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Magnesite deposit, Sunk, Hohentauern, Murtal District, Styria, Austriai
Regional Level Types
Magnesite depositDeposit
SunkMining Area
HohentauernMunicipality
Murtal DistrictDistrict
StyriaState
AustriaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
47° 26' 57'' North , 14° 27' 59'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Deposit - last checked 2023
Deposit first discovered:
Before 1641
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Hohentauern327 (2018)2.2km
Schwarzenbach184 (2018)3.8km
Trieben2,408 (2018)4.3km
Sankt Lorenzen im Paltental306 (2018)5.2km
Dietmannsdorf bei Trieben492 (2018)6.0km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Vereinigung der Leobener MineralienfreundeSt. Marein-Feistritz, Styria38km
Mindat Locality ID:
20172
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:20172:7
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Sunk bei Trieben
Name(s) in local language(s):
MagnesitlagerstĂ€tte, Sunk, Hohentauern, Niedere Tauern, Steiermark, Österreich


A magnesite mine, famous for nice pinolite. Located between Hohentauern and Sunk, at N47.44941 E14.46655.

An older quarry, now totally overgrown, was located at approx. N47.45275 E14.47003, elevation 1150 m.

The first records are from the year 1641 when “schwartz und weiß gesprĂ€ngtem steijrisch- oder klagenfurthischem MĂ€rbelstein” (Pinolit, Pinolistein, Pignolienstein) was ordered for the St. Stephan cathedral in Vienna.

Until about 1850 the magnesite was mainly used as a decorative stone for architectural use (Stift Admont and other churches). The Stift Admont was also the landowner and as such always part of this enterprise.

With the invention of Henry Bessemer (Bessemer Birne or Bessemer Converter) and the Thomas-Gilchrist process (both used to fabricate steel), the need for heat-resistant converter lining increased dramatically and the mining for magnesite increased accordingly.

The Sunk workings consisted of a large quarry with about 14 levels ('Etagen') from approximately 1,200 m to 1,300 m above sea level and later several adits were driven. In the years 1907 to 1910 the processing plant in Trieben was built. In 1913 55,000 metric tons of ore were processed. The maximum was 200,000 tons in 1965 with about 260 workers employed. The lifetime production was a total of approximately 5.5 million tons of magnesite, and about 4.5 million tons of it were mined in the adits.
Sunk was the third-largest magnesite mine in Styria, after Veitsch and Breitenau.

In 1991 the mine was closed for economic reasons. In 2002 tourist attractions (tourist mine etc.) were installed.

In 2013 mining started again, now operated by STYROMAG.

