Rabensteiner Stollen

Useful Information

Location:	Ilfeld-Netzkater, Harz. From B243/B80 turn north at Nordhausen, follow B4 through Ilfeld to Netzkater. Turn right in the village towards Hasselfelde, at the end of the village right. (51.602454, 10.790092)
Open:	JAN to MAR Tue-Thu, Sat, Sun, Hol 10:15, 11:30, 12:45. APR to OCT Tue-Sun, Hol 10:15, 11:30, 12:45, 14, 15:15. NOV to DEC Sun, Hol 10:15, 11:30. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 16, Children (4-17) EUR 7.50, Family (2+2) EUR 39. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 12.50, Children (4-17) EUR 6.50. [2023]
Classification:	Coal Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	T=8 °C, H=90 %.
Guided tours:	D=60 min, L=600 m, VR=20 m.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Steinkohlen-Besucherbergwerk Rabensteiner Stollen, 99768 Ilfeld-Netzkater/Harz, Tel: +49-36331-48153, Fax: +49-36331-49802. 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

1737	coal discovered, mining started.
1770	mine closed to to quarrels about the ownership
1831	mine reopened.
1836	mine equipment destroyed by flood.
1848	mine reopened and leased to miners from Ilfeld.
1880	mining ended because of competitors with better quality coal.
1921	mining reopened because of economic situation.
1924	closed again.
1946	post war mining because of shortages.
1949	mining abandoned finally.
1981	opened as a show mine.
1990	Förderverein Rabenesteiner Stollen e.V. founded, who manages the show mine until today.

Geology

Coal mining is very unusual in the Harz. The Harz itself consists of bedrock and a large granite diapir, in which no coal is found. It was not until the Mesozoic that there were appropriate plants to create such deposits. The polymetallic, hydrothermal deposits of the Harz are mainly ore deposits with high silver and lead content. The coal deposit in Rabenstein is much younger and dates from the Carboniferous. The Harz was raised more in the north than in the south, so a small remnant of the Carboniferous could still be preserved here, which was completely eroded in the rest of the Harz. The coal seam in Rabenstein is only very thin. Accordingly, mining had to follow this seam in very low excavations.

Description

The Rabensteiner Stollen is entered by a mine railway called the Rabenstein Express. Once you arrive at the underground station, a 600 m long path leads to the mining areas. In addition to mining machinery, wooden workings in various shapes and the typical galleries, you can also see a coal seam and various fossils. The working site is adapted to the seam, which is usually only about 60 cm thick. Accordingly, the mining tunnels are also only 60 cm high and mining had to be done in a lying position. Only the access tunnels were high enough for the mine railway.

The coal has a low occurrence as well as poor quality, and mining was difficult. Therefore, coal was mined almost exclusively for the local population's own needs. This was very active until the end of the 19th century. Attempts to resume mining in the 20th century failed, even with the use of new technology mining was unprofitable. Only between 1946 and 1949 coal was mined as a temporary fuel supply after the lost war.

The mine was reopened in 1981 as a show mine. It is run by an association, which is evident from the fact that it is one of the few places in the Harz where photography is allowed.