Mining by country

Mining in Slovenia

Mining in Slovenia: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents close to zero (2021) and ores and metals at 2.7% of merchandise exports (2025). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals2.7%of merchandise exports, 2025.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law+0.92above 80% of countries
  • Political stability+0.88above 75% of countries
  • Regulatory quality+0.66above 77% of countries
  • Control of corruption+0.63above 73% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Slovenia at a glance

Mining since
Idrija mercury (1490). The Idrija museum counts mining from 1490 and held a 500th anniversary of the discovery of mercury ore in 1990. Source: Mestni muzej Idrija
Mining law
Mining Act No. 61/2010. Amended in 2012 and 2013. Source: USGS
UNESCO mining heritage
Heritage of Mercury: Almaden and Idrija (2012, shared with Spain). Idrija is the Slovenian half of the joint mercury heritage listing. Source: Wikidata
Main mines
Premogovnik Velenje lignite mine Source: USGS

Official sitesGeological survey

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Slovenia

What the ground holds. lignite, coal, lime, clay, salt, pumice, sand and gravel, stone, cement, aluminium and steel. Source: USGS

Did you know

Idrija

The Idrija museum counts mercury mining from 1490. The Kamst pumping system drew water from 283 m down.

Source: Mestni muzej Idrija

Famous mines in Slovenia

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Europe

RussiaSpainSwedenGermanyNorwayPolandAustriaPortugalFranceUkraine

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

Keep exploring

Stories from Slovenia and its minerals

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.