St. Wolfgang and Maaßen

St. Wolfgang and Maaßen
General information about the mine
The reconstructed stamp mill building.
Mining technology	Ridge construction, ridge construction
Rare minerals	Eulytin, roselite, bismuthite, gold
Information about the mining company
Operating company	Union "Schneeberger Kobaltfeld"
Start of operation	1555
End of operation	1955
Funded raw materials
Degradation of	Bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead / bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead / bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead
Bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead
Gang name	Wolfgang Spat
Mightiness	0.2-1.6
Greatest depth	380 m
overall length	850 m
Bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead
Degradation of	Bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead
Gang name	Sidonie Spat
Mightiness	0.2-2.5
Greatest depth	380 m
overall length	500 m
Bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead
Degradation of	Bismuth, cobalt, silver, nickel, lead
Gang name	Friedrich August Spat
Mightiness	380 m
overall length	450 m
Gang name	Roland Morgengang
Greatest depth	380 m
overall length	2000 m
Gang name	Silver spat
Geographical location
Coordinates	50 ° 34 '11.4 "  N , 12 ° 37' 21.4"  E Coordinates: 50 ° 34 '11.4 "  N , 12 ° 37' 21.4"  E
Location St. Wolfgang and Maaßen
Location	Neustädtel
local community	Schneeberg
District ( NUTS3 )	Erzgebirgskreis
country	Free State of Saxony
Country	Germany

The Wolfgang Maaßen mine with its well-known stamping works is located on the B 169 opposite the former hunter barracks on the southern edge of Neustädtel . The mine belongs to the Schneeberger Bergrevier and was a mine that was in operation for several hundred years, in which, in addition to silver , cobalt and bismuth were extracted. At a depth of 378 m, a total of 15 main levels ( laughing lines ) were attached.

history

1555 to 1736

The treasure trove was first mentioned in the Crucis quarter of 1555 in the Schneeberger review book under the name of St. Wolfgang Hagemüller's Lehn . It was named after the mining saint St. Wolfgang , who was also the namesake of the late Gothic hall church St. Wolfgang in Schneeberg. According to the information in Rezessbuch it must be assumed that the mine already in the quarter Trinity was awarded to Wolfgang Hagemüller, since a demand for Zubuße is mentioned. In addition to the treasure trove, three lower and seven upper dimensions were named in 1555 .

In the following years, the awarding of the treasure trove and the associated dimensions alternate with being awarded and falling back into the mountain free . From 1563 the treasure trove was initially in operation without interruption. The first silver was found in 1572 and in the same year a yield of 24 guilders per kux was paid. In 1590, three lower and a total of nine upper dimensions were in operation. In 1608, the mines on the Wolfgang Spat produced silver for the last time for a long time.

Due to the location of the treasure trove in the valley of the giant ground there were problems from the beginning with the drainage . Drainage tunnels brought into the mine work to remedy this . In 1574 the Griefner Stolln reached the mine building in a saigeren depth of 36 m and in 1590 the Fürstenstolln with a saigeren depth of 118 m. The introduction of the Fürstenstollen in particular resulted in an increase in silver production. In the years 1590/91 alone, 505 kg of silver were mined. From the year 1595 the nine upper dimensions were merged. The recoverable silver deposits were largely mined. In the period from 1572 to 1606, as evidenced by extraction certificates , at least 1312 kg of silver were harvested; the actual amount is likely to be 1722 kg of silver. After Wolfgang Maaßen was sold in 1609, the targeted cobalt mining began .

For the years 1620 to 1624, the mining of cobalt on the treasure trove and the upper dimensions is proven. In 1632 only the treasure trove along with the next upper dimension and the upper 2nd to 6th dimension are reported as pits. It can be assumed that the lower three dimensions as well as the upper 8th and 9th dimensions fell into the mountain-free area.

The treasure trove, which in the meantime also fell into the mountain-free area, was taken up again in 1646 by the Schildbach family. With the cobalt contract concluded in 1641, the mining of these ores was worthwhile again. In 1650 the treasure trove and in 1657 the upper Maaßen supplies cobalt again for the first time. From 1652 yield could be paid again. Due to the collapse or the lack of functionality of the Fürstenstollen , however, it was not possible to bring the mining further down. Mining was therefore stopped for many years in 1688.

1737 to 1817

In June 1737 the treasure trove, including the upper 1st to 3rd dimensions and the lower 1st dimension, was loaned to Johann Carl Lindemann. In January 1741, as an attachment to the St. Anna Fundgrube, the Upper 4th to 8th Maass ( Wolfgang Maaßen ) was awarded to Benjamin Schönfelder, Steiger auf der Grube St. Anna and Daniel Fundgrube . Due to the restricted functionality of the Fürstenstolln , the water from the underground structures had to be raised to the level of the Griefnerstolln with the help of artificial tools . For this purpose, a bike room was carved out on the bottom of the tunnel. On August 11, 1749, during the work on this wheelhouse, a break occurred, through which five miners were buried. While the miner Carl Friedrich Schnedelbach was rescued alive, the miners Christian Heinrich Röder , Christian Georgi , Johann Gottlieb Georgi and Johann Gotthelf Lorenz stayed in the mountain and are still in the Radstube today. After this tragic accident, mining came to a standstill on the pit and the treasure trove fell back into the mountain free.

