United Ernsthall potash plant
| "United Ernsthall" potash plant | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| General information about the mine | |||
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| other names | Ernsthall (Georgi) and Neu-Mansfeld shafts | ||
| Information about the mining company | |||
| Start of operation | 1898 | ||
| End of operation | 1925 | ||
| Successor use | no | ||
| Funded raw materials | |||
| Degradation of | |||
| Mightiness | up to approx. 20 m | ||
| Greatest depth | 415.6 m | ||
| Geographical location | |||
| Coordinates | 51 ° 27 '39 " N , 11 ° 45' 30" E | ||
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| Location | Wansleben am See | ||
| local community | Mansfelder Land lake area | ||
| District ( NUTS3 ) | Mansfeld-Südharz | ||
| country | State of Saxony-Anhalt | ||
| Country | Germany | ||
| District | Saale-Unstrut | ||
The United Ernsthall potash plant was a mine with an attached potash factory of the "Mansfeldsche Kupferschieferbauenden trade union" not far from the village of Wansleben am See in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz in Saxony-Anhalt . The Salzige See , once north of Wansleben , whose water posed a permanent threat to the mine workings of the Mansfeld copper slate mining , was drained in 1894. An exploratory borehole sunk in the edge of the lake in 1896 showed that there was a ca.35 m thick potash deposit.
Geological and hydrogeological reservoir conditions
Geological and reservoir economic situation
The Neu-Mansfeld and Ernsthall mine fields are located on the NE and SW flanks of the Teutschenthaler Saddle, which runs from Delitz via Teutschenthal in the direction of Eisleben . To the east of Wansleben, the Teutschenthaler Sattel is still available as a conforming salt saddle; In the area west of Wansleben, on the other hand, the saddle head was sucked off as a result of the lifting of the saddle axis in a north-westerly direction. The construction fields of the two shafts are closely adjacent to the leaching area created in this way , the so-called Eisleber lowland . The eastern edge of the leaching depression (identical to the eastern bank of the former salty lake) follows the surrounding stroke of the potash store and is also clearly recognizable morphologically . The salt level is assumed to be at a depth of −150 m above sea level. The entire leaching area is characterized by increased subsidence and sinkhole activity . Northwest of the Ernsthall / Neu-Mansfeld pit fields, the Teutschenthaler Sattel is traversed by the Hornburg Deep Fault running through the WSW-ENE . a. caused the large transverse saddle of the so-called Salzke saddle. In the area of the Ernsthall / Neu-Mansfeld mine or its immediate vicinity, some exploratory boreholes were drilled around the turn of the century, some of which are located in the area of the compliant salt saddle and others in the area that has already been extracted.
Geological conditions of the Ernsthall mine
The shaft itself was sunk roughly in the area of the saddle axis of the Teutschenthaler saddle. From here, the construction fields were opened up to the north and west up to a distance of around 200-300 m from the salt level area. According to the shaft profile and the results of the underground drilling, the normal profile of the Zechstein up to the red salt clay was fully developed. The incidence of the layers averaged 30 ° east in the north field and 25 ° south in the west field. The thickness of the potash deposit varied between 10–12 m in the north field and 15–20 m in the west field. The doubling of the camp (caused by flowing tectonic processes in the wake of the Hornburg Deep Fault), as also found in the shaft profile, was remarkable . However, the thickness of the upper camp only reached values of 3–4 m; the K 2 O content of the upper bearing is given as 12.6%.
An analysis of the recoverable salt of the lower (main) store from 1902 shows 13.5% KCl, 27.3% NaCl, 14.0% MgSO 4 , 2.8% CaSO 4 , 18.3% MgCl 2 and 24.1% H 2 O after. Later samples (mainly chopped samples), on the other hand, have K 2 O contents between 9.7 and 12.1%. In general, the carnallite rock was mostly developed as a gray-colored kieseritic rubble mercarnallite. The rock salt content was estimated to be low. Tachhydrite deposits have only been observed in the area of the connecting section between the Ernsthall and Neu-Mansfeld shafts in the central part of the camp.
