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-567
Type of Object
Mine
Description
Short description
Anti dust half face mask consists of housing, two round filters on the side and nose and mouth shield in the middle. There is a head strap mounted on each side of the shield. The subject is grey and green, with the “F” mark in the middle.
Measures
Length 16 cm, width 10 cm, height 17 cm.
Materials
Aluminium, rubber.
Dating
After 1960.
Author / Producer
Donets Basin, the Soviet Union.
Picture attachments
Original use
Anti-dust half-face masks with two filters were used as miners’ protection against dust at the Idrija Mercury Mine worksite. The share of individual dust particles in the pit air depended on its content in the excavated ore and on the ore excavation technology. Dustiness in the pit was highest during mechanical loading and pouring of the ore. It was also high during dry drilling, mining and blowing backfill. The free flint (silicon) was especially harmful to the miners, since it caused a lung disease (silicosis) if someone was exposed to it for a longer period of time. In 1968, wet drilling was introduced in the pit, which partly improved the working conditions. After 1975, Idrija Mercury Mine did not report any cases of miners diagnosed with illnesses connected with harmful effects of mercury, not even lung diseases.
Present use
The anti dust half face masks are being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. They are a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. They are stored in the depot. They can be used for temporary museum exhibitions and for other types of mercury heritage promotions.
Original location
Idrija Mercury Mine worksite.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The objects are appropriately preserved. Therefore, no additional interventions are necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum;
- Kobal, Alfred Bogomir, Dizdarevič, Tatjana. Varstvo delavcev, izpostavljenih živemu srebru v Rudniku živega srebra Idrija po drugi svetovni vojni. Idrijski razgledi, 41/2, 1996, p. 15–27.