In August 1765 the treasure trove, including the upper 1st to 2nd and the lower 1st to 3rd dimensions, was lent to Carl Gottlob Lindemann and cobalt mining was resumed. In the Crucis quarter of 1771, the St. Anna Fundgrube began to clear the Beilehn Wolfgang Maaßen . In the Crucis quarter of 1777, Wolfgang Maaßen (Upper 4th to 8th Maaß) became self-employed. From 1776 onwards, work began on the Fürstenstolln in the pit field Resurrection of Christ. In 1779 this work reached the pits on the Wolfgang Spat and made it possible to loosen the pit water from the deeper structures. In the area of ​​the Upper 6th Maaß, work began on a drift shaft in 1781 . In 1784, the Fundgrube and Wolfgang Maaßen jointly brought a piece of art into an art shaft below the Fürstenstolln and powered it via a wheel room on the Fürstenstolln . Cobalt mining achieved an output of 137 quintals of cobalt per quarter in 1785 . Between 1789 and 1790 a horse gable was erected on the drive shaft .

On the Friedrich August Spat at the level of the Fürstenstolln-Sole, abundant cobalt ores were developed in 1797, which made it possible to pay the yield for the first time. The mine rose to become the most profitable mine in the Schneeberg district. In order to avoid the transport of the mined cobalt ore to the distant Siebenschlehen stamping works and to save costs, a stamping works including a wheel room was built next to the driving shaft between 1816 and 1818. Due to these high investment costs, the yield payments had to be stopped again.

Drifthouse of the Wolfgang Maaßen art and drift shaft

1818 to 1850

In order to make mining operations more effective, the St. Wolfgang Fundgrube was merged with Wolfgang Maaßen in 1818 . The Wolfgang Maaßen drive shaft became the main shaft of the mine. The mine also had two blind shafts : the artificial shaft from the Fürstenstolln sole on the Wolfgang Spat and the Wolfgang shaft from the 51- Lachter route on the Friedrich August Spat . The Friedrich August Spat and the Sidonie Spat developed into the main ore suppliers of the mine, especially in the joint area of ​​both veins.

Obviously, the mine was considered a model operation, because after the visit of Prince Johann of Saxony on July 27, 1826, Prince Friedrich August II of Saxony also visited the mine on July 6, 1829 with a large entourage. In addition to the chief miner Siegmund August Wolfgang Freiherr von Herder , this also included the Excellency Privy Councilor and Oberhofmeister Freiherr A. von Minckwitz and the adjutant Colonel Clemens Franciscus Xaver von Cerrini di Monte Varchi . According to the records, Prince Friedrich August II also drove into the mine .

In order to improve the supply situation, the mine took over the mine fields from King David and Des Elector of Saxony's arrival in Maaßen in 1830 ( Pucher treasure trove ). While the digging of the King David pit, which had been inactive for 300 years , was stopped in 1835 for cost reasons, the digging of the Griefner tunnel to the Pucher mine field was ended in 1831. In the same year, the Saigere Alexanderschacht on the Griefner Stolln, which was newly sunk between the upper 4th and 5th dimension of the Pucher Fundgrube, broke through.

The Prince Stolln was from the same union of Wolfgang Maassen further out on the Roland morning walk under the contribution of the fourth penny into the mine field Pucher promoted and reached the Alexander Spat in 1836. Until 1839, the Alexander Spat by the Prince Stolln union ascended and then probably due to cost reasons the operation stopped.

As a result of the drought in 1835 and the resulting lack of impact water for the artificial tools, the water at Wolfgang Maaßen could no longer be raised to the level of the Fürstenstolln . As a result, the pit water rose from the deepest level, the 71-Lachter route , to the 31-Lachter route .

The mines move almost exclusively on the Friedrich August Spat and the Sidonie Spat on the 31-Lachter-route , the 41-Lachter-route , the 51-Lachter-route , the 61-Lachter-route and the 71-Lachter-route . In 1841 the Wolfgangschacht reached the 71-Lachter route at a distance of 50 Lachter from the Wolfgang-Maaßen-Treibeschacht . Due to drought and a lack of impact water, at the end of the Trinity quarter (June 27 to July 3) of the year 1842, the water increased to ½ Lachter over the 51 Lachter route .

