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Emanuel Bořický (*11 December 1840 Milín, +27 January 1881 Prague) was a prominent Czech petrologist and mineralogist, professor at Charles University in Prague and custodian of the mineralogical collections of the National Museum in Prague. Ha was the first in Bohemia who systematically used a petrological microscope in his work. He was the first in the world to introduce the methods of microchemistry into petrology. He published about 100 scientific articles, short communications and monographs. As a mineralogist, he mainly devoted his career to chemical analyzes of minerals. He recognized then new minerals as zepharovichite (today wavellite), uranotile (today uranophane), přílepite (fossil resin) and parankerite (Fe-dolomite). In 1868, James Dwight Dana named the mineral borickite (bořickýite, now delvauxite) in his honor. He published four extensive studies: on Czech basalts (1873), phonolites (1874), melaphyres (1876) and porphyrites (1881). He published his method of microchemical determination of rock-forming minerals in 1877. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the II. horizon of the Eastern shaft of Handlová coal mine the occurrence of mineral assemblage of secondary minerals was identified. These accumulations consist of sulphate group minerals confirmed by PXRD and semiquantitative chemical analysis (EDS), namely gypsum, alunogen, pickeringite, melanterite, sideronatrite and epsomite. Sulphates form coatings, crystalline crusts and aggregates, which crystallized on the walls of mine corridors. The dimensions of these accumulations are reaching approximately 1.5 x 1.3 m with thickness up to 5 cm. The refined unitcell parameters of alunogen (for the triclinic space group P-1) are: a 7.413(1), b 26.944(4), c 6.051(1) Å, α 90.05(1), β 97.65(1), γ 91.82(1)°, V 1197.1(3) ų, pickeringite (for the monoclinic space group P21 /c): a 6.1808(8), b 24.252(2), c 21.220(2) Å, β 100.36(1)°, V 3128.8(6) ų and melanterite (for the monoclinic space group P21 /c): a 14.022(5), b 6.503(2), c 10.945(4) Å, β 105.83(3)°, V 960.2(7) ų . Sideronatrite and epsomite were identified in mixture with the most significant diffraction maxima for sideronatrite: 10.252/100, 4.905/37, 3.424/10, 3.067/9 and epsomite: 5.347/18, 5.302/18, 4.489/26, 4.215/100, 4.201/59, 2.880/24, 2.747/23, 2.677/18. Accumulations of minerals were formed on the mine walls. Secondary sulphates are considered as products of the weathering of Fe-rich carbonates, pyrite and other sulphidic minerals which are part of associated pelosiderites embedded in the clays and claystones. Locally, gypsum and hexahydrite were also identified in the form of transparent crystals and white powdery aggregates on the calcite speleothems genetically linked to Mesozoic limestones and gypsum-rich Lower Triassic Werfen Formation. Unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are for hexahydrite (for the monoclinic space group C2/c): a 10.107(1), b 7.2114(8), c 24.424(3) Å, β 98.28(1)°, V 1761.7(3) ų. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternity colonies of three Myotis species were documented for the first time in the Východoslovenská rovina (East Slovakian Lowland). The colonies were found sharing a concrete underground corridor adjacent to the Okna river southwest of Blatná Polianka; the bats roosted in crevices between concrete segments. Reproduction was observed directly in the Daubenton's bat, lactating females and juveniles were examined, while in the other two species, the signs of reproduction at the site were observed just indirectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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An early medieval silver denier of the West Frankish King and Emperor Charles II the Bald (843-877) was found during a metal detector survey of a well-known polycultural site with remnants of settlements from the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages Periods. Despite small traces of corrosion, the coin is perfectly preserved and was probably never in circulation. The denier is the eighth known find of a Carolingian coin in Bohemia, and the first specimen found in the Pilsen Region. The importance of the site is given mainly by its location on the Regensburg route, which provided the main connection between Bohemia and Bavaria. The importance of this route is underlined by the location of the customhouse with the church of St. Jakub in Domažlice, and especially the Benedictine mission cell in Cham, similar to the findings of Carolingian coins in Bavaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This text explores how a site of memory is created, using the example of the hometown of the second communist president of Czechoslovakia, Antonín Zápotocký. It establishes the four most significant moments in Zápotocký‘s relationship with his birthplace, during which the gradual transformation of the village into a site of memory took place. The article describes the changes that took place in Zákolany during each period, as well as more recent developments that have occurred since 1989. The main topics are: Zápotocký‘s relationship to Zákolany during his lifetime, the reaction of the people of Zákolany to Zápotocký‘s death and the gradual emergence of Zápotocký memorials in the village. The text focuses on the most visible memorials to Zápotocký in Zákolany, namely the house where he is alleged to have been born and the statue, which has remained in place to this day and is, thus, a unique reminder of the former regime’s politics of memory. This article is an expanded and revised version of a section of the author‘s bachelor thesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the interdisciplinary survey of the phonographic cylinders collection of National Museum - Czech Museum of Music. The text was created for the New Phonograph: Listening to the History of Sound project. The paper focuses on the characterisation of long-term storage of the collection and a common form of degradation - a fair overlay on the cylinder's surface. As for dealing with the wide spectrum of samples in the collection, the survey is focused on the most commonly occurring phonographic cylinders and their enclosures. A representative selection of samples was analysed to clarify the character of the degradation products and its origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adalbert Wraný (*1836, +1902) was a doctor of medicine, with his primary specialization in pediatric pathology, and was also one of the founders of microscopic and chemical diagnostics. He was interested in natural sciences, chemistry, botany, paleontology and above all mineralogy. He wrote two books, one on the development of mineralogical research in Bohemia (1896), and the other on the history of industrial chemistry in Bohemia (1902). Wraný also assembled several natural science collections. During his lifetime, he gave to the National Museum large collections of rocks, a collection of cut precious stones and his library. He donated a collection of fossils to the Geological Institute of the Czech University (now Charles University). He was an inspector of the mineralogical collection of the National Museum. After his death, he bequeathed to the National Museum his collection of minerals and the rest of the gemstone collection. He donated paintings to the Prague City Museum, and other property to the Klar Institute of the Blind in Prague. The National Museum's collection currently contains 4 325 samples of minerals, as well as 21 meteorites and several hundred cut precious stones from Wraný's collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New longevity records of the Geoffroy's bat (Myotis emarginatus) and Brandt's bat (Myotis brandtii) were made in eastern Slovakia with the help of ringing. The minimum age of twenty years and two months was evidenced for a Myotis emarginatus individual re-captured at a small cave near Beňatina in the Východné Beskydy Mts. on 2 September 2016 (first caught and ringed at the same site on 2 August 1996). It is the second highest age found in this bat from Slovakia, where the known longevity maximum is 22 years and eight months. In Myotis brandtii, the minimum age of 28 years was recorded, when a male was netted in a forest near Priekopa in the Vihorlat Mts. on 12 August 2022 that was first caught and ringed at a very close site on 14 August 1994. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Julia H. Schildbach (*1880, †1962) from Marienbad (Mariánské Lázně) built around 1900-1935 an extensive systematic collection of minerals. Minerals were bought, exchanged and personally collected at localities in the wide vicinity of Mariánské Lázně. She had extensive contacts with collectors of minerals in Bohemia and Germany and professional mineralogists in Austria and Bohemia, including mineralogists from the National Museum in Prague. After the end of World War II, she was not evicted as a German from Marienbad, unlike other German inhabitants, but lived in her home town until she died. However, her collection of minerals was confiscated by the state after the war. The larger part of the collection has been transferred to the National Museum in Prague, where 2716 items of minerals from the collection of J. Schildbach are registered, and part of the collection has been transferred to the Municipal Museum in Mariánské Lázně. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we studied mineralogy of a small, long abandoned ore occurrence near the village of Hiadel' in the Nízke Tatry Mts. (Slovakia). An earlier mineral association consists of pyrite I, arsenopyrite, rutile, apatite, monazite, and possibly zircon. This association is located in alteration zones with abundant sheet silicates. Carbonates are found in this association but also in the milky quartz that contains no sheet silicates. The composition of the carbonates is variable; they belong to the siderite-magnesite and dolomite-ankerite solid solution, rarely to calcite. Later ore minerals are represented by stibnite, Pb-Sb sulfosalts (zinkenite, jamesonite, or robinsonite), tetrahedrite, chalcostibite, bournonite, and pyrite II. The temporal relationship among these minerals cannot be determined from our samples. Tetrahedrite is Zn-rich and Ag-poor. From a mineralogical point of view, this occurrence does not deviate from other ore deposits and occurrences known in the Tatric part of the Nízke Tatry Mts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposition named History will present the development of the Czech lands from the 9th century till the present. The exposition will be divided into two separate spaces - the Historical Building of the National Museum will house the history of the 9th-19th centuries and the New Building of the National Museum will house the history from the 20th century. Despite reflecting to a certain extent the traditional division of the Middle Ages, Early Modern Period, the "long" 19th century, and the 20th century, the narrative will be continuous without any artificial historical disruptions. We will debunk some historical myths and stereotypes. Emphasis will be laid on the presentation of items from the collections of the National Museum. A certain update will also be important, i.e. the presentation of ideas and symbols, that we refer to today. Parallel narratives will be nonetheless important, as they will show that history is not unambiguous and that certain events can be viewed from several different perspectives (e.g. the winner and the loser, nobleman and subject). Last but not least, we will address the issues of individual freedom and its limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prince Klemens Metternich (1773-1859), Austrian Foreign Minister and Chancellor, gathered large collections at his Kynžvart Castle in Bohemia. In 1827, collections of coins, minerals and rocks of former Cheb executioner Karl Huss were purchased, and a publicly accessible museum was founded in Kynžvart in 1828. Huss became the first curator of the