Ocna de Fier
Encyclopedia
Ocna de Fier is a commune in Caraş-Severin County
, in the Banat
region of southwestern Romania
. It is composed of a single village, Ocna de Fier.
area, Ocna de Fier is among the few settlements in the world that supported almost continuous mining
for some 4000 years.
Archaeological evidence shows that mining in the area dates back to the Bronze Age
(1900 - 1700 BC). The main ore exploited in those times was native copper
from the oxidation zone of the deposit. Later on, iron ores brought about a gradual switch from copper to iron mining.
Mining was an activity of the Dacia
ns, the ancient inhabitants of present day Romania. After the Roman
conquest in 106
, mining was expanded in the Roman province of Dacia
. At Berzovis
(present day Berzovia, ten kilometres northwest of Ocna de Fier) a Roman metallurgy
school, Schola fabrorum, was established, showing the keen interest the Romans had in metal extraction. At Cracul cu Aur (= "Golden Hill" in Romanian), north of Ocna de Fier, old Roman gold
mining galleries can still be seen. They look like the much better preserved ones at Rosia Montana ("Verespatak"), in the Apuseni Mountains.
The "Constantin Gruescu" Iron Aesthetic Mineralogy Museum is located in Ocna de Fier.
Caras-Severin County
Caraș-Severin is a county of Romania, in the historical region of Banat and few villages in Transylvania, with the county seat at Reșița.-Demographics:The county is part of the Danube-Kris-Mureș-Tisza euroregion....
, in the Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
region of southwestern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It is composed of a single village, Ocna de Fier.
History
Along with DogneceaDognecea
Dognecea is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, western Romania with a population of 2,044 people. It is composed of two villages, Calina and Dognecea.-References:...
area, Ocna de Fier is among the few settlements in the world that supported almost continuous mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
for some 4000 years.
Archaeological evidence shows that mining in the area dates back to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
(1900 - 1700 BC). The main ore exploited in those times was native copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
from the oxidation zone of the deposit. Later on, iron ores brought about a gradual switch from copper to iron mining.
Mining was an activity of the Dacia
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
ns, the ancient inhabitants of present day Romania. After the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
conquest in 106
106
Year 106 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Commodus and Civica...
, mining was expanded in the Roman province of Dacia
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
. At Berzovis
Berzovia
Berzovia is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, western Romania with a population of 4,165 people. It is composed of three villages: Berzovia, Fizeş and Gherteniş.It is mentioned on the Tabula Peutingeriana as Berzobia.- References :...
(present day Berzovia, ten kilometres northwest of Ocna de Fier) a Roman metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
school, Schola fabrorum, was established, showing the keen interest the Romans had in metal extraction. At Cracul cu Aur (= "Golden Hill" in Romanian), north of Ocna de Fier, old Roman gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
mining galleries can still be seen. They look like the much better preserved ones at Rosia Montana ("Verespatak"), in the Apuseni Mountains.
The "Constantin Gruescu" Iron Aesthetic Mineralogy Museum is located in Ocna de Fier.