On Thursday in the 6th week of the Crucis 1843 quarter (August 10), the Marx-Semler-Stolln broke through approx. 5 puddles under the 31-puddle line in the Friedrich August Spat and made a natural water solution possible for 32 puddles (64 m saiger) below the Fürstenstollen . By Wolfgang Maassen-driving shaft of one began in 1843 with the excavation of 20 Lach Tern response range and 53 Lach Tern cross heading for Friedrich August Spat to the appropriate depth of the Marx-Semler-Stollns bring into the shaft. These excavations were completed in 1848 with the breakthrough to the Marx-Semler-Stolln . In 1844, the artifacts in the art shaft were rebuilt, as the water now only had to be lifted up to the 31 Lachter route .

With the takeover of the last externally owned kuxe of the Schneeberger mines by the blue paint works consortium in 1844, the cobalt contract that had been in force since 1659 also expired. The cobalt contract stipulated the maximum output (at Wolfgang Maaßen an average of 800 quintals per year), but at the same time guaranteed stable prices of 14.66 groschen (5.11 RM) / kg cobalt ore. This secured the mine an average income of 19,000 thalers (198,685 RM) per year until 1841. However, with the decline in minable cobalt ore reserves, these revenues began to decline.

With the introduction of the art shaft in the 96-Lachter route in 1845, the investigation of the Wolfgang Spates below the Marx-Semler-sole began. The silver ore fall on the Wolfgang Spat in 1845 also continues on the 106-Lachter route , which was posted over the art shaft in 1847. In 1847 silver to the value of 12,000 thalers (RM 125,485) was mined.

In 1848 the Wolfgang-Maaßen-Treibeschacht reached the 71-Lachter route and the Wolfgangschacht the 81-Lachter route . The mining on the Sidonie Spat and the Friedrich August Spat is shifting further down to the 81-Lachter route and the 96-Lachter route .

In 1849 the Wolfgangschacht also reached the 96-Lachter route and the art shaft reached the 116-Lachter route . The mines on the Wolfgang Spat now moved on the 61-Lachter route , the 81-Lachter route , the 96-Lachter route and the 106-Lachter route . Due to the persistent drought, on Thursday in the 11th week of the Luciae quarter (December 13, 1849) the artifacts had to be protected (= the impact water turned off) and the pit water rose to just below the 96-Lachter route . At the beginning of 1850, the dewatering could be put back into operation, so that only the 106-Lachter line and the 116-Lachter line were flooded. In addition to the previous silver fragments, rich silver ores were now also found on the Sidonie Spat . The production of silver in 1850 totaled 18,175 thalers (190,058 RM).

1851 to 1880

In the 2nd week of the Trinity quarter 1851 (April 14th to 20th), the Wolfgang Maaßen drive shaft reached the 96-Lachter route . Despite rising costs, increasing foreign competition and the use of ultramarine blue as a partial substitute for cobalt blue , the demand for good quality cobalt ore increased. The increasing processing and use of ultramarine also led to changes in production within the blue paint factories. It was in this environment that the Schneeberg-Neustädtel mine management consortium was formed in 1851 under the leadership of the blue color works. As a result, Wolfgang Maaßen also largely lost his independence.

While the Gesamtausbringen of cobalt ore in the Schneeberger mines rose sharply and peaked with 5,865 quintals in 1854, the recoverable stock went to Cobalt on Wolfgang Maassen despite the rear end collision new soles further back and was in 1851 only at 415 quintals. At a price of 13.42 groschen / kg cobalt ore (2.74 RM), the yield was reduced to 9,500 thalers (58,221 RM). The silver yield decreased to 16,759 thalers (102,708 RM).

To improve the dewatering, in the years 1852/53 a water column was installed in the Wolfgang Maaßen Treibeschacht , between the Marx Semler sole and the 96 Lachter route , for 3755 thalers (23,012 RM). After commissioning, the artificial shaft and the artificial tools were discarded .

Since the extraction by means of horse pegs became increasingly difficult due to the greater depth of the shaft and the increasing volume of extraction, the construction of a turbine peg on the Wolfgang Maaßen art and driving shaft began in 1854 . In 1855 the Wolfgang Maaßen Kunst- und Treibeschach t and the Wolfgangschacht lead to the 116-Lachter route . Both shafts were connected in 1856 by a 70 Lachter long cross passage on the Roland Morgengang . The breakthrough took place on Friday in the 9th week of the Luciae quarter 1856 (November 29).

In the same year the Fürstenstolln reached the Alexander Spat . Due to the bad weather conditions , this was only possible with the help of a fan. After reaching the Alexander Spate , the gait examination was started.

On March 9, 1857, the extraction with the turbine peg was started. The acquisition costs of this system amounted to a total of 8,266 thalers (50,658 RM). After the discovery of a new silver ore on the Sidonie Spat , the output of silver rose to 27,212 thalers (RM 166,770) in 1857. The extraction of cobalt was 325 quintals worth 3,091 thalers (RM 18,943). The silver ore falls since 1845 are among the most important in the entire Schneeberg district since 1600.

