The Turda salt mine has been exploited since Neolithic times, but was systematically mined during Roman rule from 106-275 AD. Salt was extracted from rooms up to 34 meters deep and 12 meters wide. Lying in northeast Turda, the salt deposit covers 45 square kilometers and contains over 37,750 million tons of nearly pure salt. After closing in 1932, the mine was later used as an air raid shelter and from 1992 has been open to tourists, preserving the historical salt mining infrastructure and equipment.

1. TURDA SALT MINE

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Turda's salt deposit has been known and exploited by
ancient times (Neolithic Age), but it was put into
systematic operation of the deposit, by underground
mining work, during the Roman conquest in Dacia
(106 to 274–275 AD).
The salt was exploited in rooms of 17-34m (56-112
feet) depth and 10-12m (33-39 feet) width, disposed
one near the other an separated by a safety
consolidation. This system ensured a massive
extraction of the salt, but it worked only in those
areas where the salt was exploited near the surface.
Salt was continuously extracted during the 6 and 9
century, along with other very useful minerals.

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Lying in the north-eastern
part of the town the deposit
covers an area of about 45
square kilometers while the
average thickness of the
layer of salt is around 250
meters.
In the axial area of the fold
average salt thickness
frequently goes to over 1200
meters. The salt from Turda
is a monomineral rock,
consisting of mineral halite
(NaCl) whose proportion
surpasses 99%. The geologic
reserve supply is of 37,750
million tons.

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The extraction well room - Iosif Mine - Contemporary Art
Museum
Dress circle - Iosif Mine
The octogonal room
The extraction well room - Rudolf Mine
The appeal room - The Altar - The Rich men's Stair
Dress circle - Terezia Mine
Rudolf Mine
Stationary room - Ghizela Mine
Digger's room - Ghizela Mine
Slopped way out to the Salt Valley
Anton Mine

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After its closing in 1932 the salt mine was
forgotten till the second World War, when it was
reopened and used as an antiaircraft shelter.
Up to the year 1992, when the salt mine was
opened to the public, getting the status of
touristic site, the first 500 meters of Franz
Joseph conveyance gallery had been used for
quite a long time, as a warehouse for cheese
storage.
The Turda Salt Mine is today a genuine history
museum of Salt exploitation.
The excellent condition of the mining
compartments and the equipment used for salt
transportation, as well as the care with which
the mine was prepared for touristic used, have
turned it into a place of mingled history and
legend. The ever higher number of tourists
coming here from most various parts of the
world to visit the mine are but a confirmation of
its historical and touristic value.

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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http://www.welcometoromania.ro/Turda/Turda_Salina_Turda
_e.htm
www.infotraveltransilvania.ro
http://romania.ici.ro/en/alfabet/pagina.php?id=143
petrumihaisacu.blogspot.com
Costin Daniel Mitrea, 6th Grade, Dichiseni School/Romania
Five Senses Project
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This
publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission
cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information