San Fernando Mine, Herdorf, Daaden-Herdorf, Altenkirchen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germanyi

Regional Level Types
San Fernando Mine	Mine (Built Over)
Herdorf	Town
Daaden-Herdorf	Collective Municipality
Altenkirchen	District
Rhineland-Palatinate	State
Germany	Country

Translation of the German Wikipedia page (see link below):

The San Fernando ore mine is located in Herdorf (Altenkirchen district) on the road to Daaden. It was one of the largest and last active ore mines in Herdorf.

History

The unusual name goes back to the Herdorf miner Wilhelm Hähner, who initially mined in Mexico for several years before returning to his homeland and discovering and naming the mining area in the Sottersbach Valley. H.D.F. Schneider purchased this mining area and various neighbouring areas on August 1, 1856, and subsequently established the mine. A workforce was assembled on March 27, 1855. From 1912, the mine belonged to Friedrichshütte.

The ore mined here belongs to the Florz-Füsseberg vein system; other mines were also located in this vein system: Wolf, Zufälligglück, Füsseberg-Friedrich Wilhelm, and Glaskopf. The ore extracted was primarily spar iron ore, but also brown iron ore, magnetite, and, to a lesser extent, non-ferrous metal ore.

The ore was processed above ground in large facilities, primarily by roasting. The final product was transported to the smelter in Herdorf by narrow-gauge railway along the Sottersbach stream. The mine was closed between March 15, 1945, and February 4, 1946. In 1953, it was incorporated into Erzbergbau Siegerland AG. It was finally closed on July 15, 1958. It remained part of the Füsseberg mine until March 31, 1962.

Several of the buildings survived for decades, such as the tower-like ore processing building. Various smaller buildings are used by the Thomas Magnete company. The former washhouse, for example, is used as a test hall for endurance tests; the characteristic pulleys can still be seen on the ceiling.

In 2016, almost all the remaining buildings were demolished. The site is needed by the Thomas Magnete company for an expansion of its site. On the hill above the Sottersbach valley, only the mine's former engine house remains.

Most recently, 17,000 tons of raw spar were mined monthly. The mine's total production is 6 million tons, and reserves, including Friedrich-Wilhelm/Füsseberg ore, are estimated at 4–6 million tons.

Production and workforce

Production in 1900: 24,406 tons
Production in 1913: 72,000 tons
Production in 1955: 135,173 tons
During its heyday, 928 people worked here; in 1955, there were 387; and in 1958, 490 miners.

Deep mining began in 1881. There were three shafts:

1881: Blind shaft; 4.72 × 1.60 m in size, 357.2 m deep.

1906: Shaft I; 675 m deep; electric hoisting.

1918: Shaft II; 1001.97 m deep; in operation from 1928.

The total depth was 1032.2 m.

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergwerk_San_Fernando
Wikidata ID:	Q820489

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References