To improve the storage conditions were driven on the 71-Lachter route from Friedrich August Spat from a cross-cut on the Roland morning walk for the digestion of Maximilian Spates and the resurrection of Christ faces in the pit box of the priests mine belonging Resurrection treasure trove . In 1860, at a distance of 113 Lachter from Friedrich August Spat, a fan had to be used to improve the weather conditions and ventilation by means of ducts (clay pipes with a clear width of 22.5 cm and a length of 85 cm) had to be ensured.

After reaching the Maximilian Spat at a distance of 160 Lachtern from Friedrich August Spat in 1861, a corresponding corridor was driven there. The Maximilian Spat was also examined on the sole of the Marx-Semler-Stolln with a passage section and silver to the value of 481 Talers (RM 2,947) was already mined. The output of cobalt fell to 335 quintals in 1861 and at the same time the price per kilo for cobalt ores fell to 5.74 groschen (1.17 RM) due to quality reasons. The value of the extracted cobalt ore was therefore only 3,294 thalers (20,187 RM). Also in 1861 Otto Richard Tröger became shift supervisor for all of the Schneeberger mines. At this point in time there was a sharp decline in the supply of minable ore and the equipment in the pits was mostly out of date. The spread of cobalt in the Schneeberger Revier had decreased to 3,765 quintals. Under Tröger's direction, the exploration of new ore deposits was advanced in the following years.

By approaching a heavily water-bearing chasm in Maximilian Spat on the 71-Lachter route , at the end of the Crucis quarter (September 22-28), the 116-Lachter route was flooded in 1862 . The waters stood 4 puddles above the 116 puddle route . The water column machine in the Wolfgang Maaßen art and drift shaft , which had been working at its capacity limit for a long time, was overwhelmed by the water that was mainly from Maximilian Spat and was rebuilt in 1863 at a cost of 4,013 thalers (RM 24,594). In the 8th week of the Luciae quarter (November 16-22) it was put back into operation. During the construction period, the water in the pit rose to 1.4 Lachter over the 71 Lachter route .

In 1864 Wolfgang Maaßen and Priester Fundgrube were merged to form Wolfgang Maaßen including Priester Fundgrube . One year later, in 1865, the driving of the 116-Lachter-route from Friedrich August Spat on the Roland Morgengang to the Maximilian Spat in the field of the Resurrection of Christ began. In 1867 the Marx-Semler-Stollnort reached the Alexander Spat . In the period that followed, further exploration of the Maximilian Spate between Fürstenstolln and Marx-Semler-Stolln was successfully advanced.

Due to the sharp rise in the bismuth price, from 25.9 groschen / kg (9.03 RM) in 1841 to 6 Taler 14 groschen / kg (45.51 RM) in 1867, Tröger initiated the intensification of the work in the Pucherschacht district . In 1868 the old heaps to Wismuterzen were cut through and an investigation tunnel was created from the neighboring Filzbach, which found the Alexander Spat at a depth of 2.5 lachterns. The one -ton shaft, which was also sunk in 1868 for further investigation on the Alexander Spat , had to be abandoned in the same year due to the insufficient stability of the mountains. In 1868 Wolfgang Maaßen achieved an output of 51,018 thalers (358,583 RM). The bismuth ores extracted during the investigation alone accounted for 13,956 thalers (98,090 RM).

In 1869, the depth of a new erection shaft (Pucherschacht) with the dimensions 5.9 by 3.9 meters between Alexander Spat and Friedefürst Spat in the area of ​​the Pucher treasure trove began. At the end of the year it had reached a depth of 7.5 laughs.

Due to the strong accumulation of water, a locomobile was temporarily used on the Pucherschacht for dewatering in 1869 . In order to permanently solve the problem of dewatering, a steam engine with an output of 10 HP was installed at the same time at the shaft, which should also be used for later extraction. By 1870 the necessary machine house, the greenhouse and the boiler house including the forge valued at a total of 7,282 thalers (51,182 RM) had been completed. In the 6th week of the Trinity quarter (May 2nd to 8th) the new water lift was put into operation, and from the 11th week of the Trinity quarter (June 6th to 12th, 1870) the further depth of the one that had already begun in 1869 began Straightening shaft possible.

In mid-August 1870, the bottom of the Griefner Stolln was reached at a depth of 21 Lachtern, and at this depth a 19 Lachter-long crosscut was driven to the Alexander Spat , which was reached at the end of the year. Also at the end of 1870, when the Wolfgang Maaßen art and drift shaft was sunk, the 146 Lachter route was reached . The shaft had thus reached its final depth at 163.88 m above sea level with a total depth of 378 m. The total output had meanwhile decreased to 34,810 thalers (244,664 RM), probably due to the stagnating underground work.

