Volle Rose

Useful Information

Location:	Schortetal near Ilmenau. 700 m south of Ilmenau, signposted in Ilmenau.
Open:	APR to first Weekend of NOV Tue-Fri 9-16, Sat, Sun, Hol 10-18. Tour every 30 min. [2014]
Fee:	Mine: Adults EUR 6.50, Children (6-16) EUR 4, Students EUR 4, Disabled EUR 4, Family (2+) EUR 14. Gruppen (10+): Adults EUR 5, Children (6-16) EUR 3, Students EUR 3, Disabled EUR 3. Mine + Mine train:* Adults EUR 9, Children (6-16) EUR 5, Students EUR 5, Disabled EUR 5, Family (2+*) EUR 19. Gruppen (10+): Adults EUR 7, Children (6-16) EUR 4, Students EUR 4, Disabled EUR 4. [2014]
Classification:	Fluorite Mine Manganese Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=90 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:
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

12th century	copper and silver mining.
1601	first written mention.
17th century	Manganese mining near Oehrenstock, Geraberg and Elgersburg.
1856	150 citizens work in the iron mining.
1881	Reinhard starts fluorite mining at Volle Rose.
~1900	iron mining ends.
1936	mine sale forced.
1945	mine now Volkseigentum (public property).
1950s	beginning of fluorite mining between Ilmenau and Möhrenbach.
1968	mining at Volle Rose ends, tunnel used as emergency exit and for ventilation for Gehren.
1988	tunnel closed with explosives.
31-MAR-1991	fluorite mining closed.
1992	town of Oehrenstock purchases the property, Bergbau- und Feldbahnverein founded.
1995	pumps at Gehren turned off, 2m²/s Wasser flow out of the adit.
1998	Bergbau- und Feldbahnverein corrupt, city of Langewiesen takes over.
1999	non-profit Bergbauverein Schortetal e.V. founded.
2005	opened as a show mine.
2005	mining reactivated by the Phönix Fluss- und Schwerspat-Bergwerk GmbH.

Geology

Description

The Schaubergwerk "Volle Rose" (Show Mine "Full Rose") is located in the Schortetal (Schorte valley) south of Ilmenau. In this place the polymetallic ores were mined for changing reasons since the 12th century. First the copper and silver content was of value, then the manganese and iron became more important. And finally, during the 20th century, only the fluorite and baryte were of commercial interest. At some point of time even the small coal layers were mined, but only because the wood was rare for some time.

The tours of the mine has three different parts, which may be booked separately or in combination. The show mine tour starts with and educational movie, then the praticipants ride into the mine on a historic mine train. Inside the mining technology of the GDR during the mid 20th century are on display. The second part is the 30 minutes train ride through the valley with a historic train. And the last is the self guided visit of the surface mine buildings, the museum, and the exhibitions.