Grube „Zufriedenheit“

Independent before 1863, then part of the Albertsgrube

At this location were the mining buildings, spoil or waste heap, and the original shafts of the mine "Zufriedenheit". The mine was granted a concession in 1829 by Wilhelm Bilstein (Werth) and Christian Bengel (Mausbach).

The mine was purchased in 1847 by Jacob Bredt and incorporated into his limited partnership, which also included the Albertsgrube. After further sales, both mines were combined into the "Albertsgrube" under J. W. Schmalenbach in 1863.

The main shafts of "Zufriedenheit" included the shaft "Zufriedenheit" alongside the shafts "Luise", "Henriette", "Kuckuck I and II", the "Felixschacht", as well as a trial shaft and a ventilation shaft. All other shafts, except for "Schacht Zufriedenheit", "Kuckuck I", and "Felixschacht", are characterized by being deep craters that can be found here on the site.

The waste heap "Zufriedenheit" was removed for use in road construction. For example, large parts of the Napoleon path were gravelled with the spoil. The open space of the former mining area in the background is characterized by a rich galmeiflora due to the remnants of ore extraction.

Galmeiflora (Violetum calaminariae): The term refers to the plant community that predominantly inhabits dry, nutrient-poor calcareous soils, where the ores of the galmei paragenesis are exposed at the surface. Due to the high heavy metal content in the soil, which is toxic to most plants, niches arise here for heavy metal-tolerant species (so-called metallophytes), which are displaced by stronger plants elsewhere but can survive here.

The Galmeiflora consists particularly of the following species:
The yellow galme violet (Viola lutea calaminaria), which occurs worldwide only in Stolberg and Kelmis, the galmei sea thrift (Armeria maritima halleri), the galmei hoary cress (Thlaspi caerulescens calaminare), the spring chickweed (Alsine verna), the dove's foot (Silene vulgaris humilis), and the sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina).

(Text: Jens Mieckley)