In 1871, after a total of 174 laughs, the breakthrough was achieved by driving the Griefner Stolln in the opposite direction. This made the water lifting on the Pucherschacht superfluous. From the Pucherschacht the Alexander Spat was driven over a length of 45 Lachtern. The 270 quintals of bismuth ore extracted in the process, with a total value of 22,562 thalers (158,578 RM), increased the output of the mine in 1871 to 53,070 thalers (373,006 RM). During these journeys a new mineral was discovered and described by August Frenzel. The new mineral was named Pucherit at the request of the shift foreman Johann Maximilian Graff . In the same year, the Maximilian Spat was reached by driving the 116 Lachter route . In 1872, after clearing the Griefner Stolln on the Untitled Morning Walk from the Alexander Spat , after 145.9 m, the Prince of Peace Spat was reached. The 3rd day shaft ( 3rd Maaßenschacht ) on the Friedefürst Spat corridor was cleared in order to establish weather management . In the same year, the investigation of the passage on the bottom of the Fürstenstollen began.

In 1873 the Pucherschacht between the hanging bank and the Griefner tunnel was bricked up. He received a clear dimension of 5.1 by 2.8 m. The Griefner Stollnflügel on the Friedefürst Spat was opened up on site. And in the central area of Wolfgang Maassen the investigation work on the go Wolfgang Spat , Sidonie Spat and Friedrich August Spat on. After driving through a cross passage on the 146 Lachter route from the artificial and driving shaft, the Wolfgang Spat was reached after 28.3 m .

The work carried out in the central district by Wolfgang Maaßen in 1874 on manhole regulation and the excavation of a break in a route on the 51-Lachter route resulted in ore discoveries by chance. Ore finds were also made on the 116 Lachter route on the Friedrich August Spat .

To replace the horse peg on the art and driving shaft, work began in 1875 on the construction of a steam peg that is to be powered by a 20 HP steam engine. The greenhouse and the associated forge were built.

To ensure better extraction, the shaft tube was enlarged and equipped with iron rails. All work on the new conveyor system was completed in 1876. The total cost was 59,464 marks (139,317 RM). In the same year took place in the area of Pucherschachts the breakdown of Imanuelschachts , one in the incidence of Alexander Spates geteuften blind shaft between the sole of the Prince Stolln and Griefner Stolln .

In 1878 we achieved on the 146-Lachter route on the Roland morning walk to Friedrich August Spat m at a distance of 75 from Wolfgang Spat out. In the same year, the north-western Griefner Stollnflügel was stopped on the Friedefürst Spat .

Wolfgang Maaßen was only able to survive through the bismuth ores in the department of the Pucherschacht . While 65 percent of the yield in 1868 was achieved through the sale of cobalt ores, this proportion went up to 20 percent by 1876 with an output of 97,662 marks (228,715 RM) and in 1880 with an output of 147,590 marks (345,782 RM) ) to only 7.5 percent.

1880 to 1945

In 1880 the Schneeberg mines Daniel , Weißer Hirsch , Gesellschaft , Bergkappe ( Türk ) and Wolfgang Maaßen were combined to form the Schneeberg cobalt field at the instigation of the blue color works . The focus of cobalt and silver mining shifted to the area of ​​the Resurrection of Christ Treasure Trove , where mining took place on the Maximilian Spat between the 71-Lachter route and the 116-Lachter route . Mainly thanks to the rich bismuth ore in the Pucherschacht department , Wolfgang Maaßen was the largest of the 5 combined mines with 25 percent of the workforce and 30 percent of the extraction.

In 1882, the Pucherschacht was replaced by a steam engine by means of a reel up to the Griefner Stollnsohle . At the same time, rails were laid on the Alexander Spat and Friedefürst Spat on the Griefner Stollnsohle to facilitate extraction.

Across from the Wolfgang Maaßen Treibeschacht , a steam pounding mill with an output of 12 hp was built in 1883 and the outdated stoves in the laundry were replaced by modern pusher stoves that were powered by a 2 hp steam engine. On the Marx-Semler-Stollnsohle between the Maximilian Spat , the Wolfgang Maaßen Treibeschacht and the Pucherschacht department over a length of 1,203 meters, rails for the extraction were laid. The total cost of this investment was 21,345 marks (32,932 RM) (all original figures were converted to RM as of 1938). In the same year, the Stollnort of the Marx-Semler-Stolln reached the Prince of Peace on the Roland Morgengang .

In 1884 was on the Alexander Spat with apatite , a new for Schneeberger ground mineral discovered.

In 1885, the excavation of the 146 Lachter route from Friedrich August Spat to Maximilian Spat began. The aim was to investigate the ore falls on the Maximilian Spat more closely .