Geological conditions of the Neu-Mansfeld mine
The shaft was sunk on the NE flank of the Teutschenthaler saddle. In the shaft profile above the main anhydrite, only the leaching residues of Zechstein 3 and 4 were found. The pit field was created around the strike of the deposit and developed in the direction of NW and SE. The potash deposit is predominantly developed as a gray-colored kieseritic rubble mercarnallite; only in the northern field was red-colored carnallite found. Older documents show that in the southern field next to it a “ sylvin-rich, opalescent carnallite rock ” with a K 2 O content of 20% was observed in the form of a lens on the surface of the camp.
In the rest of the construction site, the K 2 O content of the carnallitite averaged 10%. The average thickness was approx. 15 m. As in the Ernsthall mine, tachhydrite only appeared in the middle section of the storage facility. The Neu-Mansfeld mine field is characterized by the occurrence of various tectonic fault zones . As flow phenomena of the "salt bulge" that rose at the corners of the Hornburg deep fault, scale-like doubling of the potash store was encountered several times. So lies u. a. The line salt (Na3) appears in the area of the 280 m level directly above the lower potash deposit, followed by a kieserite region only one meter thick , which is overlaid by a second, thin potash deposit. Also at the NW end of the 400 m level, the line salt lies directly on the potash deposit due to the tectonic compression of the main anhydrite and the gray salt clay. A hard salt deposit also occurs in the NW field on the hanging wall of the potash store .
Hydrogeological conditions
The hydrogeolog. Conditions in the area of the Ernsthall / Neu-Mansfeld pits are affected by the leaching in the immediate vicinity and by the activities of copper shale and lignite mining, e.g. T. influenced. In the leaching basin of the Eisleber lowland there are currently, in addition to the Süßen See , the Kerner See near the Neu-Mansfeld mine and the Binder See further to the west . The latter are the remains of the Salty Lake .
The following should be noted for the general hydrogeological assessment of the strata in the vicinity of the two shafts :
- Cenozoic: generally poor water flow due to low rainfall and a small catchment area.
- Upper Buntsandstein: water flow mainly in the dolomite and gypsum horizons of the Röt .
- Middle red sandstone: most important aquifer.
- Lower red sandstone: low-pore, water-impermeable rocks, aquifers mainly roe stone horizons .
- Zechstein: strong water flow. Formation of underground solution surfaces ( salt level ) and cavities.
The brine springs , which were previously known in the Eisleben lowlands , declined after the water ingress in the pits of the Mansfeld copper slate mining of 1889. In connection with the leaching phenomena, the deformation of the surface in the form of sinkholes and extensive depressions should be mentioned. The former are concentrated - depending on the course of the Hornburg deep fault - particularly in the Rollsdorf area . A direct connection or a connection between the Rollsdorf sinkhole and the nearby Neu-Mansfeld mine could not be determined until the shaft was filled.
history
On March 1, 1898, work began on sinking the “Ernsthall” shaft - also known as the “Georgi shaft” (named after Otto Georgi ) in older documents . The starting point of the shaft - located directly on the eastern edge of the Wansleben location and approx. 100 m south of the Halle-Eisleben railway line - was in the area of a brickworks (formerly Henkel & Co.), which was bought in 1898 by the Mansfeld copper-slate-building union . In addition to the shaft construction work, she also continued the brick factory on her own account.