museum. The collections were organized and exhibited. Collections also included fossils, zoological preparations and various artifacts. Other curators of the Kynžvart museum were Joachim Auer, Paul Rath and Moritz Kersten. In 1948, minerals and rocks from the Kynžvart collection were transferred to the National Museum in Prague. Today, 821 samples of minerals and 175 rock samples from the Metternich collection are stored in the National Museum's collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented article describes two group coin-finds from south Bohemia. The first group of coins was discovered via exhumation of a common grave in the surroundings of Horní Lhota near Lásenice dating back to May 1945. It is represented by cash (or remaining part of it) owned by a German soldier in May 1945. The second group of coins was found at the Radíš hillfort, and it is represented by pieces in a wallet evidently lost on a trip or during forest works sometimes between 1949 and 1953. The article emphasizes importance and necessity of documentation even of these late modern coin-finds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper focuses on how the Czechoslovak society received and reacted to the live radio broadcasting of FIFA World Cup in 1934. The public listening to the running commentaries raised the interest in sports among new social strata and in new geographic areas of the then Czechoslovakia. Radio broadcastings undoubtedly provoked a higher sensibility of listeners, as the example examined in this paper of the spread of rumours concerning the death of several Czechoslovak players, proved. The last part of the present paper looks at how the broadcasting of FIFA World Cup became a Czechoslovakian site of memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article describes the life story of Ladislav Král, a priest of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and a political prisoner of both the Nazi and communist regimes. In both cases, he was arrested in Beroun where he served as a parish priest. He was held the first time by the Gestapo in September 1943; after the communist coup d'état in February 1948, it was the State Security (StB) that came out to Beroun to seize him. After the first arrest during the Nazi occupation he was imprisoned in Kladno, after which he passed through to the Small Fortress in Theresienstadt concentration camp and ended up in the Dachau concentration camp from where he was released in July 1944. He was allowed to serve as a priest in Beroun again only after the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945. However, five years later, in May 1945, he was arrested once again on political grounds and sentenced to 14 years of prison. Despite his poor health condition he was paroled only on the 4th September 1957. Being a former convict, the State security kept on following him (he fell into the category of the "erstwhile people", the category of a person of interest). Král had been consequently prohibited to serve as a priest and could only exercise manual occupations. He died at the age of 67 on the 30th July 1970 spending a considerable part of his life - on the grounds of his attitude and opinions - in prison or under the surveillance of the totalitarian regime's repressive agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper contains seven separate biographical profiles of seven different army chaplains, who served in the Austrian-Hungarian army during the First World War. A particular attention is turned to their fortunes in the following decades with the intent to demonstrate from the perspective of this somewhat unusual group of army professionals, how the "Great History" influenced the lives of "small" individuals. The events of the Great War brought these "small" individuals to the European theatre of war where they strived to be at the elbow of the soldiers enduring hardships. Some of them were injured or fell into captivity. Others served in the Austrian army until the end of the monarchy. Some of them, at the peak of their productive age, devoted a substantial part of their lives serving the Czechoslovak army of the so-called First Republic (1918-1938) and attained high ranks. Other served in civil pastoral care. After the Nazi occupation some of them joined the resistance movement and were arrested. Those who had survived the horrors of the Second World War started from 1948 to be persecuted once again, this time by the communist regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A very rare mineral gilmarite, triclinic Cu3(AsO4)(OH)3 mineral phase dimorphous with clinoclase, was found in an old abandoned Jirásek granodiorite quarry in Běloves near Náchod, East Bohemia. This is the first occurrence of this mineral in the Czech Republic. Gilmarite occurs there as greenish blue flattened and elongated crystals forming rosettes and crystalline aggregates up to 1 mm in size in association with malachite, olivenite, cuprite and bluish green copper silicate (chrysocolla). Gilmarite is triclinic, space group P1, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 5.449(2), b 5.870(4), c 5.109(3)Å, α 115.00(3)˚, β 93.09(5)˚, γ 91.83(5)˚ and V 147.6(1) Å3. Chemical analyses of gilmarite correspond to the empirical formula (Cu)2.99[(AsO4)0.98 (PO4)0.01]Σ0.99(OH)2.98 on the basis of As+P+Si+V = 1 apfu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unusually rich occurrence of supergene minerals, represented by azurite, baryte, cerussite, Zn-rich malachite, rosasite, smithsonite and wulfenite was recently identified at the subsurface parts of the Nová Anton epithermal ore vein near Hodruša-Hámre, Štiavnické vrchy Mts., Slovak Republic. Azurite is rare and it forms bright blue crystalline crusts, which consists of thin tabular crystals up to 2 mm. It is associated together with malachite, cerussite and smithsonite. Baryte occurs only infrequently as white, thin tabular crystals up to 5 mm growing on smithsonite. Cerussite is relatively abundant supergene mineral, especially in the