MINES 261 



breadth perpendicularly to that direction. Out of theso bounds, apparently BO 

 small, but -which however surpass those of the greater part of tho concessions in 

 the Hartz, there were extracted from 1709 to 1807 inclusively, 883,722 marcs of 

 silver, 768,845 quintals of lead, and 2,385 quintals of copper. This mine and that of 

 Carolina have brought to their shareholders in the same period of time more than 

 1,120,000^. profit; and have besides powerfully contributed by loans without interest to 

 carry on the exploration of the less productive mines. It was in order to effect the 

 drainage of the mines of the district of Clausthal, and those of the district of Zeller- 

 feld adjoining, that the great Adit Levels have been excavated. 



Below George III.'s Deep Adit (Georg Stollri) a still deeper gallery has been con- 

 structed, known as the Ernest Augustus Adit (Ernst August Stalin), and to complete 

 the drainage of the mines in this district a water-level is in course of construction, 

 126 fathoms below the Deep Adit, or about 320 fathoms below the surface. 



Next to the two districts of Clausthal and Zellerfeld, and Andreasberg. comes that 

 of Goslar, the most important working in which is the copper mine of the Rammels- 

 bcrg, opened since the year 968, on a mass of copper pyrites, disseminated through 

 quartz, and mingled with galena and blende. It is worked by shafts and galleries, 

 with the employment of fire to break down the ore. This mine produces annually 

 from 1,200 to 1,300 metric quintals (about 275,000 Ibs. avoird.) of copper. The 

 galena extracted from it yields a small quantity of silver and a very little gold. The 

 latter metal amounts to only the five-millionth part of the mass explored ; and yet 

 means are found to separate it with adA'antage. The mine of Lautcrburg is worked 

 solely for the copper, and it furnishes annually nearly 66,000 Ibs. avoird. of that metal. 



Besides tho explorations just noticed, there are a great many mines of iron in dif- 

 ferent parts of the Hartz, which give activity to important forges and furnaces. 

 The principal ores are sparry iron, and red and brown haematites, which occur in 

 veins, beds, and masses. 



The territory of Anhalt-Bernberg presents, towards the S.E. extremity of the 

 Hartz, lead and silver mines, which resemble closely those of the general district. 

 They produce annually 33,000 Ibs. avoird. of lead. 



At the southern foot of the Hartz, at Ihlefeld, there is a mine of manganese. 



The exploration of the Hartz mines may be traced back for about 900 years. The 

 epoch of their greatest prosperity was the middle of the 18th century. Their gross 

 annual amount was, in 1808, upwards of one million sterling. Lead is their principal 

 product, of which they furnish annually 100,000 quintals, with 44,000 marcs, or 

 22.000 Ibs. avoird. of silver, about 360,000 Ibs. avoird. of copper, and a very great 

 quantity of iron. Some of these mines are worked by the Government, others by 

 companies of adventurers. They are celebrated for the excellence of their mining 

 operations, for the systematic application of the processes for dressing the ores, and 

 for the activity, patience, and skill of their workmen. 



The Hartz is referred to especially for the manner in which the waters are collected, 

 and economised for floating down the timber, and impelling the machinery. With this 

 view, dams or lakes, canals and aqueducts, have been constructed, remarkable for 

 their good execution. The watercourses are formed either in the open air round tho 

 mountain sides, or through their interior as subterranean galleries. The open channels 

 collect the rain-waters, as well as those proceeding from the melting of snows, from 

 the springs and streamlets, or small rivers that fall in their way. The subterranean 

 conduits are in general the continuation of the preceding, whose circuits they cut 

 short. These watercourses present a development in all, of above 125 miles. The 

 banks of some of the reservoirs are of an extraordinary height. In the single district 

 of Clausthal there are 63 ponds, which supply water to a, great number of overshot 

 wheels ; of those attached to the mines, 46 wheels are at the surface, 21 and 3 water- 

 pressure engines underground, whilst 50 wheels are applied to the dressing ma- 

 chinery, and 39 to the smelting furnaces. 



In the mines of the Upper Hartz alone 5,000 persons are employed. 



MINES OP THE EAST OP GEBMAKY. 



Wo shall embrace under this head the mines opened in the primary and transition 

 territories, which constitute the body of a great portion of Bohemia, and the adjacent 

 parts of Saxony, Bavaria, Austria, Moravia, and Silesia. 



Among the several chains of small mountains that cross these countries, the richest 

 in deposits of ore is the one known under the name of the Erzgebirge, which separates 

 Saxony from Bohemia on the left bank of the Elbe. 



The Erzgebirge contains a great many mines, whose principal products are silver, 

 tin, and cobalt. These mines, whose exploration remounts to the 12th century, and 

 particularly those situated ou the northern slope within the kingdom of Saxony, have 



