Geopark LM 3 Englisch 2007.indd - Geopark Harz

Iron ore
Friederike Mine in Bündheim 8
We drive back along the main road, turn off to
the right and follow alongside the horse racing
track until we arrive at Bündheim, a suburb of
Bad Harzburg. We follow along the street further
into town and then, in the long left curve, we turn
right into the Silberbornstraße. At the end of the
street we come to the game enclosure which is
on the grounds of the former Friederike Iron Ore
Mine. The street name “Grubenweg” (Mine Road)
and a directional sign are a reminder of the
mining history. Imbedded in the Lower Jurassic
(Lias) clays are four ore deposits with a combined
thickness of 20 metres. These ores are the product
of weathering of dry land nearby (today the Ammonite
Harz Mts.) which even in the Jurassic period lay
above sea level. Ore precipitated in the coastal shore area.
The ore deposits Peine-Salzgitter were also similarly formed,
but originated in the Cretaceous period. The Friederike Mine
was famous for its large ammonites; well preserved specimens
can be found in the collection of the Goslar Museum,
as well as others. The old colliery spoils have been levelled or
are inside the game enclosure. There is also little left of the
mine structures; only the linear subsidence areas with
obvious depressions above the mining cavities are easily
detectable.
Distant views and salt springs
Burgberg Bad Harzburg
9
Bad Harzburg was founded in 1894
when the village of Neustadt became a
township, taking its name from the
nearby Harzburg Fortress, which was
built around 1065 under HEINRICH IV as
one of the first Harz imperial fortresses.
With its favourable location on the
steep Burgberg Mountain it became
one of the most important fortresses
of its time, playing a key role in the Burgberg Bad Harzburg
Saxon Revolts and being plundered
and destroyed in 1074. After reconstruction under OTTO IV it
regained fame: the imperial insignia of the Holy Roman
Empire were kept here. The death of OTTO IV in the fortress
ended its role of importance. Still existing on the Großer Burgberg
is the 57-metre deep fortress well. From the Canossa
Column on the Burgberg there is a tremendous view out over
the Northern Harz Border and the area of our previous excursion
route as well as the Harz Foreland lying further to the
north. Out of this the individual hillside ranges, formed by salt
tectonics, such as the Harly Anticline (salt saddle) near
Vienenburg with its former potassium mine, rise.
Bad Harzburg is known today for its saltwater baths, fed by
the springs originating in the Harznordrand Thrust. A total of
six curative and mineral water springs gush from the earth
here. As early as 1569 a saline which continued operation
until 1849 was erected here under Duke JULIUS VON BRAUNSCHWEIG.
The salt springs were located near the centre of today’s town
(street name Am alten Salzwerk, meaning “at the old salt
works”). Thereafter the saline was converted into a saltwater
spa, making use of the mineral water collected in various