Coal seams in Ruhr mining
Middle: Shallow collapsing seam "Geitling 3" of the Witten Formation in a sloppy sandstone quarry near Witten-Heven , on the right of the Ruhr.
Below: The same sequence of layers in the Dünkelberg quarry in the Muttental on the other side of the Ruhr
In addition to metals, the coal seams in the Ruhr mining industry were the main concern of the Ruhr mining industry . The coal originated in the age of carbon . The sediment layers in the area of the Ruhr area have about 100 coal seam layers up to a depth of 3000 meters.
The seams drop roughly in a south-north direction, reaching an ever increasing depth from the marl boundary towards the north and being overlaid by other layers of sediment. The seams are up to 3 meters thick. Depending on the boundary conditions (type of coal, mining method), seams from 60 to 100 cm were mined.
The coal appears south of the marl border, i.e. mainly in the Ruhr Valley area , due to the Variscan mountainous formation in some places as black sedimentary rock on the surface of the day. At the beginning of coal mining , coal was only dug near the surface. This form of coal digging came to an end as early as the 18th century, as the demand for coal grew rapidly. At the deeper coal seams was reached later with studs , Erbstollen and finally with shafts in civil engineering .
South of the Ruhr, the layers of carbon are no longer preserved due to erosion . Here the Devonian comes to light.
designation
The coal seams were initially named according to a nomenclature specific to the mines. In the 1930s, these names were changed and unified with the Ruhr-Einheits-Designation (abbreviated: REB). The seams are combined into seam groups and are referred to as layers.
Sprockhövel layers (formerly: lean coal ) with the seams: Sengsbänksgen (the oldest known coal seam in Ruhr mining), Sengsbank, Cremer, Gottessegen, Besserdich, Hinnebecke, Neuflöz, dirt bank, water bank, main seam, slate bank, Sarnsbänksgen, Sarnsbank
Wittener layers (formerly: Esskohle ) with the seams: Mausegatt , Kreftenscheer 1–3, Geitling 1–3, Finefrau, Finefrau Nebenbank, Girondelle 1–9, Plaßhofsbank
Bochum layers (formerly: Fettkohle ) with the seams: Schöttelchen 2, sunshine, waterfall, Dünnebank, Dickebank, Angelika, Karoline, Luise, Helene, President, Johann 1,2, Wilhelm, Röttgersbank, Ernestine, Ida, Blücher 1–2, Karl, Wellington, Albert 1–4, Robert, Hugo, Mathilde 1–3, Matthias 1–3, Anna, Gretchen 1–2, Gustav, Hermann 1–2, Katharina
Essen layers (formerly: gas coal ) with the seams: Viktoria 1–2, Laura, Zollverein 1–9, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L
Horster layers (formerly: gas flame coal ) with seams: L, M, N, O 1–2, P 1–2, Q, R, S, T (Bismarck), U, V, W, X, Y 1–3 , Aegir
Dorsten layers (formerly: Flammkohle ) with the seams: Baldur, Chriemhilt 1–3, Donar, Erda, Freya 1–3, Gudrun, Hagen 1-2, Iduna, Kobold, Loki
Lithological characteristics, thickness and stratigraphic classification of the coal seam groups
The currently valid age classification of the coal seam group was carried out by the sub-commission for carbon stratigraphy within the German Stratigraphic Commission.
The Sprockhövel Formation (syn. Sprockhövel layers, formerly: lean coal) is exposed in the Ruhr area with an average thickness of 450 to 550 m. Lithologically , alternating layers of clay , silt and sandstones dominate , in which subordinate coal seams (<1% of the thickness) are embedded. Stratigraphically, the Sprockhövel Formation is classified as Namurium C. The hanging slope marks the base of the marine horizon above the Sarnsbank seam.
The Witten Formation (syn. Witten layers, formerly: Esskohle) is exposed in the Ruhr area with a thickness of 340 to 660 m. In the Witten Formation, alternating layers of clay, silt and sandstone dominate lithologically, in which subordinate coal seams (approx. 1.1% of the thickness) are embedded. Stratigraphically, the Witten Formation is classified as Westfalium A. The hanging edge marks the base of the marine horizon above the Plaßhofsbank seam.
