Linck marble works, Auerbach, Bensheim, Bergstraße, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germanyi

Regional Level Types
Linck marble works	Mine
Auerbach	Borough
Bensheim	Town
Bergstraße	District
Darmstadt	Region
Hesse	City-State
Germany	Country

An old mine in calcite marble on the north slope of Ludwigshöhe mountain, southeast of Hochstädten. It was started in 1860, when an inclined shaft was sunk at Rossbach, a hamlet in the valley between Ludwigshöhe mountain and Bangertshöhe mountain, where marble was already mined since the early 18th century. Until 1865, two underground levels had been driven and the mine employed 10 workers. The marble was processed in four lime kilns, that had been built near the mine. In 1905, after the mine had been taken over by a Dr. Linck, the upper level was stoped to the surface and during the following years, marble was mainly produced from the resulting open cut. At the same time, a third level was driven and since 1920, marble was raised again mainly from the underground workings. The material was now used to produce mortar (trade name: Marmorit). During the second world war, an ammunition manufacture was installed inside the mine and the workings lay idle. They were restarted in 1946 and until 1952, three further levels were driven that are connected by a winze. When the mine was abandoned in 1974, the workings were 130 m deep and extended 450 m along strike of the marble-bearing zone.

The grid reference marks the open cut, which is heavily overgrown but still accessible. Minerals can also be collected from scattered dump material around the foundations of the old lime kilns, which are located in the valley northeast of the open cut.

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References