Discovery made hard mining work more efficient

Gunpowder was used to blow up the rock for the first time in the Upper Bieber adit for the first time 390 years ago.

(Source: Ján Krošlák, PetitPress)

Experimental blasting was done by German soldier Gaspar Weindl.

“February 8, 1627 was the first date when gunpowder was used in Banská Štiavnica for purposes other than military,” explained Ondrej Michna from Slovak mining museum in Banská Štiavnica, as quoted by TASR.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Since this date, gunpowder has been used not only in Banská Štiavnica but also in the whole world, according to Michna. Some opinions hold that gunpowder was used in mining abroad first but, according to Michna, there is no written document about it. On the contrary, Banská Štiavnica as the world’s first place of gunpowder in mining is proved by a document published by the mining office on February 16, 1627, which describes using gunpowder.

SkryťTurn off ads

Using gunpowder was a revolution in mining, according to Michna.

“The main work of miners is to split rocks, so with using gunpowder, the efficiency of their work grew by several hundred percent,” said Michna for TASR.

The central storage of the gunpowder, the building ‘Pracháreň’ built in the 1770s, is today a national cultural monument. Some walls of the building are 16.5 metres thick. The first lightning conductor in then Hungary was also placed on the building.

“There were several storages areas; one was placed in the basement of the New Castle because gunpowder as an explosive endangered the town,” summed up Michna for TASR.

Top stories

A cup of coffee with a furry friend could help them find their new forever friend - and get you a new companion.

Weekend: Mingling with felines in Bratislava's cat cafes

Take a trip to mountain tarns, old-timey cinematography and cats.


31. mar
Volkswagen will make all-electric versions of the Porsche Cayenne luxury SUV.

News Digest: Volkswagen Slovakia to produce all-electric luxury SUV

LGBT+ minority could face new difficulties, a suspect is charged in the Daniel Tupý murder case.


24. mar
Filip Toška holding chard in the hydroponic Hausnatura farm.

How a Mayan doomsday prophecy took a Slovak to hi-tech agriculture

Hydroponic farm run out of former telephone exchange.


9. mar
A Slovak citizen got his possessions frozen over sanctions - he attempted an arms deal for Russia. (Illustrative photo)

News digest: Slovak citizen is accused of involvement in attempted Russian arms deals

Heger goes to Ukraine, virtual reality resurrects a Roman camp. and AI is taking over – or is it?


23 h
SkryťClose ad