Gait examinations were intensified to improve the stock balance. In 1886, on the 71-Lachter route , a cross passage from Maximilian Spat in a northerly direction after 213 m reached Neuhoffnung Flache . In the 10th week of the Trinity quarter (May 31st to June 6th) 1886, the Pucherschacht , which was further sunk to improve the extraction and water solution, crossed the Alexander Spat on the Fürstenstollnsohle .

In 1887, in search of building worthy bismuth ores, the old buildings (e.g. on the 8-Lachter route on the Wolfgang Spat ) were cleared up again in the central district of Wolfgang Maaßen . In 1887, Wolfgang Maaßen installed an electrical signaling device for rope travel by means of a buoy in the artificial and drift shaft to improve navigation .

In 1888, in the Pucher mine field , the “ Fürstenstolln” gallery on the Alexander Spat was reached after 426.7 m west of the Roland Morgengang . Here the corridor broke. To explore the Ganges further, a dig was dug on the Zschorlauer Flur on the Alexander Spat, named as the New Elector of Saxony Arrival , which at the end of 1888 reached a depth of 20 m. To further investigate the mineralization encountered there, the shaft was further sunk in 1889. However, accumulated water stopped work after a few meters.

In 1890 the stamp mill received a separate steam boiler. In addition, an iron conveyor bridge with a steam reel was built from the Wolfgang Maaßen mine to the stamp mill. Also in 1890 was achieved with the excavation of the 164-Lachter route to Maximilian Spat .

In 1891, the work at Friedefürst Spat on the Marx-Semler-Stollnsohle was given up and in 1892, after a water ingress in the Alexander Spat 369 m southeast of the Roland Morgengang, it was also stopped. Due to the drought and the resulting lack of impact water, the water column machine had to be protected in October 1892. Thereupon the water rose up to 2 m over the 81-Lachter route . The water level reached its highest level on February 12, 1893, at 10 m above the 71 Lachter route . Despite the swamp that started again , the water was still 12 m above the 81 Lachter route at the beginning of 1894 . Only the installation of two new pressure packs in the water column machine provided a solution and the pit could be completely swamped by September 1894. A construction developed by Doppelhäuer Heinrich Voigt for collecting the drilling dust during mechanical drilling shows that the problem of drilling dust that arises during dry drilling was dealt with at an early stage. Until then, attempts were made to bind the drilling dust with damp tow and moisten the borehole.

In 1897, a new corridor, the Maria Spat , was used in the Priester pit on the 71-Lachter route . The Maria Spat replaced the Maximilian Spat , which had been successfully cultivated for 35 years, as the main course of the mine. The Alexander Spat , which was built up to 10.5 m below the turf bottom (level of the natural surface of the earth at the shaft) , increasingly hit the old structures, so that in 1899 mining stopped and the field at the Pucherschacht above the Griefner tunnel was abandoned.

In 1899, cheaper electrical lighting with 12 light bulbs was installed in the Wolfgang Maaßen stamping works, replacing the gas oil lighting.

Wolfgang Maassen's mining field reached very large dimensions in the years after 1900. In the field of the priest treasure trove , the investigation of the Morgenrot flat and the Neuhoffnung flat on the 71-Lachter route was unsuccessful. The Maximilian Spat also only supplied ores with a low bismuth, but rich in arsenic . In 1904, in the eastern field of the Pucherschacht , on the Griefner Stollnsohle, a strand of the Alexander Spates leading to bismuth ore was developed. In the western field, on the other hand, in 1906 on the Fürstenstollnsohle the Prince of Peace Spat was hit with an empty granite.

In 1910 all work below the Marx-Semler-Stollnsohle was stopped for cost reasons and the pit was flooded up to this level. The field of the Pucherschacht was dropped. The water column machine in the Wolfgang Maaßen drive shaft was broken off and the shaft under the Marx-Semler-Stollnsohle was kept with an iron platform.

In 1911, a water turbine was installed on the bottom of the tunnel, which drove a compressor with the released impact water and was supposed to deliver compressed air to the Fundgrube Gesellschaft via a ring line . After the failure of this project due to technical inadequacies, the compressor was also broken off again.

In order to use the water of 9 m ³ / h on the Marx-Semler-Stolln and 19.5 m ³ / h on the Fürstenstolln from the pit field of the Pucherschacht , the Marx-Semler-Stolln at a distance of 161 m from Wolfgang Spat spilled with a concrete dam 2 m thick. On the Roland Morgengang at a distance of 284 m from Wolfgang Spat , the Fürstenstolln was also filled with a concrete dam 1.5 m thick. The water now ran over the Griefner tunnel to the Schindlerschacht where it could be used as impact water for dewatering.

The investigation and, in some cases, the extraction work continued on the anhydrous levels until mining was discontinued in 1932. The stamp mill on Wolfgang Maaßen ceased operations in the mid-twenties. In 1939 all the shafts and probably also the steam pounding mill were demolished.

