B Ř I D L I C O V Ý D Ů L
Důl Radim, a.s.
B Ř I D L I C O V Ý D Ů L
Důl Radim, a.s.
History of the Slate Mine
Introduction
Extraction in the cadastral area of Svatoňovice started in the thirties
of the last century when the land owners were allowed,
under compliance with certain regulations, to perform on their
lots of land either surface or underground extraction according
to the legal rules valid at that time. When looking at the surrounding
nature one can see that this opportunity was greatly taken
by the local owners as evidenced by excavated soil, now becoming
overgrown. Living of the residents was dependent mainly upon
agriculture and extraction; while slate processing and sale
engagement improved the owners´ economic standing.
No documents from the time of commencing and running the mine,
i.e. period prior to 1948, have survived.
Establishment and development of a new plant of the Slate Mine in Staré Oldřůvky
In the year 1964, the then collective farm “JZD Staré Oldřůvky” sought any additional financial resources to their agricultural production, just as the preceding agricultural generations. In 1971, they started performing the geological survey to examine and prospect the slate deposits in the cadastral area of Svatoňovice and after the positive evaluation an approval to utilize the deposit has been granted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1972. In the same year, the calculated geological reserves and subsequently the extraction area of approx. 35,000 ha have been approved. Thereby the statutory requirements have been met to commence running of the slate mine named “Slate Mine in Staré Oldřůvky” by the founder. This mining was performed mainly as an additional out-of-season activity allied to the main agricultural activity. Gradually, the basic mine chambers have been restored and ventilation has been provided by an upward crosscut and a perpendicular outlet airway excavated.
The collective farm “JZD Staré Oldřůvky” was incorporated in the state farm “Státní statek Vítkov n.p”. during the year 1977 which was a part of delimitation process. Step by step in this new formation the old and inconvenient buildings, administration building, sanitary facilities and slate chopper plants were restored. Extracted blocks of slate not suitable for slate roofing production were transported to Staré Oldřůvky 6 km distant to be processed in the cutting shop located in the agricultural premises. Occupational hygiene has been improved gradually; after all till 1988 there was no drinking water available and a sanitary facility was missing.
Early days of the slate mine operation were very difficult. There was a lack of mining engineers and experts, required machinery, electrification of mining, extraction and transportation of the material extracted were carried out solely manually. In 1988, thanks to a new operating manager coming to the mine with at least 24-year experience in a mine, the situation has begun to improve slowly. The original wooden minecarts have been replaced with new metal ones. Mechanized transportation, extraction and production have been complemented with the electric accumulator locomotive, hoists and last but not least efficient air compressor. A cutting shop has also been constructed directly in the mine premise. Almost 35 workers and 3 administrative employees worked in the mine at that time.
Slate in this locality is of a high quality. The slate roofing from the Slate Mine in Staré Oldřůvky was mainly used for the cultural and historical sights around the whole former Czechoslovak Republic, in particular in Prague. For instance we can mention Prague Castle, National Theatre, Týn Church, etc. It should be noted that not even one warranty claim has been filed against this slate roofing.
Until the nineties of the last century, there was a specialized company “OSP Opava” engaged in roofing with slate tiles. Experts in this plant punched nail holes with a manual hammer in each slate tile to be fixed to the roof. In this way a final technical inspection used to be performed. In case the tile didn´t make the proper ringing sound or did crack when being punched it couldn´t be used for roofing. Nowadays, roofing methods are different. Many companies trying to run roofing businesses have the slate tiles drilled in advance and thus eliminate the final technical inspection. As a result, quality of slate roofing performance is decreasing.
Period after 1990 and development to bankruptcy
After the so called “velvet revolution “ in 1989 the property ownership and proprietary rights begun to change also in the slate mine. The state farm “Státní statek Vítkov n.p.” went almost bankrupt and so the management of the mine filed an application for the formation of an independent slate mine enterprise to the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry disposed of the application affirmatively and later the year 1990 such an independent state-owned enterprise “Slate Mine Staré Oldřůvky s.p.” with 28 employees, including a director, commenced its legal existence.
During the existence of the independent state-owned enterprise the geological survey of the deposit was carried out in order to extend the extraction area. Upon a new calculation of slate reserves the extraction area as well as the protected deposit area has been extended. The state-owned enterprise existed till the year 1994 with major economic troubles. Then, it has been privatized and gradually through two companies devolved to the private company “SLATE B.D.S.O. a.s Staré Oldřůvky”. This joint-stock company made the partially extended extraction area accessible by implementing two parallel crosscuts in which four haulage drifts were designed. However, due to unfavourable geological conditions only one drift was opened at that time. Activities of the owners were going down slowly and the economic situation was getting worse despite the effort made by two next directors after the initial one had left. The operation was getting smaller and smaller so much that by the end of 2001 the slate mine has ceased to exist.
At the end of 2001, the District Court in Opava appointed an official trustee. Under the supervision of this new trustee – a statutory representative first all ferrous and nonferrous metals were extracted and then all the technology left in the mine as well as on the surface and finally the buildings and facilities on the surface were devastated.
After the total devastation of all the equipment the mine has been adjudicated bankrupt and a receiver in bankruptcy appointed by the District Court in Opava in 2006. It must be said that the receiver in bankruptcy was the same person as the former trustee appointed by the court. The ruins representing a fully functioning mine long ago, including rights of extraction, were sold.
Present days
At present, a company Důl Radim a.s. prepares a new opening of the mine deposit in this territory by restoring the main crosscut. After the extraction is started the raw material shall be used for the production of building stones, garden stones and crushed and milled slate products.
