Schau- und Lehrstollen Arzberg

Arzberg Show Mine and Local Heritage Museum

Useful Information

Location:	At Arzberg. E93 exit Frohnleiten, B64 east, through Schrems and Tullwitz, turn right to Arzberg at Hart. (47.2507081, 15.5194223)
Open:	15-APR to JUN Sat, Sun, Hol 10, 14. JUL to 15-SEP daily 14. 16-SEP to OCT Sat, Sun, Hol 10, 14. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 12, Children EUR 6. [2025]
Classification:	Lead Mine Zinc Mine Silver Mine Fake Statistics
Light:	Incandescent Coloured Light
Dimension:	T=10 °C.
Guided tours:	L=550 m, Max=15.
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Various Authors (2005): Joannea Geologie und Paläontologie, Band 7, 2005. online Leopold Weber, Wolfgang Lenhardt, Franz Möstl, Gregor Goetzl, Julia Weilbold, Heinz Reitner (2016): Der Schau- und Lehrstollen Arzberg/Steiermark: Beispiel für eine intelligente Nachnutzung eines Altbergbaus BHM Berg- und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte. 161. DOI pdf
Address:	Schau- und Lehrstollen Arzberg, Gemeindeamt Arzberg, Nr 3, 8162 Arzberg, Tel: +43-3179-23300. E-mail: Schaubergwerk Arzberg: +43-664-9639640
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

1424	the law Rechberger Bergordnung created.
16th century	recession of mining in the Alps.
1708	mining revived by David Prevenhuber from Eisenerz, Andreas Rosenberger from Graz and Erco from Meiselding in Kärnten.
mid 18th century	mining heyday.
late 18th century	mining ends.
1902	mining revived by Charles Wesel from Graz und Max Asiel from Wien.
1903	mine at Haufenreith bought by the Societé des Zincs et Plombs Argentifers de Styrie.
1909	Societé des Mines d' Haufenreith founded.
1915	under military adminisration, because of the war.
1918	bought by the Montana Bergbau Industrie Ges.m.b.H.
1924	new owner Haufenreither Blei- und Zinkerz Bergbau AG in Wien.
1927	mining finally ends.
1973	new explorations.
1975	various tests without result.
1995	opened as a show mine.
2000	Montanhistorischer Lehrpfad (mining trail) opened.

Geoology

The ore is typically baryte with quarts, which contains veins of galena (PbS). It is a polymetallic hydrothermal deposit. Tectonic movements around 390 Ma ago led to volcanism and the associated formation of thermal springs on the seabed, which deposited ore-bearing mud. It was overlaid and solidified by other sediments, and the folding of the Alps brought them to today’s sea level. For a long time, only lead could be extracted from the ore. Later, however, the zinc ore it also contained was also processed. The name "silver mine" refers to the fact that the ore also has a certain silver content. It was only from the 18th century onwards that it could be extracted, but it never had the same economic significance as lead and zinc.

Description

The show mine at Arzberg is, according to the homepage, "the only silver mine in Styria that is open to the public". This is obviously nonsense; there is, for example, the Bromriesen silver mine, statement disproved by a counter-example. In the meantime, the homepage logically postulates that it is "the only silver mine in Eastern Styria that is still open to the public". That may be true, but it is a completely obscure and meaningless superlative, unintentionally funny. We don’t understand what this riding around on nonsensical superlatives is all about, but we come across it from time to time. However, we regret that the rather interesting show mine unnecessarily makes itself untrustworthy. The same goes for coloured light. Even the designation as a silver mine is rather dubious, a rather clumsy euphemism. Lead and zinc were economically relevant, which is also reflected in the names of the various operating companies.

The 550 m long tour through the historic mine features the work and the tools of the miners and the characteristic orebodies. The mine visit is completed by a mining trail and a rock garden with many geologic exhibits. The Heimatmuseum (local history museum) focuses on regional culture, the typical tools of daily life, especially livestock farming on the high pastures called Alp. Only a small section deals with mining. However, the museum is also the entrance to the show mine with a video room where an introductory video is shown before the tour.

The mine visit starts at the church, beneath the former Josefi Schacht. After a short walk along the river Raab, the Raab Stollen is reached. The so-called new Raabstollen was started 1911, which was done to modernize the mining activities. The Neuer Raabschacht was built between 1912 and 1916 and is 34 m deep and goes up 30 m. The Arbergschacht connects various old and new parts of the mine and was primarily intended for fresh air supply.

The mine contains a seismic station of the Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG). This is one of the best seismometers on earth, and it is located here, because there are no roads or heavy machinery around. The sensors are connected with a computer which has data connection to the institute.

The mine is left through an Erbstollen (adit) which was built get rid of the water. This is one of the oldest tunnels in the area. From the end of the tunnel there is a short walk back to the ticket office.