Since 1945

Hunt in front of the former mine buildings

After the end of the Second World War , on the orders of Captain Regens, the Russian city ​​commander Schneeberg, the mining of BiCoNi ores was resumed in the Schneeberg district in September 1945 and the first exploration work was carried out on uranium.

After the founding of Wismut AG on June 6, 1947, the still open Wolfgang Maaßen art and drift shaft was reconstructed by the Wismut object 03, which works in Schneeberg , probably in the same year . In contrast to other shafts, the Wolfgang Maaßen artificial and driving shaft was not included in the usual shaft numbering.

In order to examine the soles below the Marx-Semler-Stolln , the mine field was swamped. It turned out to be an advantage that there was no connection to the rest of the Schneeberg district below the Marx-Semler-Stolln . The aim of the investigation by the Bismut was probably the arsenic shaft , in which uranium ore was found in 1896. The arsenic shaft is located between the Marx-Semler-Stollnsohle and the 61-Lachter-route on the Wolfgang Spat in the eastern part of the mine field. The mine field was probably swamped to the very bottom, but the investigation was terminated without any result.

In 1954 and 1955, a skarn ore deposit was also examined, which was mentioned in 1860 by Oberbergrat Karl Hermann Müller. The Skarnerzlager is located in the area of ​​the 96-Lachter route between the drive shaft and the old art shaft. With the conclusion of the investigations, the activities of the Wismut on Wolfgang Maaßen ended .

Only in 1973 did Wolfgang Maaßen come back into focus. The Schneeberg mountain protection team overcame the Wolfgang Maaßen art and drift shaft and reconstructed it up to the Griefner tunnel sole . The plan was to set up a visitor mine. However, the project failed due to the objection of the NVA , since the Schneeberg barracks and the practice area were in the immediate vicinity. However, in order to keep further options open for the future, the Wolfgang Maaßen artificial and driving shaft was only secured with a concrete slab.

The Bergbauverein Schneeberg / Erzgebirge eV, founded in 1994, began in the late 1990s . interested in the pit area. The idea was born to preserve and reconstruct the historical building ensemble. In addition to the stamp mill, other buildings of the mine have been preserved in the vicinity, such as the hut house, the Steigerhaus built in 1825, the Pochwerkssteigerhaus built in 1820 and the mountain smithy built in 1855 . In 2002 the association took over the stamp mill.

Wave of the art wheel in the wheel room of the stamp mill on Wolfgang Maaßen

After the last tenants had left the dilapidated stamp mill building in 2003, work on this building could begin and for the purpose of documentation the building was photographed in detail in August 2004. Also in August 2004 the filled in surcharge was exposed and the wheel chamber of the punching wheel was made accessible.

After the coring of the stamp mill building, parts of the framework of the inner and outer walls had to be replaced and the walls had to be re- padded . The entire outer wall was then provided with wooden shingles. The roof and the roof structure were completely renewed and on September 11, 2007 the new bell tower was put on. During the operating hours, the bell at Wolfgang Maassen's was not used, as is usual, to indicate the common underground machinery, but was equipped with a clock and an hour strike. That was unique for the Schneeberger Revier. On July 22nd, 2011, the new bell could be lifted into the bell tower and on December 1st, 2011 the original, restored and restored clockwork was started. The clockwork was probably built around 1700.

In the future it is also planned to rebuild the greenhouse built in 1875 and the boiler house extension built in 1890 on the stamp mill.

The reconstruction work is still ongoing and is financially supported by the Aue Nickelhütte , the former Niederpfannenstiel blue paint factory .

Ore veins and ore guidance in the mine field

The Wolfgang Maaßen mining field is located on the southwestern edge of the Schneeberger deposit and on the northeastern edge of the Eibenstock granite. The carbonaceous slates that predominate here belong to the productive series of the Loessnitz-Zwönitzer Zwischenmulde. The Eibenstock granite falling to the northeast probably reaches a depth of 0 m above sea level in the area of Wolfgang Maaßen . In the area of ​​the Resurrection of Christ Treasure Trove , the granite top is at −200 m above sea level. The Prince of Peace Spat in the pit of the Pucherschacht obviously represents a fault between the granite and the slate.

The approx. 2000 m long Roland Morgengang , which sweeps through the mine field at 200 °, was of outstanding importance for the mine operation. All main routes and tunnels were cross-cut on it. The Roland Morgengang belongs to the empty quartz veins of the eq formation.

