Ancient zinc mine working on a metasomatic replacement deposit. The zinc ore occurs as so called “Galmei” or “Calamine” (an intergrowth of Smithsonite, Hemimorphite and Willemite).
The open cut on Altenberg (Kelmisberg) mountain is located in the southern district of Moresnet north of the road leading from Aachen to Liège. The mine was abandoned in 1884. Today the open cut is refilled.
NOTES:
1) Old dumps and a settling pond are located opposite the open cut and south of the Aachen-Liège road. In this area, the former mineral processing plant was situated. Starting in 1900, the S.A. de la Vielle Montagne processed the tailings from the old Altenberg mine and hand picked ores from other mines in this area (Schmalgraf, Fossey, Welkenradt, Lontzen Mine). Later, after the mines were abandoned (~1935), ores from Germany, Spain and from overseas were dressed. Consequently, minerals from different and even overseas localities may occur in the dumps.
2) In general, the name "Altenberg" on old labels refers to the mining district and not specifically to Altenberg. This is especially true for sphalerite, galena and schalenblende specimens.
References:
- Haidinger, W., (1825): Beschreibung mehrerer neuer oder bisher nur unvollkommen bekannter Mineralien, XVI. Hopeit, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Vol. 81, 169-170
- Braun, M. (1857): Über die Galmeilagerstätte des Altenberges im Zusammenhang mit den Erzlagerstätten des Altenberger Grubenfeldes und der Umgegend, Zeitschrift d. Dt. Geolog. Gesellschaft, 354-370.
- Arzruni, A., (1874): Über eine Zwillingsverwachsung des Willemits, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Vol. 228, 281 ff
- Schulz, W. (1886): Führer des Berg- und Hütteningenieurs durch die Umgegend von Aachen, Georgi Aachen.
- Herbst, F. (1910): Der technische Betrieb des Erzbergbaus – Der Bergbau auf der linken Seite des Niederrheins II.
- Holzapfel, E. (1910): Die Geologie des Nordabfalls der Eifel mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Gegend von Aachen – Der Bergbau auf der linken Seite des Niederrheins I.
- Klockmann, F. (1910): Die Erzlagerstätten der Gegend von Aachen - Der Bergbau auf der linken Seite des Niederrheins II.
- Dewez, L., Lespineux, G. (1949): Les Minerais Du Sol Belge; Centenaire de l`Association des Ingenieurs sortis de l`Ècole de Liege, Section Geologie.
- Coppola, V., Boni, M., Gilg, H.A., Balassone, G., and Dejonghe, L. (2008): The “calamine” nonsulfide Zn–Pb deposits of Belgium: Petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical characterization. Ore Geology Reviews 33, 187-210.
- www.strahlen.org/vp/be/moresnet/
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Map Reference: 50°42'49"N , 6°0'31"E
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Mineral List:14 entries listed. 14 valid minerals. 3 type localities (valid minerals).
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