Miniera di Calceranica

Useful Information

Location:	In Calceranica al Lago. from Trento follow SS349 and SP1 or SS47 and then SP1 to Calceranica. After the roundabout turn right and follow the VIa della Minera to the end. Signposted.
Open:	JUL to 13-SEP Thu-Sun 15, 15:45, 16:30, 17:15. [2020]
Fee:	Adults EUR 7, Children EUR5. [2020]
Classification:	Iron Mine Copper Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=40 km
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	La Miniera di Calceranica, Calceranica, Tel: +39-0461-718091. Ufficio Informazioni di Calceranica al Lago, Piazza Municipio 1, 38050 Calceranica al Lago, Tel: +39-0461-727745.
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

1964	mine closed.
29-JUL-2008	mine park inaugurated.

Geology

The iron was found as sulfuric ores, mainly pyrite, in Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, Late Triassic and Cretaceous limestones and dolomites. Other ores were chalcopyrite, limonite, and magnetite. The mine also produced minerals of clacite, gypsum and of course sulfur base iron and copper

Description

At the rim of the town Calceranica, in a small valley, lies the abandoned mine . After meeting at he mine buildings, the tour follows the route of the former mine train to the Leyla tunnel. The tour includes an underground exhibition in this tunnel. It shows the typical machinery of the miners, like drills and ore carts. There is also a mining train at the outside of the tunnel, but it is not working, so the visit does not include a train ride. Afterwards the processing plants are visited, how the ore was processed into fine sand which was then sent to the furnaces. A mineral exhibition shows examples of the different ores and minerals from the mine. The Parco Minerario (mine park) was created with the help of the Natural Science Museum of Trento.

There was also a mining museum in the uppermost level of the town hall. This museum was relocated to a building of the abandoned mine when the mine park was created. It is dedicated to the hard work of the miners from the 19th century to the mid 20th century.