1910 was carried out drilling of a second shaft . This "Neu-Mansfeld shaft" (the spelling is often Neumansfeld ) - was sunk approx. 1.5 km north of the Wansleben location, on the eastern edge of the former salt lake . Parts of the “Ernsthall” mine field are located to the south and north of the railway line and within the local area. The main field of the mine works is to the east of the locality. No mining was carried out below the railway line in a strip approx. 40 m wide . This left standing safety pillars was with routes that with expansion , drilled through repeatedly were provided. After the Neu-Mansfeld shaft had been sunk, a connection to the Georgi shaft was made on the 302 m level.
| detail | Ernsthall shaft (Georgi) | Neu-Mansfeld shaft |
|---|---|---|
| Sinking period | 1898 | 1910 |
| Pull-in or pull-out shaft | taking off | moving in |
| Shaft diameter | 6.00 m | 4.25 m |
| Shaft height above sea level | 108.50 m | 86.45 m |
| Shaft depth | 400.0 m | 415.6 m |
| Sole depths | 1st level 302.0 m. 2nd level 385.0 m | 1st level 285.0 m. 2nd level 400.0 m |
Shaft sinking / shaft lining
With the sinking of the shaft Ernst Hall (Georgi) was started on March 1, 1898; on March 27, 1900, the younger rock salt was reached. The alignment of the mine field and the start of potash extraction took place in 1901. The total depth of the shaft is 400 m. The soil level is at +109 m above sea level. The shaft jacket was bricked up and tubbing was only provided in the section between 105 m and 215 m depth . The open diameter of the shaft is 6.0 m. Sinking began in the Neu-Mansfeld shaft on September 1, 1910. The shaft was approached in 1911 from the 302 m level (connecting section Schacht Ernsthall) (filling point of the 280 m level). The further sinking work up to the total depth of 415.6 m was then carried out from the filling location at a depth of 280 m. The mountain masses that accumulated during the deepening were conveyed to the Ernsthall mine field and moved. In 1912, the alignment of the mining field began on the 400 m level in the carnallite store. The expansion of the shaft consists entirely of masonry; the open cross-section has a diameter of 4.25 m.
The incidence of the Kalilagers is different and is between about 25 O and 30 O . The mined parts of the deposit consisted of hard salt and carnallitite . The majority of the production probably came from the Carnallititlager part. The underground pits of both plants are connected by the 302 m level (280 m level). There are no other connections to other mines. Between the Ernsthall and Teutschenthal construction fields, there is a part of the deposit that has not been scorched by the miners and is approx. 1,000 m wide. The potash seam encountered in steep terrain was mined in the chamber pillar construction with partial bottom conveyance or so-called floor conveyance (see figure on the left). From the main floor, the underpass was made in full excavation width. After the flat ridge had been extracted and conveyed away , the high ridge was pushed up to the ridge height of the first floor section and carried away. Before the next section of the steep chamber was extracted, the now open cavity was moved to the bottom of the first floor section. The extraction and conveying process was repeated in the form already mentioned, with the extraction of the flat ridge being omitted with the smaller distance between the floors.
The mining field of the "Ernsthall" shaft
This dismantling field can be divided into 4 assemblies:
Assembly north of the shaft
It includes mines I - XXX (start of mining in 1901, remaining backfill until 1926).
Mining parameters: 15 m chamber width, 6 m intermediate pillars, presumably 9 m construction height . After every 5 dismantling, 21 m were left as the main pillar; the mines were fully relocated . Mining began from the 385 m level (deepest level). The so-called floor sections I to XIII were used for further removal and backfilling. Exceptions are the mines XXI to XXX, they were only made between the VIII. And XII. Floor routes dismantled. In the pit image these workings are shown as staggered mines.
Assembly west of the shaft
It includes mines I to XXV and 1a to 3a (start of mining in 1904, residual backfill until 1926). Dismantling parameters: as in the 1st assembly.
Mining began from the 385 m level and was then continued over the levels I to VII (mines II to XI) and I to IV (mines XX to XXV). These mines are also shown as offset in the pit picture.
Assembly southwest of the shaft
It includes mines 1 - 12 (start of mining in 1921 until decommissioning in 1925).
Dismantling parameters: 20 m chamber width, 10 m intermediate pillars, construction height 12 m and 8 m. The main pillars were not left standing (presumably dismantled cross- cutting). Offset height 6 m with 8 m construction height. Except for chambers 6, 11 and 12, all others are shown as offset in the plan. The excavation of the deposit was carried out from the 450 m level.
