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. (47.076541, 13.859301)
Open:	MAY to OCT by appointment only. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 14, Children (0-14) EUR 9. [2025]
Classification:	Silver Mine
Light:	Carbide Lamps LED
Dimension:	T=8 °C.
Guided tours:	L=900 m, VR=70 m, D=90 min, Min=5.
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Dr. Gerhard Feitzinger (1988): Zur ERZMINERALOGIE der Pb-Zn-Ag-LAGERSTÄTTE RAMINGSTEIN im LUNGAU/SALZBURG Mineralogisches Archiv Salzburg, Band 1 1988. pdf
Address:	Silberbergwerk Ramingstein, Taurachweg 110, 5580 Tamsweg, Tel: +43-6474-2296, Tel: +43-676-70-22-369. 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

The Silberbergwerk Ramingstein (Ramingstein Silver Mine) is a medieval silver mine in the municipality of Rammingstein, after which it was named. 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. It is called the Interessensgemeinschaft zur Registrierung und Erhaltung der Lungauer Bergbaue (Interest Group for the Registration and Preservation of Lungau Mining), but is known as the Lungauer Stollengruppe (Lungau Tunnel Group). 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. For years, the show mine remained something of an insider tip and did not have regular opening hours.

The association has grown in the meantime and now organises a wide range of activities. The shwo mine is well visited, but still only accessible by appointment. Visitors are provided with a special coat, a helmet and a torch. What is unusual and somewhat nostalgic is the fact that the tour is still conducted with a carbide lamp, but only for the guide. On the one hand, maintenance is very costly, carbide is no longer easy to obtain, and on the other hand, visitors are probably a little overwhelmed by the open flame. However, an explanation of how a carbide lamp works is part of the tour. Other topics include the history of mining in the Lungau region and geology. The association also has a private museum with finds from the medieval mines in the area that they have explored.

In addition to the show mine, there are now three so-called Erzwege (ore trails). The ore was brought down to the valley along these trails, usually by porters. The trails were unused and had become overgrown, but have been made accessible again. The trails have over 40 information boards with detailed descriptions of various key topics. The "Altenberg" ore trail focuses on the working world of miners, the "Dürnrain" ore trail on the social aspects of miners' lives, and finally the "Kendlbruck" ore trail on iron mining.

For over 350 years, the mining of silver-bearing galena was an important source of income for the archbishop’s court chamber in the Duchy of Salzburg. Ramingstein was one of the larger mining areas.