Heinrich-Kocher-Stollen

Kocherstollen

Useful Information

Location:	1,8 km east of Wölsendorf. (49.409691, 12.187286)
Open:	Closed. [2011]
Fee:	Closed. [2011]
Classification:	Fluorite Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
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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

01-MAY-1937	mine opened.
1952	mine closed.
1995	opened as a showmine.
2009	closed after an collapse.

Geology

The fluorite is found in the Wölsendorf mining area in the form of dykes in granite. The hugh temperature of the intrusion heated the groundwater, the thermal water formed convection cells which transported minerals in dissolved form. The surrounding rocks were leeched and the material was deposited in clefts. Some of the dykes are several meters thick, the Kochergang which was mined hier was between 80 cm and 150 cm wide, in average more than 1 m. The dyke is famous for fine fluorite minerals, often in combination with quartz and baryte crystals.

Description

The show mine Heinrich-Kocher-Stollen is located in the forest 1.8 km east of Wölsendorf. It was developed as a show mine by the Bergknappenverein Marienschacht Wölsendorf e.V.. In 2009 the first part of the tunnel collapsed and so it was closed. The necessary works to make the tunnel safe again are very expensive. As there were also quarrels with the owner who did not want to prolong the lease, the mining club decided to close the mine forever. Later the entrance was closed by concrete, fenced off, and trees planted.

In the Heinrich-Kocher-Stollen one of the smaller dykes was mined, named Kochergang. The mine was operated between 1937 and 1952, the owner and operation manager was Heinrich Kocher, after whom the mine was named. At this time many fluorite mines were operated by a family or a small company. The mining was finally stopped when the fluorite was depleted in the level of the tunnel. There were tries to mine a lower part of the dyke, but they were not successful or the costs were simply too high.