Mountain mills
North of the shaft was a mountain mill from the IV., V. and VI. Floor section driven out. Dimensions: Chamber width 20 m, pillar width 20 m, construction height 3 - 6 m. Further mountain mills of a smaller kind were from the XI. Level route created (approx. 250 m northwest of the shaft). Below these mountain mills, crosscuts were driven to another mountain mill group from the west and north wing of the 385 m level. A partial excavation of these mine works was carried out in 1942–1944 (the rock salt obtained forms the salt dump above ground that is still present today). Dimensions: Chamber width 25 u. 18 m, pillar widths 20 m, construction height 3 - 4 m.
In addition to level sections, a horizontal section each was excavated in the older rock salt for the north and west fields. Most of the conveying areas are also located in the older rock salt and some of them were created in the main festivals between the construction departments. In the northern field, the connection between mountain mills, storey and lying sections was made by a blind shaft. There are more blind shafts in the vicinity of the shaft. The north wing of the 302 m level connected the Ernsthall and Neu-Mansfeld shafts. As a presumably open cavity, around 230,000 m² of cavities were determined from the pit picture. The last visit to some of the still accessible mine workings took place on June 23 and August 13, 1964.
The mining field of the "Neu-Mansfeld" shaft
This mining field forms a contiguous construction field, it extends in a south-easterly direction (start of mining in 1913, end of mining work in 1922).
Dismantling parameters: 15 m chamber width. 6 m intermediate pier. Construction height probably 8 - 12 m. Main festivals with a width of 21 m were also left here after every 5 dismantling. Additional pillars were added between mining nos. 15 and 21. Presumably, full backfill was used (with the exception of mines 25 to 29); they have not been completely dismantled. The extraction work was started from the 400 m level, the further extraction and backfilling were used on the floors I to III. 4 mountain mills were opened. The section known as the "280 m level" corresponds to the connecting section "302 m level" of the "Ernsthall" shaft. To the north-west of the shaft, routes were driven to explore the deposit . A blind shaft and several conveying surfaces made it possible to convey the conveyed material to the shaft.
Around 30,000 m² of cavities were determined to be a presumably still open cavity. The dismantling was carried out by hand, and the offset was also introduced by hand. In the level sections, the trolleys were moved to and from the conveyor areas in short trains and then transported to the main floor by means of a reel . Diesel locomotives were used on the main floor for conveyance purposes. In the conveying area, a frame was used to convey the trolleys, as the incline of the area was 30 to 40 ° (see figure above left). Blind shafts were created and put into operation later to replace this rack conveyor . In the years 1942–1945, part or feeder operations of the armaments industry were housed in the mountain mills. These mountain mills have the year 1944 on the corresponding pit plan as a supplement. The last visit to some of the still accessible pit work took place on June 23, 1964.
The financial and business situation
The chronology of the company's development (excerpts 1907–1914)
The "Vereinigte Ernsthall" potash plant originally belonged to the "Mansfeld'schen Kaliwerke-AG Eisleben" and was a main plant of this stock corporation.
The data sources that are still accessible today are very sketchy. Here are some more statistics:
1907: Board of Directors: Mayor Dittrich (Leipzig), Count Vitzthum v. Eckstädt (Oberlößnitz), Zirkel (Leipzig), Oberbergrat Wachler (Berlin), Kommerzienrat Lehmann (Halle / Saale). Representative : Oberberg- u. Hut director, Bergrat Schrader (Eisleben). Average production: 298.3 t / d carnallite. Operations director: Mine director Kossuth. Operator : Obersteiger Fischer. Average number of workers: 345 men.
1908: Board member to operator as in 1907. Average production: 298.3 t / d Carnallite. Average number of workers: 356 men.
- 1909: Board member to operations manager as in 1907 (only the representative changed: now Bergrat Vogelsang (Eisleben)). Average production: 3,000 double / double carnallite. Average number of workers: 359 men.
