Gypsum mining in the mine
Horst-Peter-Stollen

In the Horst-Peter-Stollen mine, the mining method used is the chambered shaft method.

In a very simplified description, «tunnel-like» sections are initially created in such a way that cuboid areas of the deposit are left standing. Miners refer to these as «pillars». They serve to ensure that the overburden remains in its original position. Depending on the characteristics of the deposit, parts of the deposit may be extracted later that were not yet loosened when the drifts were created.

The rock is usually loosened by drilling and blasting. This involves drilling blast holes with drill rigs. Powdered explosives are later blown into these holes. Blasting takes place at the end of each working day. The quantities of explosives and the ignition times are coordinated in such a way that no damage or major vibrations are caused.

The dissolved gypsum/anhydrite rock is loaded onto dump trucks with wheel loaders. The skip lorries then take it to the processing plant. There it is crushed. From the processing plant, the gypsum/anhydrite rock is transported to storage silos, from where it is then loaded.

Miners call the ceiling of a mine workings a «roof». This is regularly checked to ensure that it is stable and that nothing falls from it. Only in very few places does additional securing have to be carried out, for example in the roadways leading into the mine. There are many other work steps, especially with the objectives of product quality, occupational safety, environmental protection and health and safety.