Silberbergwerk Ramingstein

Useful Information

Location:	Ramingstein. E55 exit Höf, to Sankt Michael, turn left on B96 to Tamsweg, turn right on B95 to Ramingstein. Turn left across bridge, then right, follow road uphill to the mine. (47° 4'35.96"N, 13°51'31.26"E)
Open:	MAY to OCT by appointment only. [2007]
Fee:	Adults EUR 10.50, Children (0-14) EUR 6. [2007]
Classification:	Silver Mine
Light:	carbide lamps provided.
Dimension:
Guided tours:	L=900 m, VR=70 m, D=90 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Silberbergwerk Ramingstein, Taurachweg 110, 5580 Tamsweg, Tel: +43-6474-2296, Tel: +43-676-3442163, Fax: +43-6474-2296. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1443	first mentioned.
1459	Bergordnung (miners law) Magna Charta Ramingstein released.
~1800	mineing ended.
28-DEC-1990	first guided tour into the still undeveloped mine.
1991	development by the Lungauer Stollengruppe.
04-DEC-1991	end of development work celebrated with the consecration of the St. Barbara chapel underground.
1992	opened to the public.

Geology

The ores at Ramingstein are bound to a layer of garnet mica slate, a metamorphic rock composed of garnet, mica, and quartz in varying relations. More than 400 Ma ago clayey and sandy sediments were deposited by the sea. Those sandstones and schists were later metamorphized under high pressure and temperature. As a result, the original material was transformed into other substances, and the pressure caused the typical lineation, which resulted in the term mica slate. The last important metamorphosis is the Alpine, about 50 to 35 Ma ago. This orogeny also caused the folding of the rock and as a result the uplift of the deep rocks to this height.

The main ore at Ramingstein is Bleiglanz (galena, PbS), which is a combination of lead and sulfur. The silver is a result of very small intrusions of various silver minerals, like Silberglanz (silveriness, Ag₂S), Rotgültigerz (Ag₃SbS₃) and silver bearing Fahlerz. Beneath the silver ores there is also Zinkblende (sphalerite, ZnS), Kupferkies (chalcopyrite, CuFeS₂), Magnetkies (FeS), pyrite (FeS₂) und ilmenite (FeTiO₃).

The ores seem to be a result of the sedimentation, probably the metals were produced by volcanism and sedimented with the clay. Later during the metamorphosis, the metals were recombined by chemical processes and formed small dots in the rock, up to a few centimeters in diameter.

This explanation is based on a work by Dr. Gerhard Feitzinger from 1988.

Description

Visitors of the Silberbergwerk Ramingstein (silver mine at Ramingstein) are equipped with a special coat, a helmet and a carbide lamp. This part of the old mines was in a rather good condition, so 1990 the head of the local Volkshochschule, Dir. Peter Heiß, made a tour into the mine. Many visitors were enthusiastic about it, and soon a club formed which developed the mine during the next year. All was done with voluntary work, so the mine was not advertised, to avoid too many visitors. Nevertheless, 1,200 visitors found the mine during the first year.

Today the mine is still a sort of a secret. There are no regular open hours, you should definitely make an appointment.