proximity of relicts of primary galena. It forms clear to white, well-developed, acicular, prismatic or tabular crystals up to 1.2 cm or massive aggregates and rims up to 3 cm, which are often associated together with malachite and rosasite. Zn-rich malachite is very common supergene mineral at the studied locality and it occurs as pale green to greenish-blue hemispherical or radial aggregates up to 1 cm or crystalline crusts and coatings, which cover areas up to 100 cm². It is often associated with cerusite or smithsonite with rosasite, rarely also together with wulfenite or azurite. The unit-cell parameters of Zn-rich malachite refined from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the monoclinic space group P21/a) are: a = 9.459(5) Å, b = 11.979(4) Å, c = 3.219(1) Å, β = 97.84(with)° 2 V = 361.3(3) Å3. It contain up to 0.18 apfu of Zn. Rosasite is relatively common species. It forms bluish-green to pale blue, hemispherical aggregates up to 7 mm with radial internal structure, which are often grouped to the botryoidal crusts covering areas up to 50 cm². Rosasite is often associated with smithsonite and Zn-rich malachite. Its refined unit-cell parameters (for the monoclinic space group P21/a) are: a = 12.890(8) Å, b = 9.342(7) Å, c = 3.164(2) Å, β = 110.26(2)° with V = 357.4(4) ų. Two types of rosasite can by distinguished by chemical composition. Predominant is Zn-rich phase with the Cu/Zn molar ratio in the range of 1.24 - 1.66 (1.11 - 1.25 apfu Cu, 0.75 - 0.89 apfu Zn). Cu-rich rosasite is infrequent and its Cu/Zn molar ratio vary from 3.32 to 3.61 (1.54 - 1.57 apfu Cu, 0.43 - 0.46 apfu Zn). Smithsonite is very common mineral, which is associated mainly with Zn-rich malachite and rosasite. It occurs as white, pale green to pale blue botryoidal crusts, which often consists of rounded rhombohedral or scalenohedral crystals up to 3 mm in size. Except of major Zn, elevated content of Cu (up to 0.08 apfu), and minor contents of Ca (up to 0.02 apfu) and K, Pb, Mg (all up to 0.01 apfu) were detected in smithsonite. Wulfenite is relatively abundant species and it forms orange to yellow, dipyramidal, often hemihedral or tabular crystals up to 1 cm. It was identified by PXRD and its refined unit-cell parameters (for the tetragonal space group I41/a) are: a = 5.438(5) Å, c = 12.1160(7) Å and V = 358.3(3) ų. Its chemical composition is close to the theoretical end member, PbMoO4. Well-developed supergene zones in-situ, especially with the abudance of supergene Cu and Zn carbonates are not typical for the epithermal ore veins in the Banská Štiavnica ore district. The origin of relatively well developed and rich supergene zone in-situ at the Nová Anton vein is directly linked with the fact, that upper parts of this vein are hosted in limestone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article describes the life story of Ladislav Král, a priest of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and a political prisoner of both the Nazi and communist regimes. In both cases, he was arrested in Beroun where he served as a parish priest. He was held the first time by the Gestapo in September 1943; after the communist coup d'état in February 1948, it was the State Security (StB) that came out to Beroun to seize him. After the first arrest during the Nazi occupation he was imprisoned in Kladno, after which he passed through to the Small Fortress in Theresienstadt concentration camp and ended up in the Dachau concentration camp from where he was released in July 1944. He was allowed to serve as a priest in Beroun again only after the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945. However, five years later, in May 1945, he was arrested once again on political grounds and sentenced to 14 years of prison. Despite his poor health condition he was paroled only on the 4th September 1957. Being a former convict, the State security kept on following him (he fell into the category of the "erstwhile people", the category of a person of interest). Král had been consequently prohibited to serve as a priest and could only exercise manual occupations. He died at the age of 67 on the 30th July 1970 spending a considerable part of his life -- on the grounds of his attitude and opinions -- in prison or under the surveillance of the totalitarian regime's repressive agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interesting association of supergene minerals represented by anglesite, aragonite, brianyoungite, cerussite, gypsum, hemimorphite, malachite, mimetite, pyromorphite and wulfenite was found at the Čavoj base metal deposit, Strážovské vrchy Mts., Slovak Republic. Brianyoungite occurs as white crystalline coatings and irregular to spherical aggregates, which consist of thin-tabular crystals up to 0.1 mm in size. It was found together with aragonite and gypsum on the surface of ore fragments at the dumps of Geschenk and Ferdinand shaft. The refined unit-cell parameters of brianyoungite from the powder X-ray data are: a 15.710(8) Å, b 6.273(7) Å, c 5.45(1) Å, V = 537(1) Å3. Cerussite is the most abundant supergene phase. It forms well developed colourless to white tabular or prismatic crystals up to 5 mm in size, associated together with anglesite, mimetite, pyromorphite and wulfenite. Its refined unit-cell parameters are: a 5.189(1) Å, b 8.507(2) Å, c 6.152(1) Å, V 271.56(9) Å3. Hemimorphite was identified at the dumps situated near Strieborná adit as white hemispherical crystalline aggregates up to 2 mm in the fissures of sphalerite-rich gangue. It is orthorhombic, space group Imm2 and the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 8.3634(8) Å, b 10.711(1) Å, c 5.1134(5) Å, and V 458.07(8) Å3. Mimetite is rare mineral and it occurs only at the Baniská area. It forms bright yellow to yellowish-green crystalline aggregates and crusts, which are composed by prismatic crystals up to 1 mm in size. Its unit-cell parameters refined from powder X-ray data are: a 10.236(10) Å, c 7.4126(9) Å and V 673(1) Å3. Mimetite from the Čavoj deposit contain only