(Heidenbach, Munster, Vallée de la Fecht (Vallée de Munster), Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France)
Ancient copper and silver mines, started in 1472. In 1518, the deposit was worked by four mines, and in 1571, there were fifteen mines active in the area. Nevertheless, they all appear to have been abandoned by the end of the 16th century. In the late 17th century, the mines were unsuccessfully re-worked for a short period of time. Another attempt to re-work the deposit in 1900 was unsuccessful as well.
The mines appear to have explored a group of small quartz-baryte veins, carrying mainly argentiferous tetrahedrite and minor chalcopyrite. The most abundant secondary minerals are azurite and malachite. The deposit is located in the valley of Heidenbach, a small side valley branching from the Fecht valley just north of Munster. Relicts of ancient workings were discovered in the vicinity of the cemetery, and there is also a dump remaining in the upper valley.
Ref.:
- J.-L. Hohl: "Minéraux et Mines du Massif Vosgien", Editions du Rhin (Mulhouse), 1994
