Review article
THE FORMER ASPHALT MINE "ŠKRIP" ON THE ISLAND OF BRAČ
Božidar Kanajet
Krešimir Sakač
Berislav Šebečić
Abstract
No reliable data exist on the beginning of work in the asphalt mine at Škrip, however, we suppose it could have been in mid-eighteenth century. Later on, about the year 1780, entrepreneurs got permission to excavate asphalt also on minor locations in the vicinity. In 19th century, particularly by the middle of this century, production of natural bitumen from bituminous dolomites was intensified and it was carried out in two round furnaces. Natural bitumen was used in the Adriatic region, particularly in Venice. Searching for asphalt, miners of those times made a mine, i.e. an inclines of some 300 m length with the approximate altitude difference of 40 m, and shorter lateral galleries and inclines in the length of further 300 m. Bitumen is differently infiltrated and/or impregnated in dolomites. Due to this relatively variable stockwork, exploitation was probably terminated by the year 1874. A later try of exploitation with two shorter adits not meet the expected results.
Keywords
asphalt mine; mine history; island of Brač
Hrčak ID:
13620
URI
Publication date:
4.12.1995.
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