minor amounts of Ca (up to 0.33 apfu) and P (up to 0.39 apfu) with the empirical formula (average of 6 point analyses) corresponding to (Pb5.11Ca0.21)Σ5.32 [(AsO4) 2.77 (PO4) 0.23]Σ3.00Cl1.17 on the basis of P+As+V+Si+S=3 apfu. Pyromorphite was identified in several samples from the Ferdinand shaft dump as pale-green to pale-yellow prismatic crystals up to 2 mm in size, which are often grouped to the crystalline crusts and aggregates together with cerussite and wulfenite. The refined unit-cell parameters of pyromorphite are: a 9.986(8) Å, c 7.3528(3) Å and V 635.0(5) Å3. Only minor amounts of Ca (up to 0.19 apfu) and As (0.07 apfu) were detected in studied samples of pyromorphite and its empirical formula (average of 9 point analyses) is corresponding to (Pb4.97Ca0.10)Σ5.07 [(PO4) 2.95 (AsO4) 0.05]Σ3.00Cl1.15 on the basis of P+As+V+Si+S=3 apfu. Wulfenite is rare supergene phase at the studied locality (dump of Ferdinand shaft) and it occurs as well developed, orange pyramidal crystals up to 1 mm in size together with cerussite and pyromorphite. It is tetragonal, space group I41/a and its unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a 5.435(1) Å, c 12.1065(2) Å and V 357.59(9) Å3. Its chemical composition is close to the end member formula with only insignificant amounts of P and As (both up to 0.01 apfu) and empirical formula (average of 5 point analyses) corresponding to Pb1.00 [(MoO4) 0.98 (AsO4) 0.01 (PO4) 0.01]Σ1.00 on the basis of Mo+W+As+P=1 apfu. On the basis of detailed paragenetic study two principal associations of supergene minerals were distinguished at the Čavoj deposit: a) supergene phases (e.g. cerussite, hemimorphite, mimetite, pyromorphite or wulfenite) formed by in-situ decomposition of primary ore minerals in the supergene zone or b) supergene minerals of sub-recent origin, which were formed by the weathering of ore fragments in dump environment (e.g. aragonite, brianyoungite and gypsum). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body of Mg skarn from Včelín - south near Hodruša-Hámre village (Slovak Republic) is developed at the con- tact of Neogene granodiorite with the Middle to Upper Triassic dolomitic limestone. Except of carbonates (dolomite, calcite) the most common minerals of Mg skarn, which were formed during the prograde stage are forsterite and spinel (Fe2+ 0.06 - 0.12 apfu and Fe3+ 0.10 - 0.28 apfu). Forsterite was initially present as euhedral crystals up to 3 cm, but later was significantly replaced by clinochlore and antigorite during the retrograde stage. Forsterite occurs only as microscopic relics compositionally close to the end-member formula. Spinel is a common mineral occurring as well-developed black octahedral crystals up to 1.5 cm long. Magnetite forms as fine-grained masses or euhedral crystals up to 1 cm in size. It shows elevated contents of Mg (up to 0.31 apfu) and Al (up to 0.16 apfu) and was most probably formed at retrograde stage of the Mg skarn evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hausmannite and manganosite were identified at the Čierna baňa manganese deposit near Čučma, Slovenské rudohorie Mts., Gemeric Superunit, Slovak Republic. Hausmannite occurs as black, fine-grained masses up to 10 cm in size. It contain aggregates of manganosite and microscopic barite, rhodonite, rhodochrosite and spessartine inclusi- ons. The refined unit-cell parameters of hausmannite from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the tetragonal space group I4 /amd) are a = 5.786(11), c = 9.411(2) Å with V = 315.1(6) Å3. Manganosite forms anhedral, emerald to dark green grains and aggregates up to 2 mm in size embedded in hausmannite matrix. It is first documented occurrence of this specie in Slovakia. The refined unit-cell parameters of manganosite from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the cubic space group Fm3m) are a = 4.445(1) Å with V = 87.801(2) Å3. Its chemical composition is close to the end member with the empirical formula (average of 6 point analyses) corresponding to (Mn0.99Mg0.01)Σ1.00O1.00 on the basis of O = 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interesting supergene mineral association was identified at the abandoned Juraj adit near Hodruša-Hámre village, Štiavnické vrchy Mts., Slovak Republic. It is represented by allophane, anglesite, brochantite, calcite, cerussite, dundasite, gypsum, hydrozincite, linarite, malachite, posnjakite and zincowoodwardite. Anglesite occurs as well developed, colourless, tabular to prismatic crystals up to 3 mm in vugs of weathered galena-rich gangue. It is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a = 8.447(1), b = 5.3863(10), c = 6.9563(9) Å and V= 317.63(9) ų. Cerussite is the most common supergene mineral and it forms colourless to white tabular, prismatic or acicular crystals up to 9 mm in size, which are often twinned and are associated together with dundasite, malachite and linarite in the cavities of gangue or mineralized rocks. The refined unit-cell parameters of cerussite from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the orthorhombic space group Pmcn) are a = 5.174(1), b = 8.478(2), c = 6.135(1) Å with V= 269.1(1) ų. Dundasite forms white or pale-blue, radial to spherical aggregates up to 1 mm, which are composed of well formed acicular crystals and cover areas up to 4 x 1.5 cm in cavities of ore gangue. Its refined unit-cell parameters from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the orthorhombic space group Pbnm) are a = 9.071(2), b = 16.394(5), c = 5.618(2) Å and V= 835.4(5) ų. Hydrozincite occurs as compact, white, up to 1 cm thick crusts or botryoidal aggregates on the adit walls together with calcite and zincowoodwardite. It is monoclinic, space group C2/m, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a = 13.63(2), b = 6.319(8), c = 5.397(9) Å, β = 95.9(3)° and V = 462(1) ų. Linarite often forms well developed, bright blue, tabular to prismatic crystals up to 4 mm in size, which are often grouped to the radial aggregates and crystalline crusts in cavities