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Contents

Preface (G. Hámor)

GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, MAPPING AND GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION
G. Csiky: Geological research in Hungary prior to 1825 and its significance in the exploration of Neogene mineral resources
K. Brezsnyánszky: A brief history of geological mapping in Hungary with special regard to the Neogene mountaineous regions
A. Rónai: Geological investigations in the lowland type regions
S. Jaskó: Surface mining geological maps of the Neogene deposits in Hungary
Z. Szabó: Geophysical exploration in Hungary-a historical review

EXPLORATION, EXPLOITATION AND UTILIZATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES
Fuels
  V. Dank: Hydrocarbon exploration in Hungary
  Gy. Radócz: The history of the discovery and mining of Neogene coal deposits in Hungary
Ores
  L. Zsámboki: The history of the mining of Neogene noble-and non-ferrous ores in Hungary
  A. Uzsoki: Gold panning in the Carpathian Basin
  I. Gedai: Minting of precious metal coins in Hungary
  J. Gömöri - P. Kisházi: Iron ore utilization in the Carpathian Basin up to Middle Ages with special regard to bloomeries in western Transdanubia
Non-Metallic Mineral Raw Materials
  Á. Kerekes: Chapters from the history of rock-salt mining in Hungary
  K. T. Biró: Neogene rocks as raw materials of the prehistoric stone artifacts in Hungary
  P. Kertész: Neogene ornamental and building stones in Hungary
  F. Bakó: Popular stone architecture in the Carpathian Basin
  J. Hála: Quarrying and manufacturing of stones for road construction in Hungary
  M. Kresz: Pottery in the Carpathian Basin
  G. Solti: Prospection and utilization of alginite and oil shale in Hungary
  G. Solti: Agricultural utilization of Neogene mineral raw materials in Hungary
  I. Dobos: Exploration of subsurface waters in the Neogene basins
Miscellaneous
  E. Bácskay: Prehistoric mining and utilization of some mineral raw materials in the Carpathian Basin and in the adjacent areas
  J. Hála: Trades and popular crafts utilizing mineral resources in the Carpathian Basin

ETHNOGRAPHY OF MINING
I. Hegyi: Chapters from the ethnography of mining

Index of geographical names (J. Hajdu-Moharos)

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Preface

For the peoples living in the Carpathian Basin abundant and extremely varied mineral resources have been available. Of these resources, due to the geological conditions, those of Neogene age were and several of them still are of outstanding significance.

The prehistoric man collected or exploited these materials from the surface or near surface deposits with his primitive tools. During historical times, the situation changed considerably, owing to the ever increasing social demands and the development of science and technology. The range of mineral resources was largely extended and their exploitation from greater depths became possible.

The studies in the present volume offer several examples for the utilization of mineral resources from the prehistoric times up to the present, their role in the social and economic life of the peoples living in the Carpathian Basin. Another aim was to describe the process of development from the collecting of the minerals to the up-to-date technologies and equipments. At the same time it should be also illustrated that, beside the up-to-date tools and methods, primitive implements and procedures, even if to a limited extent, are still applied.

The volume contains studies discussing the exploration, exploitation, processing and utilization of Neogene mineral resources. Its limits, however, do not permit us to strive for completeness. Our purpose merely was to give a historical outline concerning the most important Neogene mineral resources.

The papers discuss both the resources utilized in the most ancient times (obsidian, flint, rock-salt, etc.) and the recently discovered ones (alginites, zeolites, etc.). Concerning the zeolites no independent study is included because the material of the "Zeolite '85" (An International Conference on the Occurrence, Properties, and Utilization of Natural Zeolites. Budapest, 12-16 August, 1985) will be published separately.

The volume is divided into three main sections. The first section consists of studies discussing the geological research, mapping and geophysical exploration. The second section includes studies on the exploration, exploitation and utilization of different mineral resources arranged in the following subsections: fuels (hydrocarbons, brown coal, lignite); ores (ores of precious and non-ferrous metals, iron ore); non-metallic mineral raw materials (rock-salt, different minerals and rocks, water); miscellaneous. The third section contains only one study dealing with the ethnography of mining. It discusses the way of life and traditions of the miners exploiting first of all Neogene mineral raw materials.

The volume was edited in and published by the Hungarian Geological Survey. Beside geologists, working for the Survey, experts of altogether 12 other Hungarian institutions (research institutes, enterprises, universities, museums) are represented among the authors of this volume of interdisciplinary character.

It is issued on the occasion of the VIIIth Congress of the Regional Committee on Mediterranean Neogene Stratigraphy, with special regard to the fact that the Symposium on European Late Cenozoic Mineral Resources will be held, within the frame of the Congress, for the first time.

This volume is offered, first of all, to the participants of these meetings but, of course, also to every reader interested. We sincerely hope that it will be a useful contribution to the historical research of the utilization and to the further successful prospecting for Neogene mineral raw materials.

Géza Hámor
Director
Hungarian Geological Survey

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