- 1910: Unchanged, like 1909.
- 1911: Unchanged, like 1910. Average production: 2,500 dz / d carnallite.
- 1912: Board of Directors: Mayor Dittrich (Leipzig), Oberbergrat Wachler (Berlin), Kommerzienrat Lehmann (Halle / Saale), Bergrat Kreuser (Mechernich), Counselor Lengnick (Leipzig). Representative: Oberberg- u. Hut director, Bergrat Vogelsang (Eisleben). Production in 1912: 1,116,362 cubic centimeters of carnallite. Operations director: Mine director Kossuth. Operator: Obersteiger Fischer. Average number of workers: 415 men.
- 1913: Board of Directors: Mayor Dittrich (Leipzig), Kommerzienrat Lehmann (Halle / Saale), Bergrat Kreuser (Mechernich), Justizrat Lengnick (Leipzig), Chief Justice Councilor Windisch (Dresden), Kommerzienrat Tobias (Leipzig). Representative: Oberberg- u. Hut director, Bergrat Vogelsang (Eisleben). Average production: 3,500 double / d carnallite. Operations director: Mine director Kossuth. Operator: Obersteiger Fischer. Average number of workers: 415 men.
- 1914: Unchanged, like 1913. Average number of workers: 478 men.
In 1925, 144,153 tons of crude salt were mined with a workforce of 163 people.
Wansleben potash factory
The salt obtained was transported by cable car to the potash factory in Wansleben for further processing. The cable car was around 2.14 km long and had to overcome a height difference of 30.5 m. It was put into operation in September 1912. In the opposite direction, this cable car transported the residues of the manufacturing processes, boiler house ashes and other materials suitable for underground backfilling to the mine.
Here are some production details from the Wansleben potash factory:
| product | 1908 | 1909 |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium chlorine (80%) including potash fertilizer | 107,584.8 dz | 97,906 dz |
| Sulphates (converted to 80% KCl) | 15,062 dz | 15,179 dz |
| Fertilizer salts (converted to 80% KCl) | 26,820 double rooms | 34,081 dz |
| Block gravel | 18,121 dz | 6,913 rooms |
| bromine | 85,162.5 kg | 82,998.75 kg |
| Carnallite | 6,841 double | 7,687.5 dz |
In the Wansleben potash factory, for example B. in 1923 the workforce was 133.
Shutdown of the pits
On April 1, 1926, the extraction and processing of potash salts in the works of the Mansfeld-Kali-AG was stopped. The potash participation quota of the Mansfeld potash works had already been sold to the Salzdetfurth Group beforehand. The mines of the Mansfeldschen Kaliwerke AG were leased to the Kali-Vereinigung GmbH in Magdeburg for a period of 30 years. As a one-off compensation, the Mansfeld-AG received an amount of 12 million Reichsmarks. This money was used to modernize the copper works and the daytime facilities and coking plants of the coal mines in Westphalia. In 1926 the Mansfeld-Kali-AG was liquidated. In the years 1928 to 1930, the surface facilities (e.g. the cable car to the Wansleben potash factory; the building of the Wansleben brickworks) were dismantled. In order to secure the rights to resume potash mining after 1953, the Georgi and Neu-Mansfeld pits were kept navigable after appropriate reconstruction.
Re-use of the mine workings
In 1942, when the Allied troops increasingly bombed German cities, the search for safe locations for armaments production and for the storage of valuable cultural goods began. The mine workings of the Georgi shaft offered themselves for this. The oldest natural science academy in Germany, the Halle Leopoldina , began storing its library holdings in the summer of 1943. In connection with the underground establishment of workshops for the army ammunition facility, mining excavations were even necessary. Around 2,400 prisoners in the Wansleben subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp set up in Wansleben manufactured various spare parts for the air force and ammunition accessories here.