LagerstÀtten Inventar Nr. 299, gbanr 138.1052.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Aragonite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Boulangerite
Formula: Pb5Sb4S11
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Clinochlore
Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘ Clinochlore var. Leuchtenbergite
Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Dolomite var. Kugeldolomit
References:
ⓘ Fluorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F
ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)
ⓘ Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Gersdorffite
Formula: NiAsS
References:
Meixner, H. (1958): Neue Mineralfunde in den österreichischen Ostalpen XVI. Carinthia II, 148./68., 91-109.[165. Gersdorffit (Korynit) aus der MagnesitlagerstÀtte vom Sunk bei Trieben, Steiermark]
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ Hexahydrite
Formula: MgSO4 · 6H2O
ⓘ 'Limonite'
âœȘ Magnesite
Formula: MgCO3
Habit: Tabular.
Colour: Colourless, white
Description: Best locality for pinolite magnesite in Austria.
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Melanterite
Formula: Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
ⓘ Millerite
Formula: NiS
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ Palygorskite
Formula: ◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)ÎŁ9S8
ⓘ Pickeringite
Formula: MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
References:
Meixner, H. (1980): Neue Mineralfunde aus Österreich XXX. Carinthia II, 170./90., 33-63.pp.50-51 - "492. Slavikit und Pickeringit aus der MagnesitlagerstĂ€tte Hohentauern (Sunk) bei Trieben, Steiermark"
âœȘ 'Pinolite'
Description: See magnesite!
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Rock Crystal
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rozenite
Formula: FeSO4 · 4H2O
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Sepiolite
Formula: Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
ⓘ Slavíkite
Formula: (H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Ullmannite
Formula: NiSbS
References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘMillerite2.CC.20NiS
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
ⓘGersdorffite2.EB.25NiAsS
ⓘUllmannite2.EB.25NiSbS
ⓘBoulangerite2.HC.15Pb5Sb4S11
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘFluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz
var. Amethyst
4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘ4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘvar. Rock Crystal4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘMagnesite5.AB.05MgCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘvar. Kugeldolomit5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAragonite5.AB.15CaCO3
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘMalachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAnhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘRozenite7.CB.15FeSO4 · 4H2O
ⓘHexahydrite7.CB.25MgSO4 · 6H2O
ⓘMelanterite7.CB.35Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
ⓘPickeringite7.CB.85MgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘSlavĂ­kite7.DF.30(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘFluorapatite
var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite
8.BN.05Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)
ⓘ8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3F
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite
var. Fuchsite
9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘClinochlore9.EC.55Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘvar. Leuchtenbergite9.EC.55Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘPalygorskite9.EE.20◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
ⓘSepiolite9.EE.25Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Limonite'-
ⓘ'Pinolite'-
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Hⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Hⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Hⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Hⓘ PickeringiteMgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Hⓘ RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
Hⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Hⓘ SlavĂ­kite(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Clinochlore var. LeuchtenbergiteMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
CCarbon
Cⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich FluorapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ GraphiteC
Cⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Cⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Oⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Oⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich FluorapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)
Oⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Oⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Oⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Oⓘ PickeringiteMgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Oⓘ SlavĂ­kite(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Quartz var. Rock CrystalSiO2
Oⓘ Clinochlore var. LeuchtenbergiteMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
FFluorine
Fⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich FluorapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)
Fⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Fⓘ FluoriteCaF2
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Mgⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Mgⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Mgⓘ PickeringiteMgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Mgⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Mgⓘ SlavĂ­kite(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgⓘ Clinochlore var. LeuchtenbergiteMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Alⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Alⓘ PickeringiteMgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Alⓘ Clinochlore var. LeuchtenbergiteMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Quartz var. AmethystSiO2
Siⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Siⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Palygorskite◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SepioliteMg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ Quartz var. Rock CrystalSiO2
Siⓘ Clinochlore var. LeuchtenbergiteMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich FluorapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)
Pⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ BoulangeritePb5Sb4S11
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ GersdorffiteNiAsS
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2O
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Sⓘ MilleriteNiS
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PickeringiteMgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
Sⓘ SlavĂ­kite(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ UllmanniteNiSbS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
KPotassium
Kⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Caⓘ AragoniteCaCO3
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich FluorapatiteCa5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Caⓘ FluoriteCaF2
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
CrChromium
Crⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
FeIron
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2O
Feⓘ SlavĂ­kite(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2O
NiNickel
Niⓘ GersdorffiteNiAsS
Niⓘ MilleriteNiS
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Niⓘ UllmanniteNiSbS
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ GersdorffiteNiAsS
SbAntimony
Sbⓘ BoulangeritePb5Sb4S11
Sbⓘ UllmanniteNiSbS
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
PbLead
Pbⓘ BoulangeritePb5Sb4S11
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Austria
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
  • AlpsAccretionary Complex
EuropeContinent

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References

Meixner, H. (1958): Neue Mineralfunde in den österreichischen Ostalpen XVI. Carinthia II, 148./68., 91-109.[165. Gersdorffit (Korynit) aus der MagnesitlagerstÀtte vom Sunk bei Trieben, Steiermark]
Meixner, H. (1967): Neue Mineralfunde in den österreichischen Ostalpen XXII. Carinthia II, 157./77., 88-104. https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_157_77_0088-0104.pdfpp.98-99 - [247. Nochmals Apatit-xx aus der MagnesitlagerstĂ€tte „Hohentauern" im Sunk bei Trieben, Steiermark
Meixner, H. (1968): Neue Mineralfunde in den österreichischen Ostalpen XXIII. Carinthia II, 158./78., 96-115. [https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/CAR_158_78_0096-0115.pdf]pp.106-108 - (260. Magnesit- und Zinkblende-xx aus der MagnesitlagerstÀtte Hohentauern vom Sunk bei Trieben, Obersteiermark)
Meixner, H. (1980): Neue Mineralfunde aus Österreich XXX. Carinthia II, 170./90., 33-63.pp.50-51 - "492. Slavikit und Pickeringit aus der MagnesitlagerstĂ€tte Hohentauern (Sunk) bei Trieben, Steiermark"



 
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