Grubenanlage "St. Briccius"


Useful Information

Location: 09456 Annaberg-Buchholz, OT Geyersdorf.
From Annaberg-Buchholz via Geyersdorfer Hauptstraße, in Geyersdorf turn right onto Alte Königswalder Straße.
(50.575175, 13.046441)
Open: After appointment.
[2024]
Fee:
Classification: MineSilver Mine MineCopper Mine
Light: bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours: D=1-3 h, MinAge=10.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography: Sven Schreiter (2011): Die Grubenanlage St. Briccius und ihre Wiedererschließung, In: Tagungsband 14. Internationaler Montanhistorik Workshop, GAG, A4, 302 Seiten.
Address: Gewerkschaft St. Briccius e.V., 09456 Annaberg-Buchholz, OT Geyersdorf, Tel: +49-162-5864257. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1442 mining concession issued by the Bergamt Geyer.
1473 Spurnagel railway is used.
1575 Hieronymus Zürich builds smelting works in the Pöhlatal with a stamp mill, roasting plant, coal shed and four smelting furnaces to process the ore from the Dreifaltigkeit mine.
1650 construction of a water wheel in the Pöhlatal.
1892 closed as one of the last mines in the Annaberg mining district.
1935-1936 excavation of 200 m of tunnels in the "Tiefen Freudenstolln" and sampling of the mine by the Lagerstätten-Forschungsstelle Leipzig (Leipzig Deposit Research Centre).
1948-1949 radiometric investigation of the dumps and adits by SAG Wismut.
1982 excavation by mining enthusiasts.
1983 foundation of the IG Altbergbauforschung Osthang Pöhlberg.
2000 Foundation of the Gewerkschaft St. Briccius e.V.

Geology

The Pöhlberg is a basalt mesa. During a volcanic eruption, the area around Hammerunterwiesental and some of the surrounding valleys was covered by a layer of magma that solidified into basalt. The nepheline-containing basalt has a high density and is resistant to erosion due to its amorphous structure. As a result, the heights were eroded, but the valleys were not, as they were protected by the basalt and the relief was reversed. Three table mountains were formed: Bärenstein, Scheibenberg and Pöhlberg.

The bedrock beneath the basalt has the usual geology of the Annaberg-Marienberg block, consisting of small-grained, vesicular Annaberg main gneiss. Locally, the long-fibre, auggy modification also occurs; quartz beds and quartz lenses are present in the rock. The veins, which strike more or less west-east and dip to the north, were important for mining. They contain chalcopyrite, sulphur pyrite, white copper ore, copper glass and coloured copper ore.

The mine is the type locality for a mineral described by Dr Thomas Witzke in 1999. These are green to blue sinter formations on the walls, which consist of a secondary copper mineral called hydrowoodwardite.

Description

The St. Briccius Stolln is located on the Pöhlberg near Annaberg-Buchholz. The aim of this mine is not to attract tourists, but rather to offer individual tourists interested in mining and history an insight into medieval mining away from the beaten track. Guided tours are offered by appointment and on a few days a year. The groups have a maximum of five participants and a maximum of two groups can enter the mine at the same time, which severely limits the number of visitors. The duration and scope of the tour is widely customizable and can last up to three hours, depending on interest. The tours are also quite wild, more like a tour of an old mine than a show mine. Although the facilities are secured to ensure a safe tour, no consideration has been given to comfort. Even if climbing is not necessary, narrow and dirty tunnels have to be negotiated. Appropriate equipment is therefore necessary, if possible, a caving overall, rubber boots, helmet, head torch, gloves and knee pads. In addition, sure-footedness, some physical fitness and no claustrophobia are required. A clean change of clothes for afterwards, a plastic bag for dirty clothes and a towel are also recommended. Boots, capes, helmets and lamps can be provided to a limited extent, but it is definitely better if you bring your own personal equipment.

The mine was operated from 1442 and was one of the last in the Annaberg mining district when it was closed in 1892. Mining in the 16th century was quite successful, with large quantities of silver and copper being extracted. Mining continued until the 19th century, but with moderate success. Between 1636 and 1892, there were more than 10 periods of operation in which the mine did not cover its costs, which in local mining parlance was called mit Zubuße (with a surcharge). Nevertheless, it seems to have been in the black overall.

Today's Gewerkschaft St. Briccius e.V. association can be traced back to the initiative of mining enthusiasts who tried to reopen the tunnel as early as 1982. The following year, they founded their first association named IG Altbergbauforschung Osthang Pöhlberg and a year later they intensified their work with official authorization. As was customary at the time, they were organized under the umbrella of the Kulturbund der DDR. After reunification, this association was affiliated to the St Briccius local history association, but split off in 2000 and has been an independent association ever since.

Mining on the Pöhlberg took place on five different levels. The association has excavated some of them, for example St. Briccius Fundgrube, Mittlerer St. Briccius Stolln, Tiefer St. Briccius Stolln, Tiefer Heilige Dreifaltigkeits Stolln, and Oberer Heilige Dreifaltigkeits Stolln. The meeting point for guided tours is the St Briccius Huthaus at the Oberer Freudenstolln. It can be reached from Annaberg-Buchholz via Geyersdorfer Hauptstraße, in Geyersdorf turn right onto Alte Königswalder Straße.