DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT OF ORE DEPOSITS AND COAL IN KUZNETSK REGION IN THE 1710S – 1760S

• Main Author: I. Yu. Uskov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kemerovo State University 2014-09-01
• Series: Вестник Кемеровского государственного университета
• Subjects: kuznetsk hard coal discovery; projects of copper smelters construction; kashtaksky mine
• Online Access: https://vestnik.kemsu.ru/jour/article/view/1437

The paper reveals the process of discovering new deposits of ores and coal, as well as their practical application in the initial period of the industrial development of the region. The paper defines the reasons for searches for minerals by major groups of researchers – dowsers-practitioners (M. Volkov, S. Kostylev, K. Gordeev, I. Panov, I. Shestakov) and scientists-travelers (D. G. Messerschmidt, G. F. Miller, I. G. Gmelin, E. Laxman). The fact of Kuznetsk hard coal discovery by the dowser M. Volkov is justified, and his activities are analyzed. The projects of using hard coal in metallurgical production (Berg-Collegium, A. Demidov) and construction of copper smelters in the area (V. N. Tatishchev) are revealed. The reasons for the lack of industrial development of coal deposits are identified (uncompetitiveness with wood fuel, need for change in the metallurgical furnaces process, inability to transport by water to the Urals). The attempt of silver mining renewal on the river Kashtak (N. Kleopin, I. Shishkov, P. Startsov, A. Ivanov) is considered.