With the decline in the extraction of mineral raw materials in Germany, the focus is increasingly on the resulting tasks of the post-mining period. Post-mining is understood to mean the totality of all processes and tasks after the end of raw material extraction. In addition to the securing and remediation of mining legacies, this includes the long-term and sustainable management of deposits and the areas used. Other topics include risk management, the renaturation and recultivation of areas formerly used for mining, and groundwater and mine water management …
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With my best regards // Mit freundlichem Glückauf
Dipl.-Ing. Andreas-Peter Sitte
Chief Editor Mining Report Glückauf, Essen
ISSUE 04/2024 // FOCUS OF THIS ISSUE:
Post-Mining
Risk and Safety Management for Surveying Work in Underground Cavities that Are Difficult to Access
Impression of the conditions in the piping. The supposedly good lighting is achieved using a high-intensity camera and does not correspond to the working conditions. Photo: FZN/Volker Wiciok
n 28th and 29th August 2023, scientists from the Research Center of Post-Mining (FZN) at the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA), Bochum/Germany, carried out a special task. The Paasbach piping, a tunnel structure under and in the area of the Hattingen Henrichshütte, was surveyed above and below ground. The tunnel was relocated several times over the years as the Henrichshütte grew, and the exact course was not known. The City of Hattingen’s Departments of Public Works and Civil Engineering feared structural damage that could lead to severe consequences of parts of the piping, e. g. in the area of roadways. In order to plan the necessary renovation measures, it was first necessary …
Authors: Dr. rer. nat. Bodo Bernsdorf, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Tobias Rudolph, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Goerke-Mallet, Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum/Germany, Melanie Gendrullis, Thomas Adam, Abteilung Feuerwehr und Rettungsdienst, Stadt Hattingen/Germany, Christoph Uphues, Fachbereich Stadtbetriebe und Tiefbau, Stadt Hattingen/Germany, Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Koschare, RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, Benjamin Haske M. Eng., Marcin Pawlik M. Sc., Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum/Germany, und TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg/Germany
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Public Perception and Community Participation in the Coal Transition in the Ruhr Region – Interim Results of the EU Research Project WINTER
Work packages WINTER. Source: WINTER project
he EU research project WINTER is developing a web-based interactive management tool for the structural change of coal regions. The basis is formed by three pilot regions in the EU in or on the way to post-mining, including the Ruhr area. Part of the analyses required and carried out in this context are public perception and community participation in the coal transition. Results are presented here.
Authors: Prof. Dr. rer. oec. Kai van de Loo, Senior Consultant, Julia Haske, M. A., Bereichsleiterin, Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum/Germany
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The UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein: Monument and Future Hub
The architects Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer were given the task of uniformly designing the entire mine, including green areas, walls, paths, furnishings and lamps. Photos: Jochen Tack
ince its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, the former Zollverein coal mine and coking plant has evolved into an outstanding example of successful structural transformation. This transformation is based on the principle of “preservation through reuse”. Therefore, the Zollverein Foundation in Essen/Germany tasked with this project, not only has the mandate for monument preservation and education, but also shapes the future development of the site for various uses.
