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The Dorothea mine was created as an exploration tunnel in 1988. The primary target here was to find barite. However, this mineral is not economically viable because it is too heavily interspersed with iron and manganese ores. During the construction of the tunnel, remnants of the old Dorothea mine, first mentioned in 1536, were also discovered. Operation of the exploration tunnel was discontinued in 1992. Further explorations were conducted between 2007 and 2009, but these activities have since ceased completely.

The Untere Sophia mine is one of the few in the Forbach Valley whose entrance is not filled in today. Cobalt was mined there – a unique occurrence in the Northern Black Forest. The mine was first mentioned in 1593; it was probably in operation until 1757, after which it was closed and filled in. The entrance to the mine was only rediscovered around 1995. Guided tours are available upon request. https://www.nationalparkregion-schwarzwald.de/poi/baiersbronn-friedrichstal-grube-sophia

A very informative information panel on the geology and history of mining in the Forbach Valley. If you look into the tunnel entrance, you can see the remains of a barite vein on the ceiling. Barite (heavy spar) was the accompanying material around which iron, silver, and copper ore had been deposited. Just a few meters from the tunnel, the Sachtleben company had core drilling carried out in 2017 to explore the thickness and purity of the barite vein, with the aim of possibly reviving mining. However, the results of the core drilling were sobering.

The "Untere Sophia" mine is one of the oldest mines in the area. It is already marked on a map by Georg Gadner from 1593. At that time, however, the tunnel was still called "St. Johannis am Friesenberg."

Here you can see something beautiful, very worth seeing

So much history right on your own doorstep

A very nice idea. Studs for bats. 🦇

Cobalt was mined there - which was unique in the northern Black Forest. The mine was first mentioned in 1593 and was probably in operation until 1757, after which it was shut down and filled in. It was only around 1995 that the entrance to the pit was rediscovered.