GO TO:   Part I   Part II

 

   Varatec Mine also has two accessible levels, but entrances to them are located quite far from each other. Mine is rather big, well preserved, not as dangerous as other workings in the area. There is few secondary minerals occurring, but some pockets with primary mineralization are found.

 

Location of the entrances to two Varatec levels.

 

The crew is ready to go underground to the Varatec Mine. P. Żochowski photo

 

In the Varatec Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Underground in the Varatec Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Underground in the Varatec Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Underground in the Varatec Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Underground in the Varatec Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

  

In the Varatec Mine some pockets with primary mineralization can still be found. They usually contain pinkish manganoan calcite with acicular laumontite. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Pocket with primary mineralisation – pinkish manganoan calcite with acicular laumontite. Varatec Mine. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Pocket with laumontite in the Varatec Mine. K. Dembicz photo.

 

   Johan Hell Mine is one of the most interesting mines in the area in terms of the exploration and secondary mineralization. About 2 km from the entrance there is still preserved mine mechanical center with original machinery. In deeper parts there are sections which are quite wet with a lot of mud and stalactitic forms. In dry, very worm areas incredible, long and very fragile "hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group can be found. What is more there are some pockets with primary mineralization, mostly quartz, from which specimens are easy to collect.

 

Location of the adit to the Johan Hell Mine, North from Baiut village.

 

The main adit to Johan Hell Mine. R. Szczot photo.

 

Sign at the Johan Hell Mine entrance with the date - 1846. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Main adit to the Johan Hell mine is bricked up. P. Żochowski photo.

 

But on the side there is a small hole through which the mine can be still reached. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Tunnels in the Johan Hell Mine are quite well preserved. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

The old underground control center is located about 2 km from the entrance, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Years ago this machinery controlled the mine`s activity. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Heaving fun in the old underground control center in Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Heaving fun in the old underground control center in Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Stairway to hell in the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Going deeper into the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

  

In the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Visiting Johan Hell Mine, in some places there is quite a lot of water. S. Krupa photo.

 

Visiting Johan Hell Mine, in some places there is quite a lot of water. S. Krupa photo.

 

Visiting Johan Hell Mine, in some places there is quite a lot of water. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Water and mining cart – all full of rust, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Iron oxide stalactites in the old tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Iron oxide stalactites in the old tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Iron oxide stalactites, Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

  

Iron oxide and carbonate stalactites in an old tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Iron oxide and carbonate stalactites in an old tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Old wooden ladders preserved by calcareous and iron oxide drippings, Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Old part of the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In some places there is a lot of mud in the tunnels ... K. Trela photo.

 

... that is not easy to walk through them, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Fungi in the Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Fungi in the Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Fungi in the Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Fungi in the Johan Hell Mine. S. Krupa photo.

 

Fungi in the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

  

Some areas of the Johan Hell Mine are very dry. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Some areas of the Johan Hell Mine are very dry... P. Żochowski photo.

 

... and apparently also worm. K. Trela photo.

 

Wooden ore shut preserved in the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Old equipment preserved in the Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Some areas of the mine are not too safe... Johan Hell Mine. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Underground shaft, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Underground shaft with wooden timbering and ladders, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In some dry areas of the mine hairy secondary minerals show up on the walls and ceiling of the tunnels, Johan Hell Mine. K. Trela photo.

 

In some dry areas of the mine hairy secondary minerals show up on the walls and ceiling of the tunnels, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Hairy looking like secondary minerals from the halotrichite group on the walls and ceiling of the mine tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Hairy looking like secondary minerals from the halotrichite group on the walls and ceiling of the mine tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Hairy looking like secondary minerals from the halotrichite group on the walls and ceiling of the mine tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Hairy looking like secondary minerals from the halotrichite group on the walls and ceiling of the mine tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Hairy looking like secondary minerals from the halotrichite group on the walls and ceiling of the mine tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Hairy looking like secondary minerals from the halotrichite group on the walls and ceiling of the mine tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Rich covering of the secondary minerals from halotrichite group on the ceiling of the mine tunnel, Johan Hell Mine. K. Trela photo.

