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Heinrich-Kocher-Stollen

Kocherstollen

Useful Information

Location:	1,8km east of Wölsendorf
Open:	Closed. [2011]
Fee:	Closed. [2011]
Classification:	Fluorite Mine
Light:	electric
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:
Last update:	$Date: 2011/12/13 08:48:00 $

History


01-MAY-1937		mine opened.
1952		mine closed.
1995		opened as a showmine.
2009		closed after an collapse.

Geology

The fluorite is found in the Wölsendorf mining area in the form of dykes in granite. The hugh temperature of the intrusion heated the ground water, the thermal water formed convection cells which transported minerals in soluted form. The surrounding rocks were leeched and the material was deposited in clefts. Some of the dykes are several meters thick, the Kochergang which was mined hier was between 80cm and 150cm wide, in average more than 1m. The dyke is faamous for fine fluorite minerals, often in combination with quartz and baryte crystals.

Description

The show mine Heinrich-Kocher-Stollen is located in the forest 1.8km east of Wölsendorf. It was developed as a show mine by the Bergknappenverein Marienschacht Wölsendorf e.V.. In 2009 the first part of the tunnel collapsed and so it was closed. The necessary works to make the tunnes save again are very expensive. As there were also quarrels with the owner who did not want to prolong the lease, the mining club decided to close the mine forever.

In the Heinrich-Kocher-Stollen one of the smaller dykes was mined, named Kochergang. The minewas operated between 1937 and 1952, the owner and operation manager was Heinrich Kocher, after whom the mine was named. At this time many fluorite mines were operated by a family or a small company. The mining was finally stopped when the fluorite was depleted in the level of the tunnel. There were tries to mine a lower part of the dyke, but they were not successful or the costs were simply too high.