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Environmental Conditions in the Mercury Mine of Idria

1950; BMJ; Volume: 7; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/oem.7.4.168

1470-7926

Vale Vouk, Mirka Fugaš, Z. Topolnik,

Mercury impact and mitigation studies

The history of mercury mining in Idria has been excellently described by Teleky (1912) and Kropac (1912).Some historical data on mercury poisoning in Idria is also given by Rosen (1943).From these works the data for the following short historical introduction have been taken.Mercury deposits in Idria have been known since 1490 or 1497.It is said that mercury in Idria was discovered by a cooper, who found mercury droplets when filling his container from a nearby well.He founded a mining company which was very soon taken over by the local lord.After 1580 the mines became the property of the prince of the province and they were left under the management of the Austro-Hungarian state till 1918, when the Idria district became part of Italy.After the second world war the Idria mines were ceded to Yugoslavia.Mining was at first in the bituminous shales con- taining free mercury, but very soon the exploiters turned to cinnabar deposits.The smelting process was very primitive at that time: alternating layers of ore and wood were covered by earth and set alight.The construction of aludel-furnaces, first used in Spain, was an important technological development.In 1785 the Austrian government concluded a trade agreement with Spain and thus undertook to deliver large quantities of metallic mercury.The first measure designed to increase the output 6f the Idria mines was a regulation providing for the mines and the smelting plant to work all the year through.Before this the smelting plant worked only during three winter months.At the same time the smelting process was improved by the construction of vertical flame furnaces by Leithner in 1787.Iih 1803 a big fire broke out in the mines and a large part of the pits was flooded.In 1842 the first furnace operating continuously was built in Idria.Mercury poisoning among Idria miners was described at an early date, one of the first