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Natural Monuments

Hellerberg Quarry – Historic Agate Mining

Natural Monuments

Hellerberg Quarry – Historic Agate Mining

Highlight • Historical Site

Hellerberg Quarry – Historic Agate Mining

Recommended by 131 hikers out of 134

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Saar-Hunsrück

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Location: Freisen, St. Wendel, Saarland, Germany

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Best Hikes to Hellerberg Quarry – Historic Agate Mining

4.7

(117)

511

hikers

1. Viewpoint Hellerberg – Hellerberg Shelter loop from Schwarzerden

8.60km

02:29

230m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.7

(109)

468

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2. Andesite Rose Trail Sign – Hellerberg Shelter loop from Eckersweiler

10.2km

02:59

290m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

5.0

(5)

hikers

3. Hellerberg Shelter – Andesite Rose Trail Sign loop from Freisen

15.1km

04:23

390m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

𝒯𝒶𝓃𝒿𝒶

January 6, 2022

𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒃𝒂𝒖

Agate mining in the Freisen and Oberkirchen area was first documented in the 14th century. The banded chalcedony was initially sold to agate cutters in Freiburg and Venice, before their own loops were made in Idar and Oberstein (documented from 1520). According to a document from 1853, "the agate stone-rich Freisen and Oberkirchen were the main places where the agate loops get the raw stones". Agates were collected in fields or broken from the rock. Not only on Weiselberg, where pingen and tunnels are still in today Terrain are visible, agate mining is historically documented in Freisen. Poverty in the early 19th century drove many into emigration. Oberkirchen emigrants discovered Brazilian agates, which they had delivered to their old homeland from 1834. The Idar-Oberstein grinding industry experienced an economic one Soon the number of water loops had increased from 31 in 1827 to over 150 in 1867. Since deliveries from Brazil did not always work smoothly, farmers and craftsmen found work and bread again in local agate mining Agate diggers not rich, but helped them through times of dire need When the rough stones from overseas became more reliable around 1870, the 500-year-old mining in Oberkirchen and Freisen ended. Source: Text information board

𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈

The main mining period in the Becker am Hellerberg quarry was closely linked to the construction of the motorway (A62), which reached the Freisen area in 1972. At the end of construction in 1981, the quarry also closed. The last blast was in 1980. In the quarry, several lava flows are exposed, which are separated by almond stone zones and volcanic loose masses. In the bladder cavities of the almond stone structure, duct agates and drusen with zeolite and goethite, smoky quartz and amethyst have developed. To this day, mineral collectors from near and far are looking for the stone treasures. During the construction of the motorway in the 1970s, the entire range of great agates and druses was found in Freisen. Even after that, every major construction site lured stone seekers out. In addition to a few other localities, they found what they were looking for on Füsselberg and Freisener Höhe. Source: Text information board

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Steintroll

August 10, 2020

Because this hillside forest is almost a primeval forest and has its very own climate.

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Volker

January 19, 2021

There wasn't so much to see in today's fog. Still interesting rocks.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 550 m

Weather

Monday 15 December

6°C

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Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

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Location: Freisen, St. Wendel, Saarland, Germany

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Hellerberg Quarry – Historic Agate Mining

1. Viewpoint Hellerberg – Hellerberg Shelter loop from Schwarzerden

2. Andesite Rose Trail Sign – Hellerberg Shelter loop from Eckersweiler

3. Hellerberg Shelter – Andesite Rose Trail Sign loop from Freisen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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