Geology of the Šalek valley and the surrounding areas from written sources

Abstract

In the paper are presented the oldest written records on Natural History, and especially the Earth Sciences concerning the Šalek valley and surroundings, and that are of exceptional cultural heritage value. We translated from archaic German a text by Hacquet from 1784 that discusses the Dobrna hot springs, and supplied it with explanations and comments. Added is the copy of a part of Hacquet's lithohydrographic map with Šalek valley in its centre, and with our geologic explanations. Among the first geologists (geognosts) who studied the Šalek valley the German Keferstein should be mentioned, also author of the first geologic map of Germany, Studer, the well-known Swiss geologist and founder of the Swiss Geologic Survey, and Ami Boué, one of founders of the French Geologic Society. The first modern geologic map of most of the Šalek valley and Dobrna depression was elaborated between 1854 and 1856 by Marko Vincenc Lipold, the first geologist of Slovene origin and for many years the general manager of the Idrija mercury mine. The paper overs also the year 1875 when by drilling through the main lignite seam the rich Velenje coal deposit was recognized. This is considered the starting year of exploitation of the Velenje colliery.