The Bochum Formation (syn. Bochum layers, formerly: Fettkohle) is exposed in the Ruhr area with a thickness of 450 to 800 m. In the Bochum Formation, alternating layers of clay, silt and sandstone dominate lithologically, in which subordinate coal seams (2.5 to 6% of the thickness) are embedded. Stratigraphically, the Bochum formation is classified in the higher Westfalium A. The slope limit is marked by the fossil horizon above the Katharina seam.
The Essen formation (syn. Essen layers, formerly: gas coal) is exposed in the Ruhr area with a thickness of 450 m. Lithologically, alternating layers of clay, silt and sandstone dominate the Essen Formation, in which subordinate hard coal seams (3 to 5.5% of the thickness) are embedded. Stratigraphically, the Essen formation is classified as Westfalium B. The hanging slope marks the base of the marine horizon over seam L (Domina horizon).
The Horst Formation (syn. Horster layers, formerly: gas flame coal) is exposed in the Ruhr area with a thickness of 340 m. Lithologically, alternating layers of clay, silt and sandstone dominate the Horst Formation, in which the subordinate coal seams (4 to 6% of the thickness) are embedded. Stratigraphically, the Horst Formation is classified in the higher Westfalium B. The hanging slope marks the base of the marine horizon over seam Aegir.
The Dorsten Formation (syn. Dorstener layers, formerly: Flammkohle, partim) is exposed in the Ruhr area with a thickness of 365 m. In the Dorsten Formation, alternating layers of clay, silt and sandstone dominate lithologically, in which subordinate coal seams (4% of the thickness) are embedded. Stratigraphically, the Dorsten Formation is classified as Westfalium C. The hanging edge marks the base of the sandstone above the Nibelung seam.
The Lembeck formation (syn. Lembecker layers, earlier: Flammkohle, partim) is exposed in the Ruhr area with a thickness of 420 m. In the Lembeck Formation, alternating layers of clay, silt and sandstone dominate lithologically, in which subordinate coal seams (3 to 4% of the thickness) are embedded. Stratigraphically, the Lembeck Formation is classified in the higher Westfalium C. The hanging border is not open in the Ruhr area.
literature
- Walter Bischoff , Heinz Bramann, Westfälische Berggewerkschaftskasse Bochum: The small mining dictionary. 7th edition, Verlag Glückauf GmbH, Essen 1988, ISBN 3-7739-0501-7
- Heinz Kundel: coal production. 6th edition, Verlag Glückauf GmbH, Essen 1983, ISBN 3-7739-0389-8
- Ernst-Ulrich Reuther: Introduction to mining. 1st edition, Verlag Glückauf GmbH, Essen 1982, ISBN 3-7739-0390-1
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ bgr.bund.de: Lithostratigraphisches Lexikon - Litholex , accessed on December 19, 2014
- ↑ Volker Wrede: Sprockhövel-Formation , Litholex: ID 6006002, last update: March 7, 2013 , BGR (publisher), accessed on December 19, 2014
- ↑ Volker Wrede: Witten-Formation , Litholex: ID 6006004, last update: January 30, 2013 , BGR (publisher), accessed on December 19, 2014
- ↑ Volker Wrede: Bochum-Formation , Litholex: ID 6006003, last update: January 30, 2013 , BGR (publisher), accessed on December 19, 2014
- ↑ Volker Wrede: Essen-Formation , Litholex: ID 6006005, last update: January 30, 2013 , BGR (publisher), accessed on December 19, 2014
- ↑ Volker Wrede: Horst-Formation , Litholex: ID 6006006, last update: January 30, 2013 , BGR (publisher), accessed on December 19, 2014
- ↑ Volker Wrede: Dorsten-Formation , Litholex: ID 6006007, last update: January 30, 2013 , BGR (ed.), Accessed on December 19, 2014
- ↑ Volker Wrede: Lembeck-Formation , Litholex: ID 6006008, last update: January 30, 2013 , BGR (ed.), Accessed on December 19, 2014