The spar tunnels were of economic importance for the mine, and the shallow tunnels were of secondary importance. The direction of incidence of most of the corridors is northeast. The Maximilian Spat , the Joseph Spat , the Morgenrot Flache and the Neuhoffnung Flache fall to the southwest. In contrast to other tunnels in the Schneeberger deposit, the tunnels in Wolfgang Maassen's mine field could reach considerable dimensions. The Sidonie Spat and also the Maximilian Spat reached a thickness of over 2 m, the Alexander Spat and the Wolfgang Spat still a thickness of 1.5 m. These veins all belong to the BiCoNi formation prevailing in Schneeberg, in which dolomite , siderite , ankerite , calcite and quartz are predominant as vein fillings . The mineralization of the veins was sometimes very different.

In the Friedrich August Spat and Sidonie Spat vein system , rich cobalt bismuth ores were found. The quantities of silver-rich pyrite and marcasite , galena , chalcopyrite and solid silver were also not insignificant . Proustite , acanthite / argentite , native copper and native arsenic were also subordinate .

The Wolfgang Spat mainly supplied low-cob nickel-bismuth ores. Proustite and acanthite as well as the silver-rich marcasite and galena were also mined in the Wolfgang Spat . In addition, heterogenite and safflorite appeared here for the first time .

The Maximilian Spat in the area of ​​the Resurrection of Christ Treasure Trove mainly supplied cobalt and bismuth ores rich in arsenic. In addition, tennantite , galena, chloanthite , native silver and prostite were mined. The occurrence of roselite and spherocobaltite was considered a special feature .

The Alexander Spat and the Prince of Peace Spat in the mine field of Pucherschacht delivered mainly Wismuterze, subordinated and cobalt ore came before. A special feature here found bismite , Nickellotharmeyerit , pucherite , Schlegelit and Schumacherit .

Pechblende was found on the Wolfgang Spat (1896), on the Friedrich August Spat and on the Maximilian Spat of uranium minerals . Furthermore, Torbernite was found on the Peace Prince Spat and the Alexander Spat , as well as Uranocircite , Uranospinite , Zeunerite and Trögerite on the Peace Prince Spat .

While the Wolfgang Spat , the Friedrich August Spat and the Sidonie Spat were built from the surface to the 146 Lachter route at a depth of 378 meters, the drives in the Maximilian Spat ended on the 116 Lachter route and the driveways of the Alexander Spates and the Prince of Peace Spat on the Marx-Semler sole. The Morgenrot Flache , the Joseph Spat , the Neuhoffnung Flache , the St. Georg Flache and also the Resurrection of Christ Flache , which has become known through historical silver finds, were found in the mine field of the Resurrection of Christ treasure trove without significant mineralization .

A special feature in Wolfgang Maassen's mine field was the appearance of thin skarn ore deposits, the mineralization of which consisted of amphiboles and pyroxenes . Calcite, hessonite , epidote , corundum and pyrophyllite are subordinate . The mineralization that is partially present in the skarn consists of pyrite, magnetite , sphalerite , lollingite , arsenopyrite , chalcopyrite, galena and isolated gold flakes .

literature

• Calendar for the Saxon mountain and hut man. 1827 to 1851 Royal Mining Academy in Freiberg.
• Yearbook for the mountain and hut man. 1852 to 1872 Royal Mining Academy in Freiberg.
• Yearbook for mining and metallurgy in the Kingdom of Saxony. 1873 to 1917.
• Yearbook for mining and metallurgy in Saxony 1918 to 1934 .
• Bergbauverein Schneeberg eV (ed.): 450 years of St. Wolfgang treasure trove and its masses . 2. Conference proceedings. Schneeberg February 2004, OCLC 698808332 .
• Bergbauverein Schneeberg eV (ed.): 450 years of St. Wolfgang treasure trove and its masses . 3. Conference proceedings. Schneeberg May 2005, OCLC 315554884 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Purchasing power as a measure of the value of money. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on January 2, 2015 ; accessed on March 25, 2018 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ^ Bergbauverein Schneeberg eV 6th conference volume, part 2, 2012.
3. ↑ Mineralienatlas: Type locality Grube Wolfgangmaßen
4. ^ Spherocobaltite. on: realgems.org
5. ↑ Mineralienatlas : type localities Alexander-Schacht , Grube Friedefürst (shaft 77) and Pucher-Schacht incl. Dump
6. ↑ C. Schiffner: Uranium Minerals in Saxony. Freiberg i. Sat. 1911.

Remarks

1. ↑ As Beilehn or Beilehen is called an additionally imparted pit box, which is connected with another holding moderately pit pitch. (Source: Tilo Cramm, Joachim Huske: Miners' language in the Ruhr area. )
2. ↑ The direction that runs horizontally across the longitudinal axis of the deposit is referred to as cross-cutting . (Source: Förderverein Rammelsberger Bergbaumuseum Goslar eV (Ed.): Ore mining in Rammelsberg. )

Web links

Commons : St. Wolfgang and Maaßen  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Bergbauverein Schneeberg / Erzgebirge eV Accessed on November 1, 2014 (operator website).