Kopalnia Szklary Huta

Useful Information

Location:	Ząbkowice Śl., Szklary Huta. 5 km 7 km north of Ząbkowice Śląskie on national road No. 8 to Wrocław. (50.645734, 16.827705)
Open:	MAY to OCT Tue-Sun, Hol 10-16. Tours hourly on the hour. [2022]
Fee:	Adults PLN 30, Children (4-18) PLN 20, Seniors (65+) PLN 20, Family (2+2) PLN 80. [2022]
Classification:	Nickel Mine Opal Mine Gem Mine
Light:	helmet with headlamp provided
Dimension:
Guided tours:	MinAge=4, Max=30.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Marek Furmankiewicz, Krzysztof Krzyżanowski (2008): Podziemne Relikty Kopalni Niklu W Szklarach, Dzieje górnictwa – element europejskiego dziedzictwa kultury, pod red. P.P. Zagożdżona i M. Madziarza, Wrocław 2008. pdf pdf
Address:	Podziemna Trasa Edukacyjna po nieczynnej kopalni Niklu, Chryzoprazu i Opalu w Szklarach Huta, DK8, 57-200 Szklary-Huta, Cell: +48-784-721-071, Cell: +48-531-516-646. E-mail:
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

23-OCT-1890	mine opened by the Gewerkschaft Schlesische Nickelwerke.
1897	new company established with Belgian capital, Compagnie Silesienne des Mines.
26-JUN-1899	construction of processing plant started.
10-OCT-1899	construction of the steelworks started.
1902–1903	main mining shaft sunken.
1901	beginning of ore processing.
1993	mine closed.
2018	declared a Geological Reserve, protected by Law due to its unique geological and natural values.

Geology

Description

Another site with an extremely long name: Podziemna Trasa Edukacyjna po nieczynnej kopalni Niklu, Chryzoprazu i Opalu w Szklarach Huta (The underground educational trail of the closed Nickel, Chrysoprase and Opal mine in Szklary Huta). We decided to use Kopalnia Szklary Huta (Szklary Huta Mine) instead. As the long name states, at his former mine nickel, chrysoprase and opal was mined. This is quite unique, especially opal of good quality is quite rare and only Australia has relevant deposits of opal. Another unique fact is that this mine was operational until 1993. Most mines in Europe were closed many decades earlier due to lack in profitability.

The mine is entered through the "Robert" adit, which is located at the national road No. 8. Helemets and Hheadlamps are provided, a warm jecket and good walkings shoes are recommended. The parking lot is on the opposite side of the road and there is a slag heap which is quite famous for its minerals. The underground tour show quite exceptional bands of opal and chrysoprase in situ in the walls. That’s the reason why it was declared a geotope. There is also an underground mineral exhibition with unique specimens of chrysoprase, you will probably see nowhere else. The shop sells jewelry which was created form the chrysoprase and opal from the mine.