Schaustollen Grube Marie

Useful Information

Location:	"Haus der Schwarzen Berge", Rhönstr. 97, 97772 Wildflecken OT Oberbach. (50.363614, 9.885369)
Open:	Schaustollen: currently closed. [2026]
Fee:	Schaustollen: currently closed. [2026]
Classification:	Baryte Mine
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:	A=620 m NN.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	(2026): Ehem. Barytbergwerk "Grube Marie" SW von Wildflecken, UmweltAtlas, Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (LfU). pdf (2026): Grube Marie Naturpark und Biosphärenreservat Bayer. Rhön e.V. pdf
Address:	Naturpark & Biosphärenreservat Bayerische Rhön e.V. Biosphärenzentrum Rhön, "Haus der Schwarzen Berge", Rhönstr. 97, 97772 Wildflecken OT Oberbach, Tel: +49-9749-91-22-0. E-mail:
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

1910	Bayerische Schwerspatwerk GmbH is founded, with its headquarters in Heringen (Werra).
1912	Sulphuric acid bleaching process introduced to improve the purification of barite.
First World War	Mine closed.
Second World War	Mine closed.
31 October 1970	Mining operations finally ceased due to unprofitability.
1999	The exhibition was established at the suggestion and under the leadership of a former miner.
29-OCT-2000	Schaustollen opened to the public.

Geology

The Auersberg consists of rocks from the Middle Buntsandstein and, at higher elevations, also from the Muschelkalk. Later, volcanic activity occurred, resulting in basalt outcrops, which were also mined in open-cast quarries in the area. However, this volcanic activity has nothing to do with the formation of barite; it is of a younger age. The barite occurs in veins up to 9 m thick, which were formed hydrothermally. However, there were probably hardly any metals present in the host rocks, so mineralisation is very low and the barite is exceptionally pure. These veins can be up to 50 m long and 270 m deep. It is believed that they extend as far as the Upper Zechstein.

Description

The Schaustollen Grube Marie< (Marie Mine Show Tunnel) is a kind of underground mining museum and a branch of the Rhön Biosphere Centre, which means that there are no guided tours of the mine. Anyone wishing to visit the tunnel should go to the Rhön Biosphere Centre’s “Haus der Schwarzen Berge” and collect the key there. However, the tunnel is currently closed [2026], although no reason has been given; we therefore assume that it will be accessible again in the near future. The walk to the tunnel is a 1.6 km/20-minute stroll along a well-maintained forest path; the tunnel itself houses an exhibition dedicated to the local mining of barite. The tunnel is only 10 m long – arguably the shortest mine tour in the world – but it is perfectly adequate as an exhibition space. However, it must be said that whilst you can admire the tunnel’s construction, the barite itself is not on display.

The Rhön barite was of exceptional purity and was therefore successfully mined. Furthermore, the veins are quite thick. Barite and fluorite are generally found in veins, so there is no cheaper alternative. Neither rock was processed further in traditional mining; it was not until the late 19th century, as part of the Industrial Revolution, that barite became required on a large scale as an additive for smelting and for various other purposes. In this area, silver was actually mined first, though not very successfully. It was not until the early 20th century that barite mining began, and it was very successful; monthly output was initially 500 tonnes per month, rising to 16,000 to 18,000 tonnes per month by the start of the First World War. At that time, mining provided work for over 60 local people, most of whom were women employed in the processing of the mined barite. In the Upper Sinntal, barite mining was an important industry.