Author: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Hans-Peter Noll, Vorstandsvorsitzender Stiftung Zollverein, Essen/Germany
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Restoration of Mine-Water Drainage through the Royal Bavarian Maximilian Heritage Gallery at Stockheim
K. B. Maximilian heritage gallery with collapsed frame-type timber supports lying in sediment, view looking to the south east. Photo: G.U.B. Ingenieur AG
ard coal mining around Stockheim and Reitsch, which are townships in the Kronach district of Upper Franconia in Bavaria/Germany, commenced in 1756 and finally ceased in 1968 as the operation had become uneconomical and the deposits were running towards depletion. When the workings were closed insufficient attention, by the standards of today, was paid to securing some of the mine entrances and protecting the near-surface openings and access points. After 1984 sinkholes began to appear in the Stockheim area above the main drainage adit, the Royal Bavarian (K. B.) Maximilian heritage gallery. It became apparent that all the surface entrances and near-surface workings and the problem of draining the old mine workings in general, now posed a significant risk …
Authors: Valentin Vossen M. Sc., Dipl.-Geol. Stephan Bachmann, G. U. B. Ingenieur AG, Leipzig/Germany, Jan Pfänder B. Eng., Feldhaus Bergbau GmbH & Co. KG, Arnsberg/Germany, Dipl.-Ing. Robin Hoffmann, Bergamt Nordbayern, Bayreuth/Germany
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Renovation of a Flooded Water Release Tunnel: Wilsmicker and Altenberger Tunnels in Wenden in the Sauerland
Schematic section through the underground drainage system. Source: FWT
n January 2023, a spontaneous outflow of water occurred in front of a residential building in Wenden in the Sauerland/Germany. The water flow was linked to the head of an old drainage shaft, which was connected to a wide mining gallery. Immediately after the damage, ad hoc investigation and security measures were initiated. After weighing up the pros and cons of various rehabilitation options, a solution was favoured which would continue to drain the tunnel system under overflow conditions (pressure heads above the tunnel system). A collapsed area within the tunnel was renovated and long-term dewatering shafts (drainage-buildings) with open channels were installed on top of the tunnel. Finally, the surface was restored and shaped …
Authors: Sebastian Hillinger M.Eng., Dipl.-Geol. Nikolaus Linder, Fichtner Water & Transportation GmbH, Essen/Germany, Philipp Philipp M.Sc., Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Abteilung Bergbau und Energie in NRW, Dortmund/Germany
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Investigation of Historic Mining Infrastructure in the Upper Harz Mountains and Development of Repurposing Concepts
Different types of lining in the Ernst August adit. Top left: a section lined with dolomite stone in the area of the portal; bottom left: wall made of slag stones to the east of the Achenbach shaft; top right: backfilled steel arch support on an extension to a drift; bottom right: area of the drift section secured with shotcrete. Photos: Matthias Bock, Klaus Stedingk
he Upper Harz in Germany is historically characterized by hydrothermal vein mining, which was carried out from the Middle Ages until the 20th century. The region was one of the most important mining centers in Europe, famous for its silver, lead and zinc deposits. Many relicts of this intensive mining activity can be found underground, including extensive drainage systems for the management of mine water. Researchers at Clausthal University of Technology (CUT), Clausthal-Zellerfeld/Germany, are intensively studying this old mining infrastructure to explore …
Authors: Mareike Schubert M. Sc., Institute for Mining, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens-André Paffenholz, Institute of Geo-Engineering (IGE), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Oliver Langefeld, Institute for Mining, Clausthal University of Technology (CUT), Clausthal-Zellerfeld/Germany
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Stolberg Sinkholes: the Role of the Mining Authority in Cases of Non-Mining Sinkholes
Massive damage to a cellar wall. Photos: Bezirksregierung Arnsberg
n 2022, a sinkhole in the northern part of the city of Stolberg in North Rhine-Westphalia was reported to the Arnsberg District Government, Department Mining and Energy in NRW, Dortmund/Germany. Due to the known old mining in the area, a mining cause for the sinkhole could not be ruled out. However, during the course of the investigation, it was determined that the cause did not originate from the previous mining activities. Even in the case of damage that turns out to be unrelated to mining, as in this case, a pragmatic approach by the authorities and other bodies involved ensures that the danger is averted immediately and in a coordinated manner.
Authors: BVR Dipl.-Ing. Ingo Milas, BR’in Nicole Reinermann M. Sc., Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Abteilung Bergbau und Energie in NRW, Dortmund/Germany
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The DGGT & DMV Working Group “Post-Mining”. Development, Results and Perspectives
Exkursion des Arbeitskreises zum Wetterprojekt Schneeberg, Teilnehmer vor der Einfahrt am Huthaus Ritterschacht am 26. April 2024. Photo: Bock
ue to the mining influence on many protected goods, there is considerable interest in many countries in dealing with abandoned mines and post-mining issues in an orderly manner. Mining leaves behind a wide range of challenges and unresolved tasks worldwide, often with negative impacts on people and the environment, as well as restrictions on the subsequent use of areas affected by mining. However, the post-mining period also offers many perspectives, taking into account the mining risks. This requires experts who are familiar with the technical interrelationships of the impacts of mining and who can use this knowledge to develop planning principles for subsequent use. For over 30 years …
Authors: Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Bock, Plejades GmbH, Freiberg/Germany, Dipl.-Ing. Tobias Friedrich, DMT Group, Essen/Germany, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Goerke-Mallet, Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum/Germany
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