Current condition (2011)
Until March 1, 1951, both pits belonged to the VEB Mansfeldkombinat "Wilhelm Pieck" Eisleben and were then assigned to the VEB Kaliwerk "Germany" in Teutschenthal from March 1, 1951 to December 31, 1952 . In the period from January 1, 1953 to July 31, 1953, the “Geological Commission in Berlin” was responsible for the shafts. These were then assigned to the “Germany” potash plant. Since the GDR's safekeeping order was issued on October 10, 1971 (GDR GBl. II No. 73), the Halle District Council has been responsible for a large number of old potash pits , so-called “ pits of old mining without legal successors ”.
With the accession of the GDR to the scope of the Basic Law , the "Ernsthall / Neu-Mansfeld" mine was considered to be a "decommissioned facility of a mining operation for which a legal successor does not exist or can no longer be determined" . In place of the councils of the districts, the respective state governments acted until the relevant regulatory authority regulations were issued (for the state of Saxony-Anhalt : Law on Public Safety and Order of the State of Saxony-Anhalt (SOG LSA) in the version published on 23 September 2003 ( GVBl. LSA p. 214), last amended on May 18, 2010 (GVBl. LSA p. 340)). Thus, up to now, this shaft system is the responsibility of the municipality with regard to the duty of care for the purpose of averting danger. Both shafts have been backfilled , with the route exits remaining unsecured; A safety zone must be observed at the Neu-Mansfeld shaft. Another visible sign of the Georgi shaft are the remains of the former salt dump. These and many other potash and rock salt mines that were closed at the time require continuous monitoring.
The "Association to come to terms with the Nazi tyranny Mansfelder Land e. V. ” tries to set up a communication and meeting place in the former machine hall on the site of the Neu-Mansfeld shaft. In 2011, the first construction work was successfully completed. The aim is to keep alive the memory of the approximately 2,400 concentration camp prisoners who were forced to work here under the Nazi regime .
swell
- Lobert, Fuchs, Bauer, Götze: Mining damage analysis of the "Ernsthall" and the like. "Neumansfeld" in Wansleben a / S. In: Archives of the LAGB Saxony-Anhalt . Teutschenthal June 1969.
- O.V .: Yearbooks of the German lignite, hard coal and potash industry, Wilhelm Knapp's publishing house in Halle / Saale.
- Ministerial Gazette for the State of Saxony-Anhalt No. 5/1997.
literature
- Blei, Jung: About the anomalous Zechstein profiles in the area of the Mansfeld Mulde . Ed .: Bergakademie Freiberg (= Freiberg research books . C 133). Freiberg 1962.
- Löffler: The Zechstein potash and rock salt deposits in the GDR . Part III: Saxony-Anhalt. Ed .: Bergakademie Freiberg (= Freiberg research books . C 97 / III). Freiberg 1962.
- Günter Pinzke: Search for traces of lost cultural assets. The history of the United Ernsthall potash plant. In: Association of Friends of Art and Culture in Mining e. V. (Ed.): The cut . 67th year, no. 2–3 , 2015, pp. 82-92 .
- v. Hoyningen: Salt tectonics and leaching in the area of the Mansfeld Lakes . Ed .: Bergakademie Freiberg (= Freiberg research books . C 56). Freiberg 1959.
Web links
- Wansleben subcamp memorial. The website of the association for dealing with the Nazi tyranny Neu-Mansfeld / Georgi eV Accessed on June 13, 2019 .
- Günter Pinzke: Photo Gallery II - Selected potash and rock salt shafts in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia as well as attempts at loosening in the Staßfurt potash seam. Retrieved February 23, 2016 .
- Sven Röbel, Nico Wingert: The forgotten secret. 60 years after the end of the war, newly emerged Stasi documents shed light on a dark chapter of the Nazi era. In: Der Spiegel . September 17, 2005, pp. 46–50 , accessed June 19, 2019 .
- Nico Wingert: The forgotten concentration camp. (PDF; 972 kB) In: Future. Information sheet of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. December 23, 2005, p. 3 , accessed June 19, 2019 .