Professional paper
FROM THE SIGNIFICANT ST. JOACHIMSTAL SILVER AND URANIUM PIT, JÁCHYMOV, TO RADON SPA IN SAXON CZECH „RUDNA GORA“
Branislav Šebečić
Abstract
At he beginning of the 16th century Saxon miners discovered silver ore in the small settlement Konnradsgrűn at south-west slopes of Erzgebirge in the valley Joachimsthal named after the patron saint St. Joachim. The silver coin was named Jochymst(h)aler. The mine and the settlement became a free royal mining city where, thanks to the mint, one of the richest noble families von Schlick arose. 554,44 tons of silver were produced from 1517 till 1900. Together with silver ore cobalt and lead ore were exploited ( in significant quantities from 18th till 19th century) and after that period nickel, bismuth and arsenic ore (19th century). From the listed ores cobalt was produced in largest quantities for enamel production; 1824,23 tons in the period from 1775 till 1851. Next to these ores uranite ore (urani/ni/t) was discovered in the mine. The ore was first used to produce uranium colours used for ceramics, glass and paintings and later to obtain uranium; 8500 tons since 1853 till 1964, a part of which was worked up into radium, to obtain 100gr Ra-. Thanks to the discovery of radioactive- radon water the mine is still active because 20 miners are employed to maintain the part of it from which the radon water is exploited. Jachymov and its surroundigs have become a famous radioactive thermal sanatorium in Europe.
Keywords
silver; uranium; radon, Joachimsthal – Jáchymov; Saxsony (Germany); Czech Republic
Hrčak ID:
7341
URI
Publication date:
4.12.2006.
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