Steinkohlebergbau Stockheim

Useful Information

Location:	Am Magazin, Bergwerkstrasse 47, 96342 Stockheim. (50.311478, 11.272855)
Open:	Outdoor area: Freely accessible. Mining magazine: All year 1st Sun 13–17. [2025]
Fee:
Classification:	Coal Mine Replica Underground Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Gerd Fleischmann (1990): Steinkohlenbergbau, Gemeinde Stockheim 1990. Otto Heinlein, Berthold Schwämmlein, Günther Scheler (1989): Steinkohlen-Bergbau um Stockheim, Heimatkundlicher Arbeitskreis Stockheim.
Address:	Förderverein Bergbaugeschichte Stockheim-Neuhaus, Eichendorfsiedlung 2, 96342 Stockheim, Tel: +49-.
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

21-JUL-1582	Mining in the district of Reitsch is mentioned in documents for the first time.
1756	the Saxe-Meiningen forester Christop Friedrich Gundermann discovers the first coal in the Stockheim forest district of "Daxlöcher".
09-NOV- 1758	Gundermann receives a mining licence from mining commissioner Gensel zu Wartenfels.
08-AUG-1763	Gundermann receives a feudal deed for the first Stockheim mine, "Vereinigter Nachbar" (United Neighbour), upon application from the bailiff, forest ranger and mining commissioner Georg Friedrich Gensel of Wallenfels.
1769	Opening of the Adam Friedrich mine.
1775	St. Katharina colliery opened.
1968	St. Katharina colliery closed.
1975	Dismantling of the winding tower.
22-NOV- 2004	Foundation of the Stockheim/Neuhaus Mining History Association (Förderverein Bergbaugeschichte Stockheim/Neuhaus e.V.)

Geology

A coal seam is deposited in the Lower Rotliegend strata around Spitzberg. There is another, very similar coal seam near the village of Reitsch. Beneath this, red porphyritic breccia is found, covered by claystones of various colours. These formed a watertight basin into which plant material was washed by water movements into a kind of swamp lake. Above this is a layer of grey shale clay, followed by grey and red sandstones and conglomerates. These were alluvial deposits that covered the plant material and started the carbonisation process.

The average thickness of the undisturbed seam was about 2 m. In the area of the eastern border, the seam ends at a north-south fault. Here, the seam is dammed up, so that thicknesses of up to 30 m could be reached.

The coal has a high proportion of inorganic inclusions. Secondary mineralisation has resulted in silicification and carbonation, metal sulphide admixtures and even uranium enrichment in the form of thucholite. This resulted in a very high ash content, which led to sales difficulties.

Description

The Steinkohlebergbau Stockheim (Stockheim coal mine) is the most important coal mine in Bavaria. Coal is usually associated with the Ruhr region, and perhaps also with Saarland or Thuringia. There is very little coal in Bavaria and correspondingly few mines. This abandoned mine is maintained by the Stockheim/Neuhaus Mining History Association and is not actually a proper exhibition mine. Rather, it is the former St. Katharina mine in Stockheim, which has been preserved by the association. In addition to the above-ground buildings and a geotope developed in 2008, there is also a replica tunnel, the Schaustollen. This is a replica of the St. Katharina tunnel. It is more or less an open-air museum with a geotope, mine railway and various themed trails on mining. The mining magazine is open on the first Sunday of every month.

After visiting the mine and perhaps one of the themed trails, why not stop off at the Alte Zeche inn? It is the centre point of all the circular hiking trails around the Stockheim mine, so it can be used as a starting and finishing point. The beer here is the Kaiserhöfer Bergmannstrunk.