Mansfeld copper slate: 825 years of mining history in focus!

Mansfeld copper slate: 825 years of mining history in focus!

The current efforts to preserve and present the geological and historical aspects of the Mansfeld district are impressively summarized in a special exhibition that offers deeper insights into the geology and mining history of the region. This exhibition not only presents numerous copper slate samples, but also impressive ore rulers made of bornite, chalcopyrite and chalcocite. The samples come from various shafts in the Mansfelder and Sangerhäuser Mulde and offer a fascinating look at the geological treasures that this region once held.

Particularly noteworthy are the rare pieces in the collection, such as chalcopyrite crystals of up to 16 mm in calcite druses, impressive rock crystals of up to 2 cm in dolomite as well as extraordinary silver sheets with an edge length of up to 20 cm as well as curl-shaped silver. The reason for this impressive show is the anniversary year “825 years of Mansfeld copper slate mining”, in which the geoscientific collections present selected pieces from the Mansfeld collection.

Geology and influences of mining

Copper slate mining in the region has not only had a major impact on the living conditions of the population, but has also had a lasting impact on the landscape. The article provided information every month Karst hiking trail about the geological conditions: The copper slate comes to the surface on the southern edge of the Harz and dives into the depths with a slight dip. The overlying rocks consist of carbonate, sulfate and chloride rocks of the Zechstein, the thickness of which is over 1000 m.

The fracture faults in the rock package had a decisive influence on mining, e.g. B. due to the difficult access to the carpenter shafts, Freiesleben shafts and Martins shafts. The copper slate itself is a fine-grained, bituminous marl about 35-40 cm thick that contains numerous ore minerals, including chalcopyrite, chalcopyrite and zinc blende. In addition, valuable metals such as silver, vanadium and gold can also be detected in the copper slate.

History of copper slate mining

The beginnings of copper slate mining in the Mansfelder Land can be traced back to the year 1199/1200, when the miners Nappian and Neucke discovered the copper ore. Over the following centuries, the industry experienced various developments. From the year 1500 onwards, reaching the groundwater level became a challenge, necessitating the construction of drainage tunnels such as the Roß and Gonnaer tunnels, which represented important milestones in the history of mining.

The continuous development of mining led to the liberalization of mining in 1671, which contributed to the establishment of numerous trade unions. Further mechanization, for example with the use of steam engines from 1785, revolutionized mining and significantly improved water lifting and ore extraction. In a period of 650 years (1200-1849), around 10 million tons of ore and 290,300 tons of copper were mined, which illustrates the immense importance of Mansfeld's copper slate mining.

A legacy for the future

Over the years, copper slate mining has had a lasting impact on the culture, the landscape and the lives of the people in the Mansfeld region. The last mining of copper slate stopped on August 10, 1990, marking the end of an era that symbolizes one of the oldest and most important mining industries in the world. The exhibition now provides a platform to celebrate the heritage of this region and raise awareness of the unique geological features and rich history of copper shale mining.