Room I

The origin of Nógrád coal:

In the northern part of Hungary, about 20 million years ago, a sea basin spread out, which gradually became shallower and its salty water became freshwater – due to the inflowing rivers. Lush forest vegetation lived in the swamp-lake environment. The material of fallen trees and other dead vegetation did not decompose in the oxygen-poor water, but accumulated in the form of decaying mud rich in organic matter. This mud later turned into brown coal under the pressure of other sediments deposited on it and the associated increase in temperature, as well as over geological time.

About 16 million years ago, the swamps were again flooded by the open sea and the conditions for coal formation ceased.

Based on the development of the brown coal seam deposits, the basin can be divided into three parts: the northern, central and southern basins.

In the northern part of the basin – around Salgótarján, in the areas of Salgóbánya, Rónabánya, Etes, Inászó and Baglyasalja, the so-called III. /lower/ coal seam deposit has developed and is suitable for production. The thickness of the deposit is 2-5 m.

In the central part of the basin – around Kisterenye, Kazár, Mizserfa, Mátranovák – three coal seam deposits have developed. Their thickness varies between 1-4 m.

In the southern part of the basin – around Mátraverebély, Nagybátony and Dorogháza – the I. coal seam deposit is the main coal seam, which is 1.2-2.2 m thick. The II.coal seam deposit is found in the area of the Tiribes and Szorospatak shafts, 0.8-1.5 m thick. The III.coal seam deposit is missing.



The discovery of coal

Mátyás Bél mentioned the coal around Salgótarján as early as 1742, stating that “the land had been burning for a long time” on the outskirts of Vecseklő.

In 1767, the newspaper Pressburger Zeitung reported that coal was found on Mount Salgó, which was discovered "during the burning of its soil in the summer of 1766."

The locals have known about the phenomenon for a long time, shepherds, woodcutters, and farmers heated their food over the “burning ground” fire. This is evidenced by a map from the late 18th century, which also marks the “burning ground pit” located between the villages of Vecseklő and Zagyva.

The coal outcrop near Salgótarján was reported by master coopers from Pest, Vencel Matussek and Antal Fischer, in 1766, but the Chamber did not find the coal sample suitable at that time.

In Verőce, Nógrád County, the first coal mine in our county was opened by Kristóf Migazzi in 1768. Next to it, Carl Nützen Edler vuz Sanderspiel began regular mining from 1771.