Freiberg Mining Field
The mining region, in the broadest sense, is centred on Freiberg, but extends beyond that town's borough into the municipalities of Halsbrücke, Hilbersdorf, Bobritzsch, Weißenborn, Oberschöna and the boroughs of Brand-Erbisdorf and Großschirma. In a narrower sense the name refers to the area covered by the Freiburg and Halsbrück mining territories (Freiberger and Halsbrücker Grubenfelder). The Brand Mining Field (Brander Revier) immediately to the south comprises just the one mining territory, the Brander Grubenfeld.
The most important mineral deposits are the ores blue lead (galena), zincblende (sphalerite), fool's gold (pyrite), arsenical iron (arsenopyrite), argentiferous grey copper ore (freibergite), dark-red silver ores (Pyrargyrite), and silver glance. The most important non-metallic materials are: quartz, calcareous spar (calcite), heavy spar (baryte) and fluorspar (fluorite).
Mining in the Freiberg area began here in the 12th century. This includes a steadily developed water supply system for the benefit of the mining industry, the Revierwasserlaufanstalt Freiberg. Within this mining region there were, historically, a large number of smelteries and, even today, there are still various active smelting works, for example in Muldenhütten .
References
- ^ "Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 9 Jun 2021.
- ^ Otfried Wagenbreth, Eberhard Wächtler et al.: Der Freiberger Bergbau Technische Denkmale und Geschichte, 1st ed., Deutscher Verlag für Grundstoffindustrie Leipzig 1985, ISBN 3-342-00117-8.