Albertsgrube

Ore washing, ore processing and waste dump

This area contained the ore washing, processing, and the waste dump of the original part of the Albertsgrube (veins I-VII and Eisensteinschacht). The elongated shape located in the southeast represents the concession of the Zufriedenheit mine from the year 1829. Both mines were merged into the Albertsgrube in 1847.

From the processing plant established in 1853, four settling ponds are still preserved. Since the separation of ore from barren rock using density sorting was not particularly effective, significant residues of ore remained in the waste. This explains why the dump is not or only sparsely inhabited by Galmeiflora and other heavy metal-tolerant plants.

Since, among other things, pine and birch are also heavy metal-tolerant, there is a risk of the dump becoming forested, leading to the disappearance of Galmeiflora. Unlike the areas of Zufriedenheit and Diepenlinchen, lead sulfide (galena) and iron sulfide (pyrite/marcasite) dominate here. The necessary water for density sorting was collected uphill in still existing ponds and, after clarification, funneled into the source stream through the settling ponds and clarification ponds. This limited the pollution of the water by sludge.

The resulting sludge was also dumped on the waste. Even today, the streambed of the source stream is rust-red in color, which has nothing to do with ore washing, but is due to the leaching of iron oxide from the tunnels and shafts of the mine. Processing by density sorting (gravity separation).

Processing by density sorting (gravity separation): The mined ores exhibit sufficiently large weight differences compared to the gangue, making separation by specific gravity possible. For this purpose, the bulk material is crushed (in the stamp mill) and then sent over slightly inclined, vibrating work plates (impact or shaking tables). This shaking occurs under a weak water flow so that the lighter gangue is washed away while the heavier ore remains.

(Text: Jens Mieckley)