and fractures of ore gangue (together with cerussite, dundasite and malachite) or on the walls of adit (associated with brochantite, gypsum, posnjakite and zincowoodwardite). Its refined unit-cell parameters from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the monoclinic space group P21/m) are a = 9.691 (3), b = 5.650(2), c = 4.686(2) Å, β = 102.68(2)° and V= 250.3(1) ų. Rare posnjakite occurs as pale blue, acicular crystals up to 1 mm, which were observed on the adit walls associated together with brochantite, linarite and zincowoodwardite. The refined unit-cell parameters of posnjakite from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the monoclinic space group Pm) are a = 10.569(14), b = 6.349(4), c = 7.857(9) Å, β = 117.94(7)° and V= 465.7(9) ų. Zincowoodwardite was observed exclusively on the walls of adit as an white-blue to pale-blue crusts with botryoidal surface, which covers areas up to 5 x 4 cm. Associated minerals include brochantite, calcite, gypsum, hydrozincite, linarite and posnjakite. It is trigonal, space group P-3, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder diffraction data are: a = 3.057(9), c = 8.865(8) A with V= 71.8(2) ų. A newly described association of supergene minerals from the Juraj adit was formed as a sub-recent product of decomposition of primary sulfidic mineralization (mostly galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and pyrite) in the conditions of abandoned mine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth tellurides (tetradymite and tellurobismuthite) were identified in the heavy mineral fraction of alluvial placers from Pukanský potok brook near Pukanec, Štiavnické vrchy Mountains, Slovak Republic. They forms only very slightly rounded aggregates up to 5 mm in size with typical perfect cleavage. Aggregates of bismuth tellurides from Pukanec are mostly represented by tetradymite, which has an uniform chemical composition and only minor contents of Se (up to 0.10 apfu) and Sb (0.01 apfu) were detected. Its empirical formula is (Bi2.00Sb0.01)Σ2.01Te1.99(S0.92Se0.08) Σ 1.00 on basis of 5 apfu. Tellurobismuthite was observed as microscopic oval or irregular elongated inclusions in tetradymite. Only rarely aggregates of tellurobismuthite up to 3 mm in size with thin tetradymite rim were observed. The chemical composition of tellurobismuthite is nearly close to the end member, it has only minor contents of Se (0.02 apfu) and Sb (0.02 apfu) and its empirical formula is (Bi2.01Sb0.02)Σ2.03(Te2.96Se0.01)Σ2.97 on basis of 5 apfu. This find of bismuth tellurides indicates the existence of previously unknown primary Bi-Te mineralization near Pukanec, but its connection to the epithermal Au-Ag mineralization is not clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution describes the occurrence of magnesio-riebeckite in marbles from Šugov valley, near Medzev within Bôrka nappe, in Meliata unit (Slovak Republic). Magnezio-riebeckite belongs to high pressure mineral assemblage that was locally identified in studied samples of Šugov marbles. Šugov marbles consist of Cal + Qtz ± Mg-Rbk ± Chl ± Hem mineral assemblage. Based on AlIV and BNa content, the relative pressure estimation is 700 MPa assuming low temperatures around 350 - 450°C. Remnants of magnezio-riebeckite reflect and confirm high-pressure evolution of Bôrka nappe during subduction processes connected to closure of the Meliata Ocean in the Late Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minerals of the tetrahedrite isotypic series are the main ore phases at the Piesky deposit and in the past they were the most important source of copper and silver at the whole Špania Dolina ore district (central Slovakia, Slovak Republic). They occur as veinlets, impregnations or massive aggregates up to 10 cm in size, which are associated together with chalcopyrite in quartz-carbonate veins or in mineralized rocks and are often altered to the yellowish-green aggregates of amorphous Cu-Sb-Fe phases or diverse supergene minerals. The chemical composition of minerals of the tetrahedrite isotypic series from the various parts of the Piesky deposit is rather uniform. In the trigonal site Cu is dominant element and only low content of Ag (up to 0.04 apfu) was detected. The overall content of divalent metals like Fe, Zn as well as slight amount of Pb in the tetrahedral site is up to 1.3 - 1.7 apfu, which together with elevated content of Cu (higher than theoretical value of 10 apfu) suggest the presence of at least some Cu2+ in this possition. In the X possition Sb is the prevalent element, so As-rich tetrahedrite is the absolutely dominant species at the Piesky deposit. Only in one case, Sb-rich tennantite as an irregular zones up to 50 μm in size was observed in the As-rich tetrahedrite. Characteristic feature of tetrahedrite-tennantite minerals from the Piesky deposit is regular content of Bi (up to 0.14 apfu). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native bismuth forms rare aggregates (up to 1 mm across) in quartz core of the beryl-type granitic pegmatite from Bratislava, Švábsky Hill (Malé Karpaty Mts., Slovakia). The pegmatite dike (<1 m thickness) cuts parental Hercynian S-type granites of the Bratislava massif. The bismuth shows homogeneous, nearly end-member composition (only 0.2 wt.