Chronological table on the history of the Düppenweiler copper mine

Chronological table on the history of the Düppenweiler copper mine

1723 

The farmer Junkmann from Düppenweiler discovers copper ores (or traces of mining) while plowing.

1724

Unregulated and unauthorized mining by foreign miners. The Walloon Remacle Renard Joseph de Hauzeur begins exploitation (start of mining operations). The Imperial Baron Johann Wilhelm Ludwig von Hagen zur Motten sues the Elector of Trier for the right to the copper mine at the Imperial Court in Vienna.

1729

Hauzeur applies to the Elector of Trier Franz Georg von Schönborn for a concession to build ore processing plants.

1730/1735

Closure of mining operations due to an order of the courts of Koblenz and Trier. Hauzeur has to leave Düppenweiler.

1757

Settlement before the Imperial Court in Vienna: the baronial von Hagen family receives the copper mine from the Elector of Trier as a fiefdom and, after briefly operating it themselves under the metallurgical entrepreneur Gottbill, leases it to Jean Helle de Doffinée, who soon closes it down again.

1769    

The imperial lord Franz Georg von Zandt (brother-in-law of the imperial baron and president of the imperial council Johann Hugo von Hagen), together with von Gersonne, a correspondent of the Academy of Science in Paris, resumes the mine operation.

1772  

Carl Emmerich von Hagen leases the copper mine to the Marquis de Gerin.

1776

The parts of the "fire engine" purchased by Gerin in England arrive in Düppenweiler.

1778 

Closure of the mine by the Marquis de Gerin.

1786   

Resumption of mining operations by a Paris company headed by Odelin.

1788

Closure of the mine by Odelin.

1799

The citizens Couturier and Thirion apply for a concession for the mine, which in the meantime has become state property, but this could not be granted because of the mining law of 1791.

1800

The part-owner of the Dillinger Hütte Soller applies for the concession to operate the copper mine together with the owners of money mints and later part-owners of the Dillinger Hütte Guerin and Lacour.

1803

Granting of the provisional concession by the Prefect of the Saar Department to Dillinger Hütte.

1806

By decree of Napoleon, Dillinger Hütte is granted the concession together with other entrepreneurs for a period of 50 years.

1814

As a result of the turmoil of war, the mine is completely abandoned.

1818

Application by Dillinger Hütte for the granting of a concession to operate the copper mine and the coal seam lying close by.

1824

Granting of the concession to Dillinger Hütte to operate the copper mine (without coal seam) on a smaller concession field

1825

Resumption of mining operations with the aid of a steam engine by Dillinger Hütte.

1828

Shutdown of mine operations due to lack of mineable ore.

1835

Execution of the "Verlochsteinerung" (= setting of the boundary stones) of the concession field by the surveyor Comes living in Düppenweiler.

1908 

Düppenweiler citizens unsuccessfully attempt to resume mining operations.

1915

Resumption of mining operations by Dillinger Hütte.

1916

Decommissioning by Dillinger Hütte.

1919

The mayor of Hausstadt unsuccessfully demands the transfer of the concession to the municipalities.

1932

The water dammed in the gallery is used to supplement the water supply of the Düppenweiler community until 1948.

1958

According to the law of July 10, 1953, the concession of the Dillinger Hütte for mining brown ironstone in the Düppenweiler mine expired.

1986

Exposure of the mouth hole by the building yard of the municipality of Beckingen in cooperation with the culture and heritage association Düppenweiler

1987/1990

Provisional operating permit for the community of Beckingen and clearing work in the adit and at the smelter shaft under the leadership of a working group of the Kultur und Heimatverein and former miners

1992

Founding of the "Förderverein Kupferbergwerk e.V." and resumption of work on the construction of a visitor mine.

1993 

Expiry of the concession of Dillinger Hütte and granting of the operating license to Förderverein Kupferbergwerk Düppenweiler e.V.

1995

Completion of the first section of the visitor mine and start of visitor tours; construction of the mine chapel.

1999    

Completion of the second section of the visitor mine including the "New Barbara Shaft

2004 

Construction of the hat house

2006   

Light and sound installation "Mystallica"

2010

Completion of the copper smelter with stamping plant and smelter

2011 

Construction of the miner Christmas pyramid

Seit 2011 bis heute:

Permanent safety work, removal, maintenance underground Landscape maintenance work above ground