002.72.Idrija

Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Center, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Republic of Slovenia

EŠD 4826

Mine

The Kavčič sliding holeis a vertical connection of level I/17 with the lower level I/13. Just like all other sliding holes, this one is also composed of two parts. The passage in the upper part is protected with metal net. Through the net one can see the ladders, positioned lower in the shaft, which are used to access deeper parts of the pit. The entire shaft is coated with wooden cladding and arranged with individual platforms, on which the ladders are placed. The height between the platforms is 3 m. The sliding hole is filled with tailings all up to the metal chute net. At the wall next to the shaft a Joy winch, powered by compressed air, is mounted for the passage, and is still functioning and in use.

Length 2 m, width 3 m, depth 10 m.

Firs wood, steel, rocks, iron.

1960s

Idrija Mercury Mine

The sliding hole is composed of two parts. One part of it served for pouring the ore to lower level and main levels and occasional ore storage and the other part of the sliding hole, equipped with ladders, was used for miners to transition between level and Main levels and for pit ventilation. With the help of the Kavčič sliding hole, the ore was poured from the level I/17 to the level I/13. From there on, the ore was poured all the way to the I Main level. The excavated ore was brought to the shaft by the drivers (“laufarji”) with the iron carts (“hund”) and then the excavated material (800 kg) was poured through the entrance chute. In the following process, the ore stored this way was loaded through the exit chutes and transported with the locomotives or manually to the main collection shaft Central, and from then on to towards the surface.

The Kavčič sliding hole I/17 – I/13 is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. Visitors can view it within the permanent museum display Anthony's Main Road. The Kavčič shaft is a part of the presentation which presents the method of storing the ore and the miners’ passage to the lower areas of the site. At the shaft entrance, a lifting winch is mounted, which is used for lowering and lifting the wood between the levels. Through the Kavčič shaft, you can now access up to 120m deep into the pit or to III Main level, which is now the deepest accessible level of the Idrija pit, which is still maintained and controlled.

Idrija Mercury Mine, level I/17 (altitude of 308 m) of the Kropáč mining field.

Anthony's Main Road (level I/17 of the mining field Kropáč), Kosovelova 3, SI-5280 Idrija.

The Kavčič sliding hole I/17 – I/13 is well preserved and maintained. Security of the premises is taken care of.

good

Performing regular maintenance services by the programme, including status control and preservation, security and presentation of the heritage.

- CUDHg Inventory Book.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

2. 3. 2018

Never