 

Long hairy crystals of the secondary minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. K. Trela photo.

 

Long "hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. K. Trela photo.

 

Long hairy crystals of the secondary minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Heaving fun undergorund, Johan Hell Mine. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Long hairy crystals of the secondary minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Long hairy crystals of the secondary minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. D. Rok photo.

 

Halotrichite "hairs" are very difficoult to collect as they are extremely fragile, Johan Hell Mine. D. Rok photo.

 

Long "hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. D. Rok photo.

 

Long "hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. D. Rok photo.

 

Some of them grow even from the floor, Johan Hell Mine. D. Rok photo.

 

Hairy minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Hairy minerals from the halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Long "hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Long "hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Long "hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

"Hairs" of the minerals from halotrichite group, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Halotrichite group minerals with unusual black color, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Rozenite growing on the tunnel wall, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Rozenite colored by melanterite, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Rozenite colored by melanterite, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Gypsum is also quite frequent in the mine, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Gypsum is also quite frequent in the mine, Johan Hell Mine. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Unknown but pretty secondary mineral, Johan Hell Mine. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Unknown but pretty secondary mineral, Johan Hell Mine. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Unknown but pretty secondary mineral, Johan Hell Mine. K. Dembicz photo.

 

Halotrichite "hairs" are very difficoult to collect as they are extremely fragile, Johan Hell Mine. K. Trela photo.

 

Freshly collected specimens, extremely fragile – how to take them out from the mine? K. Trela photo.

 

Here comes the solution! Special Polish production backpack system for the fragile specimens. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In Johan Hell mine some pockets with primary mineralisation can be found too, they contain mostly quartz with some minor sulphides. P. Żochowski photo.

 

In Johan Hell mine some pockets with primary mineralisation can be found too, they contain mostly quartz with some minor sulphides. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Pocket with primary mineralisation – mostly quartz with some minor sulphides. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Pocket with primary mineralisation – mostly quartz with some minor sulphides. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Pocket with primary mineralisation – mostly quartz with some minor sulphides. P. Żochowski photo.

 

Freshly collected specimens of quartz with sulphides. P. Żochowski photo.

 

  End of Maramures story? For sure the glorious times when polimetalic veins were widely mined and uncountable number of specimens was collected are gone. However, today some of the mines in the area have opened for us the new fascinating world of the beatuiflu and usually very fragile secondary minerals. For sure we will be back soon to the Romania to explore more of the abandoned mines. See you udnerground!

  

Maramures is a very beautiful area, with many nice spots where you can sit, drink a beer and repack your new specimens :-) K. Kołodziejska photo.

 

Maramures is a very beautiful area, with many nice spots where you can sit, drink a beer and repack your new specimens :-) K. Kołodziejska photo.

 

Maramures is a very beautiful area, with many nice spots where you can sit, drink a beer and repack your new specimens :-) K. Kołodziejska photo.

 

Maramures is a very beautiful area, with many nice spots where you can sit, drink a beer and repack your new specimens :-) K. Kołodziejska photo.

 

One of typical miners artowrks handmade all over the world - miniature scenes showing the mines and built of the local minerals. It used to be very popular in the times when mines were active. K. Kołodziejska photo.

  

One of typical miners artowrks handmade all over the world - miniature scenes showing the mines and built of the local minerals. It used to be very popular in the times when mines were active. K. Kołodziejska photo.

 

One of typical miners artowrks handmade all over the world - miniature scenes showing the mines and built of the local minerals. It used to be very popular in the times when mines were active. K. Kołodziejska photo.

 

One of typical miners artowrks handmade all over the world - miniature scenes showing the mines and built of the local minerals. It used to be very popular in the times when mines were active. K. Kołodziejska photo.

 

Maramures is great, we will be back here soon for sure! R. Szczot photo.

 

 

GO TO:   Part I   Part II

 

Comments

Viewing you guys` adventure photo and story like this is one of my reason to collect mineral :)

Dharmawan

2024-03-16 16:13:50

Your name

Your comment