Glasebach Pit
Encyclopedia
The Glasebach Pit is a mining museum and former pit in the Harz
fluorspar mining area near Straßberg in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt
. It is run by the East Harz Mining Society (Montanverein Ostharz e. V.). The pit was founded under the name of Vertrau auf Gott ("Trust in God").
The mining industry in the area around Straßberg goes back to the time around the year 1400. At Heidelberg north of Straßberg, fluorite
and silver
were won and processed at a smeltery on the site on behalf of the counts of Stolberg. There was also flourishing mining activity on the Glasebach stream, which formed the boundary between the County of Stolberg
and the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg. After being abandoned for a while, mining restarted in the 18th century and continued, with interruptions, until the 1960s.
Various mining artefacts are displayed in the museum, including the old wooden drainage outlet (Grundablass) of the Lower Kilian Dam (one of the oldest dams in Germany), salvaged in 1990 during renovations, after it had undergone long-term conservation work by the Harzwasserwerke
n in Clausthal-Zellerfeld
.
The show mine is checkpoint 175 in the Harzer Wandernadel
hiking system.
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
fluorspar mining area near Straßberg in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
. It is run by the East Harz Mining Society (Montanverein Ostharz e. V.). The pit was founded under the name of Vertrau auf Gott ("Trust in God").
The mining industry in the area around Straßberg goes back to the time around the year 1400. At Heidelberg north of Straßberg, fluorite
Fluorite
Fluorite is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride, CaF2. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, though octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
were won and processed at a smeltery on the site on behalf of the counts of Stolberg. There was also flourishing mining activity on the Glasebach stream, which formed the boundary between the County of Stolberg
County of Stolberg
The County of Stolberg was a county of the Holy Roman Empire located in the Harz mountain range in present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.The town of Stolberg was probably founded in the 12th century as a mining settlement. The Counts of Stolberg probably derived from a branch of the counts of...
and the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg. After being abandoned for a while, mining restarted in the 18th century and continued, with interruptions, until the 1960s.
Various mining artefacts are displayed in the museum, including the old wooden drainage outlet (Grundablass) of the Lower Kilian Dam (one of the oldest dams in Germany), salvaged in 1990 during renovations, after it had undergone long-term conservation work by the Harzwasserwerke
Harzwasserwerke
The Harzwasserwerke is a German water company and dam operator with the primary tasks of supplying drinking water, generating electrical power, flood protection and the maintenance of the Upper Harz Water Regale...
n in Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Clausthal-Zellerfeld is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the southwestern part of the Harz mountains. Its population is approximately 15,000, Clausthal-Zellerfeld is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Oberharz....
.
The show mine is checkpoint 175 in the Harzer Wandernadel
Harzer Wandernadel
The Harzer Wandernadel is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them...
hiking system.