Mines of Rammelsberg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mines of Rammelsberg are a UNESCO World heritage site near the German town of Goslar, the site of continuous mineral extraction over a period of more than 1000 years. The Rammelsberg is a mountain, whose summit is at 636 meters above sea level.
Contents |
[edit] History
The mining history of the Rammelsberg occurred as a continuous process in different phases. Initially the main product was silver ore, then later copper, and finally lead. The mines were exhausted only in the 1980s, and were shut down in 1988.
The ore contained an average of 14% of zinc, 6% lead, 2% copper, 1 g/t gold and 140 g/t silver.[1]
Recent archeological findings at the location of Düna (near Osterode) suggest that, in fact, mining at the Rammelsberg had already begun 6-700 years earlier. Layers of an early settlement dated to about the 3rd or 4th century AD located about 25 miles south of the Rammelsberg contained not only pre-industrial melting equipment but also remains of ore, which could clearly be identified as Rammelsberg ore.
In its history about 27 million tons of ore were extracted from the mountain.
[edit] Museum
After the mines were closed down by Preussag a museum was established to preserve the heritage and to display the history of the mines and their industrial equipment.
[edit] External link
[edit] References
- ^ Large D, Walcher E. (1999). "The Rammelsberg massive sulphide Cu-Zn-Pb-Ba-Deposit, Germany: an example of sediment-hosted, massive sulphide mineralisation". Mineralium Deposita 34: 522-538.
Stoppel D. (2002). "Spuren des Bergbaus im Westharz". Akad. Geowiss. Hannover, Veröffentl. 20: 77 - 84.
Aachen Cathedral · Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch · Augustusburg and Falkenlust · Bamberg · Bauhaus Sites · Berlin Museum Island · Classical Weimar · Cologne Cathedral · Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm · Dresden Elbe Valley · Goslar with Mines of Rammelsberg · Lübeck · Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg · Maulbronn Monastery Complex · Messel Pit Fossil Site · Muskauer Park (w/ Poland) · Monastic Island of Reichenau · Old Town of Quedlinburg · Pilgrimage Church of Wies · Regensburg · Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady, Trier · Sanssouci, New Palace, Berlin Pfaueninsel · St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim · Speyer Cathedral · Stralsund and Wismar · Town Hall and Roland in Bremen · Upper German Raetian Limes · Upper Middle Rhine Valley · Völklingen Ironworks · Wartburg Castle · Würzburg Residence · Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, Essen
