Albertsgrube

Ore washing, ore processing and dump body

This area was the location of the ore washing, processing and spoil heap of the original part of the Albertsgrube (veins I-VIl and ironstone shaft). The tube-like
extension in the southeast represents the concession of the Zufriedenheit mine from 1829. Both mines were merged in 1847 to form the Albertsgrube.

The 4 clarification ponds still remain from the processing plant built in 1853. As the separation of the ore from waste rock by means of dense sorting was not particularly effective, significant amounts of ore still remained in the overburden. This explains why the waste rock pile is not covered with galmeiflora and other heavy metal-tolerant plants.

As pines and birches, among others, are also tolerant of heavy metals, there is a risk of the slag heap becoming overgrown and the galmei flora disappearing. In contrast to the Zufriedenheit and Diepenlinchen areas, lead sulphide (galenite) and iron sulphide (pyrite/marcasite) predominate here. The water required for density sorting was collected uphill in ponds that still exist and, after clarification in the sludge pits and clarification ponds, discharged into the spring stream. This kept the pollution of the water by sludge to a minimum.

The resulting sludge was also dumped on the slag heap. Even today, the stream bed of the Quellbach is still reddish-red in color, but this has nothing to do with the ore washing, but rather with the leaching of iron oxide from the mine's tunnels and shafts. processing by means of density sorting (gravity separation).

Processing by density sorting (gravity separation): The mined ores have sufficiently large weight differences to the surrounding rock so that separation by specific gravity is possible. For this purpose, the heap is crushed (in the pug mill) and then sent over slightly inclined, vibrating work plates (pusher or shaking hearths). This shaking takes place under a weak stream of water, so that the lighter secondary rock is washed away and the heavier ore remains behind.

(Text: Jens Mieckley)