Jáchymov was founded by count Štěpán Šlik in 1516 in the place of former settlement Konradsgrün. The first known prospecting was done in 1510, the first mentioned mine was started in 1512 (mine of three wise men - Tří králů) - its opening still visible behind the house No. 496. The first find of silver was done after striking the Fundgrubner vein.
Abundant silver deposits lead to fast expansion of mining industry and whole town of Jáchymov ("silver rush") - after four years in 1520 - 4 963 inhabitants, in 1533 - 18 000 inhabitants - the second most populated town in Bohemia after Prague (compared to current 3 333 residents in 2010). In 1524 there were 613 mines and shafts operated. The mined silver was minced to famous coins named after the town (Joachimsthal) as Thaler (Talero, Tolar) later giving name to Dollar. Between 1527 and 1531 worked in Jáchymov Georgius Agricola as a town physician. In the time of greatest prosperity of silver mines (1516-1600) app. 350 tons of Ag were mined.
NOTE: A fine collection of Jachymov minerals was assembled in recent decades by Mr. Josef Vajdak of Massapequa, New York. This private collection was disbursed starting in January, 2009.
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References
- G. Schenk (1967-1968): Der Anschnitt 19 (1967), H. 1, 27-34; H. 2, 26-31; H. 5, 30-35; 20 (1968), H. 5, 17-27. (in German) [Series of papers on the beginning of silver mining at Jachymov]
- Acta Cryst.(1984): A40: C247.
- Mereiter, K. (1986) Crystal structure and crystallographic properties of a schröckingerite from Joachimsthal. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen (1986): 35: 1-18.
- Neues Jahrb. Min., Abh. (1996): 170: 155-170.
- Ondruš, P., Veselovský, F., Skála, R., Císařová, I., Hloušek, J., Frýda, J., Vavřín, I., Čejka, J., and Gabašová, A. (1997) New naturally occurring phases of secondary origin from Jáchymov (Joachimstal). Journal of the Czech Geological Society: 42: 77-107.
- American Mineralogist (1999): 84: 688.
- Sejkora, J., Čejka, J., Ondruš, P. (2000) New data of rabejacite (Jáchymov, the Krusné Hory Mts., Czech Republic). Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Monatshefte: 7: 289-301.
- Sejkora, J. & Jaromír Tvrdý, J. (2002): Die primäre Mineralisation der Lagerstätte Jáchymov und ihre interessantesten Mineralien. Lapis 27 (7-8), 31-43. (in German).
- American Mineralogist (2002): 87: 983-990 (abstract).
- Lapis 2002(7/8): 62.
- Ondruš, P., Veselovský, F., Gabašová, A., Hloušek, J., and Šrein, V. (2003) Supplement to secondary and rock-forming minerals of the Jachymov ore district. Journal of the Czech Geological Society: 48: 149-155.
- Tvrdý, J. & Plášil, J. (2010): Jáchymov - Reiche Erzlagerstätte und Radonbad im böhmischen Westerzgebirge. Aufschluss 61, 277-292.
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