Riedel Potash Works, Hänigsen, Uetze, Hanover Region, Lower Saxony, Germanyi

Regional Level Types
Riedel Potash Works	Workings
Hänigsen	Village
Uetze	Municipality
Hanover Region	District
Lower Saxony	State
Germany	Country

The Riedel potash plant is a former potash mine near Hänigsen. At 1525 meters deep, it was the world's deepest mine for potash salt.

The Riedel shaft was sunk between 1905 and 1908 (770 m).

In 1907/08 a mine siding railway was built from Burgdorf via Sorgensen and Weferlingsen to Hänigsen.

Mining began in 1909.

In 1928, it was temporarily closed.

From 1937 to 1945, the mine was part of the army ammunition production facility and underground dump, the Heeresmunitionsanstalt Hänigsen ("Hänigsen Army Ammunition Facility").

On June 18, 1946, an accident occurred here: 10,000-12,0000 tons of ammunition exploded, killing 86 people.

In 1949 the shaft tube received new installations and potash production was resumed.

The production of potash was stopped in 1996, and that of rock salt in 1997.

The mine remained in operation until 1997.

Plans for an underground toxic waste dump were scrapped.

The 650 and 750 m levels probably still contain old weapons waste (detonators, grenades, combat agent Excelsior (10-chloro-9,10-dihydroacridarsin, Blaukreuz) and its precursor merodanoic acid).

The rainwater from the site and the heap seepage water (around 10,000 m³/year) is led into the Thöse.

The flooding of the mine is scheduled to be completed in 2028.
The BUND ("Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e. V.") criticizes this measure.

The miners' association, founded in 1908, still exists today.

See also the Niedersachsen Potash Works - https://www.mindat.org/loc-1822.html

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliwerk_Niedersachsen-Riedel
Wikidata ID:	Q98106605

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References