Azurite, malachite, barite and schwazit from Počivalnik near Tržič.

Turbulent geological past resulted in high mineral variety on the territory of Slovenia. Minerals formed across a wide range of conditions: in sedimentary layers, through magmatic processes, in hydrothermal solutions, or simply in rock metamorphosis. The most important mineral ores in Slovenia are ones associated with metals such as iron, copper, mercury, manganese, aluminium, zinc and lead.

Numerous ore veins and abandoned underground mines testify to former scale and importance of the mining industry in Slovenia and surrounding areas.

Although most of the mines have closed, their cultural and technical legacy lives on and numerous ore samples are displayed in tourist mines, museums and at various other exhibitions.

Cerussite is an important source of lead. Image shows a specimen from the Mežica mine.

Cinnabar is one of the Slovenia’s most important mineral ores. From it mercury used to be extracted in Idrija and Tržič. Image shows a massive piece of cinnabar which contrasts nicely with white calcite and dark limestone. Excavated from the Šentanski mine near Tržič.

Pohorje is another site where natural resources used to be extracted. With regard to ore deposits, we should mention the pyrite deposit in Janezov graben and the massive copper vein of Okoška gora. Image shows chalcopyrite, next to galena and pyrite. It was discovered by Franc Pajtler.

The Sitarjevec mine in the vicinity of Litija is among Slovenia’s most important natural, technical and cultural heritage sites. Lead, silver, mercury, baryte and other ores used to be mined here. Image shows a cluster of baryte crystals. From the collection of Goran Velikonja.

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