Schaubergwerk am Grillenberg

Useful Information

Location:	Payerbach. 70 km south of Wien (Vienna). Start at Payerbach/Werning. Follow geologic trail to the mine entrance, 10 minutes walk. (47.692302, 15.887720)
Open:	18-MAY to 15-OCT Sat 15, 16, Sun, Hol 10, 11, 15, 16. [2007]
Fee:	Adults EUR 6, Children (0-15) EUR 3, Family (2+*) EUR 15. Groups (10+): Adults EUR 4.50, Children (0-15) EUR 2.50. [2007]
Classification:	Iron Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=4,000 m, T=8 °C.
Guided tours:	D=60 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Schaubergwerk am Grillenberg, Frau Dipl.Ing. Edith Schwaiger, 2650 Payerbach, Telefon 02666-52611. 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

2000 BC	oldest traces of copper mining.
10th century	first iron mining.
1791	first tunnel built by Innerberger Hauptgewerkschaft called Maria Schutz Stollen.
1840-1845	Ferrostollen on the lowest lever built.
1888	cable car for the transportation of the ore built.
1902	mine closed.
World War I	reopened for war production.
World War II	reopened for war production.
1954	cable car destroyed.
1950	furnaced from the 12th century discovered.
22-MAR-1991	Stollentaufe: the collapsed entrance tunnel is reopened.
05-OCT-1992	inauguration by Landes-Hauptmann Siegfried Ludwig.
1991-1994	entrance tunnel ropened.
1994	opened to the public.

Geology

The Grillenberg deposit is enclosed by greywacke, a thin band of sedimentary rocks from the Palaeozoic. The main ore was siderite, locally called Spateisenstein. It has a very high content of iron of about 55%.

Description

Mining started at Payerbach, in the valley of the Rax, during the Bronce Age, when chalcopyrite was mined for its copper content. In historic times the first knwon activities were the creation of the Maria Schutz Stollen in 1791 by the Innerberger Hauptgewerkschaft. They reached the ore after only 15 m. This show mine is sometimes called Maria Schutzstollen because of this tunnel.

The mine is visited by foot, it is entered through the Erbstollen - Herlinde-Stollen named after Herlinde Ludwig, the wife of the former Landes-Hauptmann of Niederösterreich, Mag. Siegfried Ludwig. The first 33 m of this tunnel were collapsed after the mine was closed, and were reopened for the show mine.

This mine was reopened by the Geoschule Payerbach. They offer courses in mineralogy, geology and grinding of semi-precious gems.