Bug crates
In the pit beetle walks was to 1997 river and barite mined. The largest fluorspar deposit in Europe is assumed to be in the Käfersteige area . The lugs and the more modern, with road-going trucks drivable ramp is Pforzheim , local Wurm in Würmtal towards Tiefenbronn . In the area there are other river and barite deposits near the castle ruins of Liebeneck , Dillweißstein and Huchenfeld, some of which were also briefly dismantled.
history
In 1920, as part of the exploration of heavy spar deposits in the Pforzheim area, attention was drawn to this passage . The first lease was signed on May 10, 1932 between the state of Baden and Alois Hartmann . On December 1, 1933, Hartmann transferred his rights to the company Fluss- und Schwerspatwerke Pforzheim, Döppenschmitt & Co. in Pforzheim, which was founded and financed by the gold goods manufacturer Döppenschmitt . Operations began in early 1934; In 1940 the works went to IG Farben and in 1951 to Bayer Leverkusen .
In 1997, the group stopped mining the minerals in the Käfersteige mine. The reasons cited were competition from cheaper imports, the decline in the European fluorocarbon industry and unfavorable exchange rates.
present
The tunnels, shafts and the ramp in the Würmtal have now been preserved , i. H. provided with seals and gates, which, however, have weather openings . The pit has sunk to the groundwater level . The truck ramp in particular is almost completely under water . Since 1997, the tunnel on the road to Tiefenbronn has been repeatedly broken open for wild driving , probably because it still contains a hoisting machine . The use of this tunnel by unauthorized persons is not only legally questionable, but also dangerous.
future
In the meantime, the demand for fluorspar has risen again to such an extent that mining on the Käfersteig is interesting again. This is not least due to the demand from the Chinese market. A Canadian consortium has submitted an application for mutation for the Käfersteig. So far, however, the mine has not been able to operate again because the mine waste water is contaminated with heavy metals and cannot be drained untreated into the local Würm receiving water .
Coordinates: 48 ° 50 ′ 51.8 " N , 8 ° 46 ′ 4.2" E
Web links
Käfersteige brochure The history of mining in the Würmtal
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