Bärenberger tunnel
| Bärenberger tunnel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| General information about the mine | |||
| Mining technology | Underground mining | ||
| Information about the mining company | |||
| Start of operation | proven to have been since 1338 | ||
| End of operation | 1900 | ||
| Successor use | monument | ||
| Funded raw materials | |||
| Degradation of | Copper and silver | ||
| Geographical location | |||
| Coordinates | 51 ° 13 ′ 0 ″ N , 7 ° 55 ′ 0 ″ E | ||
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| Location | Bear Mountain | ||
| local community | Plettenberg | ||
| District ( NUTS3 ) | Märkischer Kreis | ||
| country | State of North Rhine-Westphalia | ||
| Country | Germany | ||
The Bärenberg tunnels are a former silver and copper mining area on the Bärenberg near the Sauerland town of Plettenberg in North Rhine-Westphalia . The mines had been in operation since the early Middle Ages , were shut down a long time ago and placed under monument protection in 1982 because of their economic and historical importance .
When the Siegen Mining Authority was planning to close some of the tunnels in the "St. Kaspar" mine field due to necessary safeguards and increasing pinging , a citizens' initiative was formed to keep them open. Now two of the branched tunnel systems, the mines "Providence" and "Caution", are to be converted into show mines . Aspects of nature conservation ( bats , newts, salamanders and a.. Species protection ) should be considered.
Since 1338 the copper mines have been identified as Koppern-Groven up the Bermberg in the Kerchspiel Plettenbracht . Two tunnel systems running on top of each other, which were connected by blind shafts ( dies ), still prove the high mining value of the ores today . Hanging and lying (neighboring rocks) consisted largely of white quartz , interspersed with malachite . The mined ores were first selected by hand, brought into the daylight with a winch ( reel ) and crushed. After the "ore washing" they were taken to the smelter . Allegedly, samples in the mining of the corridor should have shown 27 to 50 percent copper ; In addition to this high ore content, there was about 40 grams of silver per ton.
In addition to the Bärenberg, remains of former tunnels and shafts can also be found on the Hohen Molmert , as well as extensive hollows, ditches and pings. Overall, the history of Plettenberg ore mining can be proven to go back to the year 1046, but mining must have started much earlier in some places.
There is also a popular toboggan run on the slope of the Bärenberg , which a hiking trail from Rönkhausen passes by.