% Sb). It is partly replaced by bismite and bismutite along the rims. Native bismuth precipitated during inal hydrothermal stage of the pegmatite crystallization at temperature 250 - 260 °C, whereas supergene bismite and bismutite are products of late oxidation and weathering processes, or low-temperature alteration of the bismuth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal texture and contents of trace elements Al, B, Ba, Be, Cr, Fe, Ge, Li, Mn, Nb, P, Pb, Rb, Sn, Sr and Ti in quartz from the granite, graphic and core zone of the Vĕžná I pegmatite (SW Moravia, Czech Republic) were studied using panchromatic cathodoluminescence (CL) and laser-ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS), respectively. Quartz from all textural zones of the pegmatite is homogeneous and exhibit no CL. Aluminum contents increase from the granite zone to the quartz core in range 52 - 252 ppm, while the Ti contents increase from the granite to the graphic zone (26 - 34 ppm → 35 - 46 ppm), and subsequently decrease to the core (→ 15 - 31 ppm). Boron, Ba, Be, Cr, Ge, Fe, Mn, Nb, Pb, Rb, Sn and Sr contents reach their maximum in the pegmatite core; distribution of Li and P is heterogeneous. In general, the chemical composition of quartz from Vežná I pegmatite is well comparable with published data from the primitive (barren) pegmatites in Norway and beryl-columbite pegmatites in Borborema, Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This year, it has been 120 years since an exhibition of Holub's African collections was organized in the Royal Game Park in Prague. In his lifetime, Holub had several exhibitions. The Prague exhibition in 1892 was the last and largest one. In terms of the actual installation, it also represented a real peak of Holub's exhibition activities. The exhibition's extraordinary features included a rich photo-documentation prepared by the studio of a Prague photographer Jan Mulač. A large set of photographies provides a unique perspective on Holub's African collections shortly before they were dispersed among various scientific bodies and institutions. In addition to the set of photographies, 99 glass negatives can also be found in the Náprstek Museum (NpM) archives. Last year, NpM collaborated with the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) and had the negatives treated and conserved by Ing. Petra Vávrová and this year, they were digitalized by Martina Novozámská. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composition analysis of the so-called red corrosion on gold coins, plus discussion on its origin and possibilities of removal of the red stains are presented. Suggestion of a new alternative non-chemical method in cleaning of gold coins is published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Another evidence for overstriking of the one-kreuzer piece struck in 1772-1790 and overstruck with the Prague k.reuzer of Franz II from 1800 is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whewellite was identified on fissures in central part of pelosiderite concretions and lenses at the Handlová coal deposit. It forms colourless to white crystalline aggregates together with vitreous lustre associated together with crystalline aggregates of quartz and fine-grained pyrite. Rarely well developed tabular to prismatic crystals (up to 1 cm) are present. Whewellite shows intense green-yellow fluorescence and phosphorescence in long-wave UV light. The unitcell parameters of whewellite refined from powder X-ray data are: a = 6.2925(6) Å, b = 14.5947(10) Å, c = 10.1230(2) Å, β = 109.446(8)° and V = 876.64(5) ų. An infrared spectrum of whewellite from Handlová is given. The bands of oxalate groups as well as molecular H2O were identified. Whewellite was formed as youngest phase in reductive environment with high activity of Ca2+ ions. Oxalic acid was formed by decomposition of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal anhydrite was found in short and up to 8 cm thick carbonate vein with base metal mineralization at the 12th level of the Banská Štiavnica epithermal base metal deposit, Slovak Republic. It occurs as pale-blue to colourless tabular crystals up to 3 cm in size, which are intergrown to form groups of parallel or radial aggregates together with calcite, sphalerite, galena and gypsum. The crystals have a vitreous to silky lustre and typical perfect cleavage. The following unit-cell parameters were refined from powder X-ray data of anhydrite: a = 6.2967(2) Å, b = 6.9770(2) Å, c = 6.2268(2) Å and V = 303.53(1) ų. An infrared absorption spectrum of anhydrite shows characteristic bands of antisymmetric stretching vibration modes (1157 and 1124 cm-1) and antisymmetric bending vibration modes (675, 613 and 596 cm-1) of SO4 tetrahedra. A weak band which was observed at 511 cm-1 represent most probably symmetric bending vibration of sulfate groups. Anhydrite together with gypsum represents products of relatively low-temperature solutions at the late stage of hydrothermal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schröckingerite was found in the abandoned 5. kvìěten adit of the Vrchoslav hydrothermal fluorite deposit, the Krušné hory Mountains, northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. It forms green-yellow globular to irregular crystalline aggregates with pearly luster up to 3 mm in diameter on the fragments of rocks and walls of adit. Schröckingerite aggregates are formed by small thin tabular crystals up to 0.07 mm with obviously parallel orientation. Rarely in association with schröckingerite there also were bright orange powdery aggregates of natrozippeite observed. The unit-cell parameters of schröckingerite refined from powder X-ray data are: a = 9.6279(9) Å, b = 9.6303(9) Å, c = 14.3868(11) Å, α = 91.360(9)°, β = 92.292(10)°, γ = 120.191(6)° and V= 1150.59(6) ų. In the infrared spectrum of schröckingerite, the bands of (CO3)2-, (SO4)2- and (UO2)2+ groups as well as molecular H2O were identified. The bond-lengths with values of 1.762 Å, 1.778 Å and 1.769 Å depending on the empirical formula used were calculated from the wavenumber of uranyl bands. Schröckingerite was formed as a sub-recent supergene phase in relatively dry environment from the solutions produced by weathering of the primary U phases (uraninite) associated probably with Nb-Ta minerals in granite and rare pyrite and their interaction with calcite and wall rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Prague Castle Photographic Archives are not only a font of knowledge about the environment of President Masaryk, but also part of the contemporary photo-journalist culture, notably photo reportage. A researcher wishing to study the use of photographs from these archives in the contemporary periodical press must be aware of the context