore represents a global specialty.
Original location
Idrija ore deposit, Kropáč MF, I/19
Present location
CUDHg (Mining Geological Collection), Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The sample is appropriately preserved. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is taken care of.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- CUDHg Inventory Book;
- Čar, Jože. Rudniška geološka zbirka: Seznam in opis vzorcev. Mercury Mine Idrija, 2003, p. 1–122, [material is kept in the archive of CUDHg];
- Čar, Jože. Razvoj srednjetriasnih sedimentov v idrijskem rudišču: doctoral thesis. Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in Ljubljana, 1985.
- Čar, Jože. Ladinijske plasti skonca idrijskega rudišča (Z Slovenija). Geologija, 56/2, 2013, p. 151–174;
- Drovenik, Matija, Mlakar, Ivan. Strukturne in genetske posebnosti idrijskega rudišča. Geologija, 14, 1971, p. 67‒126.
- Čar, Jože. Rudniška geološka zbirka: Seznam in opis vzorcev. Mercury Mine Idrija, 2003, p. 1–122, [material is kept in the archive of CUDHg];
- Čar, Jože. Razvoj srednjetriasnih sedimentov v idrijskem rudišču: doctoral thesis. Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in Ljubljana, 1985.
- Čar, Jože. Ladinijske plasti skonca idrijskega rudišča (Z Slovenija). Geologija, 56/2, 2013, p. 151–174;
- Drovenik, Matija, Mlakar, Ivan. Strukturne in genetske posebnosti idrijskega rudišča. Geologija, 14, 1971, p. 67‒126.
Submitted
Mestni muzej Idrija
Submitted by
Miha Kosmač
Date Submitted
28. 2. 2018
Date Edited
Never