Mining History
The history of mining in the province of Salzburg spans more than 5000 years. Leogang and the neighbouring Hofmark Pillersee (Pillersee valley) in Tyrol make up one of the oldest and most well-known mining regions. The mine was first documented in 1425, when Archbishop Eberhard III of Leogang requested permission to bring valuable ores to the smelting works in Schladming, Styria, for processing.
In several districts, Vogelhalte or Nöckelberg for example, silver, mercury, copper, nickel, cobalt and lead ore were mined. The most important mine was situated in the Schwarzleo valley. In times of prosperity, 60 miners mined 62,876 hundredweight of ore each year. It was smelted in the village of Hütten, among others. There was already a smelting works there in 1542. Several different furnaces are listed in the form of a works inventory in a directory dating back to the 18th century. Powered by waterwheel, a large fan with 4 blades ensured the air was circulated. The administrator’s building, the Gasthof restaurant and the chapel are still standing today.
The famous “Salzburgers”
The famous silver thalers were minted from precious silver by the director of the Salzburg mint. In the 18th century, Leogang became famous all over Europe for its wealth of nickel and cobalt ores. Cobalt was used to produce the colour blue for the glass works in Murano (Venice) among others.
In several districts, Vogelhalte or Nöckelberg for example, silver, mercury, copper, nickel, cobalt and lead ore were mined. The most important mine was situated in the Schwarzleo valley. In times of prosperity, 60 miners mined 62,876 hundredweight of ore each year. It was smelted in the village of Hütten, among others. There was already a smelting works there in 1542. Several different furnaces are listed in the form of a works inventory in a directory dating back to the 18th century. Powered by waterwheel, a large fan with 4 blades ensured the air was circulated. The administrator’s building, the Gasthof restaurant and the chapel are still standing today.
The famous “Salzburgers”
The famous silver thalers were minted from precious silver by the director of the Salzburg mint. In the 18th century, Leogang became famous all over Europe for its wealth of nickel and cobalt ores. Cobalt was used to produce the colour blue for the glass works in Murano (Venice) among others.
In the Middle Ages in particular, mining formed the basis of the economy. It was not just important for providing people with work. In the case of the open-minded miners, the Lutheran doctrine fell on fertile ground. This gave the community at the court of Lichtenberg-Saalfelden the reputation as the “terrible furnace of heretics”. Numerous inhabitants were banished from their homeland with the emigration edict of 1731. At the beginning of the 19th century, Commissioner Matthäus Mielichhofer was given the task of improving the quality of metal and rationalising work. However, even he was unable to prevent the first closing of business in 1831. By the end of the First World War, business had been taken up again many times.
In 1870, the mining industry experienced a quick, new boom with the financially strong metal manufacturer, Karl Krupp (engineer). The discovery of the cheap New Caledonian1 ores marked the end of mining activities. Decades of attempts to interest suitable financiers in resuming work remained futile.
The inhabitants of Leogang therefore believed it to be a special twist of fate when the geologist, Dr. Theodor Ohnesorge, discovered a significant magnesite deposit at the “Inschlagalm” mountain pasture, which was extracted and smelted in the magnesite works at Hochfilzen from 1936 to 1970