of technological and journalist development in the area of working with the photographic representation of reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author applauds the documentary value of Prague Castle Photographic Archives and examines individual groups of its photographic documents, using a combination of semiotic and hermeneutical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supergene sulphur was found in the abandoned mine adit of the Chyžné-Herichová hydrothermal antimony deposit. Mostly it forms yellow rounded crystals up to 1 mm, rarely have some crystals skeletal habit. Sulphur crystals growth on the weathered stibnite, kermesite, valentinite in association with amorphous secondary minerals of Sb in vugs of quartz-stibnite veins. Crystals of sulphur sometimes have a skeletal habit. The unit-cell parameters of sulphur are a = 1.4645(6), b = 12.8602(6), c = 24.4554(15) Å and V = 3291.1(2) ų. Sulphur formed (sub)recently by the interaction of acid solutions which were produced by the weathering of pyrite or stibnite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessory zircon and cheralite-like phase occur in Hercynian quartz - K-feldspar - albite aplitic granophyre dike cutting Devonian Ca-skarn and marbles in the Dubová, Horné Trávniky near Modra, SW Slovakia. Zircon forms euhedral to subhedral crystals. Zircon shows 1.5 to 2.7 wt. % HfO2, Zr/Hfwt. ratio attains 14 to 23. Some zircon compositions show low totals (82 - 92 wt. %), probably due to metamictization and hydration, elevated contents of P (up to 0.25 apfu, 7.6 wt. % P2O5), Al (up to 0.17 apfu, 3.8 wt. % Al2O3), Th (up to 0.12 apfu, 14 wt. % ThO2), Y+REE (up to 0.07 apfu, 4.3 wt. % (Y,REE)2O3), and also U, Fe and Ca (up to 0.1 apfu). Zircon associates with intermediate cheralite > huttonite phase, rich in Th (up to 0.63 apfu, 52 wt. % ThO2), Ca (up to 0.39 apfu, 6.9 wt. % CaO) and Y+REE (up to 0.13 apfu, 5.7 wt. % (Y,REE)2O3). The cheralite-like phase contains also elevated concentrations of Zr (up to 0.05 apfu, 2 wt. % ZrO2), Al (up to 0.17 apfu, 2.6 wt. % Al2O3), and low analytical totals (83 to 85 wt. oxide %). Textural and compositional relationships indicate a relatively rapid crystallization of the both zircon and cheralite-like phase during magmatic solidification of the host aplitic-pegmatitic granophyre which preserved their intermediate and probably metastable compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 22 May 1808, a meteorite shower fell at and around the market - town of Stonařov (Stannern) near Jihlava. A commission consisting of K. v. Schreibers and A. v. Widmannstätten was set up in Vienna and sent to investigate the event. They found 61 meteorites weighing a total about 15 kg. The heaviest meteorite weighing about 6.33 kg was found only later. The experts who studied the meteorites at that time soon found that they differed significantly from other hitherto known meteorites in that they contained no iron or nickel. In 1810, M. H. Klaproth compared them to basalt, and G. Rose (1863) coined the name of eucrites for that group of meteorites. Today, Stannern stony meteorites are cartegorized as HED achondrites. They are made extraterrestrial basalts that probably originated from the 4 Vesta asteroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomalachite was found at mine dumps of the occurrence Breziny, about 200 m northern from the Henclová village, the Slovenské Rudohorie Mountains, Slovak Republic. It forms hemispherical aggregates and crusts (up to 3 x 3 cm in size) in the cavities of quartz gangue in association with malachite, goethite and rare relics of primary chalcopyrite. Surface of its spherical aggregates is formed by tiny (up to 80 µm) tabular crystals. Pseudomalachite aggregates are dark green, non-diaphanous and they have a shimmer to vitreous luster. Pseudomalachite is monoclinic, space group P21/c, the unit-cell parameters refined from X-ray powder data are: a = 4.4799(5), b = 5.7485(7), c = 17,061(2) Å, β = 91.13° (1), V = 439.27(6) ų. The ED analysis at electron microprobe confirmed results of X-ray diffraction study; Cu, P and O were found as main constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From August 2005 till December 2006 an occurrence of the otter, Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758), was monitored at the Hron River and the Vajskovský and Lomnistý creeks in the Hron basin of the Nízke Tatry National Park (central Slovakia), based on the presence of otter signs. Seasonal changes in marking were analysed at selected sites. The results are in accordance with the existing knowledge on marking behaviour of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilsenite, ideally Bi4Te3 was found in the body of hydrothermal metasomatites, which is located near Poruba pod Vihoraltom, Vihoralt Mts., Slovak Republic. It forms lead-grey, subhedral grains up to 7 mm in size with typical perfect cleavage. Pilsenite grains are often grouped into the aggregates and clusters up to 3 x 2 cm, which are embedded in brownish metasomatite. Its refined unit-cell parameters from the powder X-ray diffraction data (for the trigonal space group R-3m) are a = 4.430(4), c = 41.834(3) Å with V = 710.971(1) ų. The chemical composition of pilsenite is close to the end member and apart from Bi and Te only minor contents of Pb (up to 0.06 apfu), Se (up to 0.03 apfu) and S (up to 0.03 apfu) were detected. Its average empirical formula is (Bi3.95Pb0.05)Σ4.00(Te2.96Se0.02S0.02)Σ3.00 on the basis of 7 apfu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this introduction, the author discusses the role of photography as a source of information about history. He stresses the importance of interpreting photography objectively as a document that provides facts about the historical era that the images were captured in. In this particular collection, the photographs from the first Czechoslovak Republic and its president Tomas G. Masaryk help to elucidate the people and the events of the era. [ABSTRACT FROM CONTRIBUTOR]