Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 91. (Budapest 1999)

Kázmér, M. ; Papp, G.: Minerals from the Carpathians in an eighteenth-century British collection

The localities Among the most important classical mining districts of Hungary (Lower Hungary, Upper Hungary, Avas-Gutin Mts, Transylvanian Ore Mts, Banat) the first one has overwhelming dominance if the distribution of the localities is concerned (Table 2). There may be several, but mutually related reasons of this fact. Not only the mining technology was the best developed there but the most prestigious mining towns were also those in Lower Hungary. The annual production of gold and silver is estimated to 500 kg and 2530 t, respectively (ZsÁMBOKi 1985). Mining in Upper Hungary and in Avas-Gutin Mts. was in decline, and probabaly the localities were not so interesting. Habsburg rule extended only to the Kingdom of Hungary s. str. Most of the formerly occupied (central) part of Hungary was liberated from the Turkish rule in the last two decades the 17th century. This war and the uprisings (the largest being THÖKÖLY'

s uprising, 1678-1690 and RÁKÓCZI'

s insurrection, 1703-1711) considerably hindered mining. Wartime decades discouraged foreign travellers from a visit, especially to the eastern part of the country, which includes the mining districts of Upper Hungary, Avas-Gutin Mts and Transylvanian Ore Mts, the former partly, the latter entirely belonging to Transylvania, got under Habsburg rule only around 1690. The Banat remained under Turkish occupation until 1718. Most of the specimens came from "Schemnitz, the greatest of the Mine-towns in Hungary: and where great quantity of Silver-ore is every day digged" (BROWN 1673). BROWN added, that "certainly there are few places in the World where Art and Nature strive to show their utmost force and riches". On the second place stands Neusohl: "at this Town, and near into it, are the greatest Copper-works in Hungary." (BROWN 1673). The proper locality of the specimens from Neusohl is Herrengrund, 8 km N from the town. Several specimens came from Kremnitz: "this is the oldest Mine-Town, and the richest in Gold of all the seven in these parts fLower Hungary]." The small mining settlement Lupscherseiffen which has rarely been mentioned in foreign travellers' account also supplied four specimens (of stibnite). Acknowledgements - Dr. DAVID NORMAN, Director of the Sedgwick Museum of the University of Cambridge, gave permission to study the Woodwardian Collection. Mr. MIKE DORLING and Mr. ROD LONG, Keepers of Sedgwick Museum, provided their enthusiastic help. The staff of the General Library and Earth Science Library of the Natural History Museum, London helped in many ways. Dr. PETER SCHMIDT and Dr. KLAUS THALHEIM (both Dresden) assisted in identifying SCHÖNBERG. Mr. TOMOO OBA, Mr. DEWI BLACK, and Dr. TAMÁS SÜTŐ are thanked for their hospitality during M. K.'s successive stays in London. Prof". HUGH TORRENS (Keele) and Prof. ANDRÁS GALÁCZ suggested alterations to the manuscript. Their help is gratefully acknowledged. REFERENCES AGRICOLA, G. (1546): De natura fossilium HbriX. Modern German translation with remarks: PRESCHER, H. (ed.) (1958): Georgius Agricola - Ausgewühlte Werke, Band IV. - VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, Berlin, 548 pp. Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. (1875-1912). - Leipzig, Duncker u. Humblot.