Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija
Local / Original ID Number
510:IDR;RZ-666, RZ-669‒RZ-674, RZ-693, RZ-694
Type of Object
Mine
Description
Short description
It is typical for screw (or spiral) drills to have two grooves, which extend along the drill in a shape of a screw (spirally twisted). The drills have a hexagonal or square shaft clamping spindle, which serves for the drill insertion in the drilling hammer. The drill does not end with the nozzle and the crown on the other side, but it ends with the blade, in a shape of two sharp cogs or a chisel, directly out of the shaft.
Measures
10 screw drills of different dimensions.
Materials
Steel, iron.
Dating
The time of creation is unknown.
Author / Producer
Manufacturer information is not known.
Picture attachments
Original use
Screw drills served for drilling in soft layers – “šifr” or in hard clay at the working site of the Idrija Mercury Mine. The drill was an integral part of the drilling hammer, which was used for drilling mine wells. While working, the miner held the handle and pressed the lever, which released compressed air in the drilling hammer. Simultaneously, it was necessary to strongly press the drill into the rock. The grooves, which extend along the drill in a shape of a screw, regularly removed the drilled material during the operation. Within the outdoor plants of the mine, the sharpening plant also operated, where the drills (and the crowns) were sharpened at the end of the working shift. On average, between the years 1967 and 1980, they produced 9,000 m of wells and 8,000 m of tunnels annually.
Present use
In total 10 screw drills are being preserved, secured and presented as important Idrija mining heritage with exceptional universal values. Visitors can view most of them within the permanent exhibition “Five Centuries of the Mercury Mine and the Town of Idrija”. Some of them are stored in the depot and can be used for occasional museum exhibitions. They can also be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.
Original location
The Pit of the Idrija Mercury Mine.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Gewerkenegg Castle (showroom 7); depot Prelovčeva 2.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
All items were conserved before 1995, during the time of preparations for the opening of the permanent museum exhibition. 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: