Historischer Goldbergbau im Oberpfälzer Wald im Licht neuer geologisch-mineralogischer Untersuchungen

Abstract

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG
Im Oberpfälzer Wald ist seit dem Mittelalter eine rege Bergbauaktivität
überliefert. Die besonderen geologischen Verhältnisse schufen die
Grundlagen für die Gewinnung von verschiedenen Metallerzen und Industriemineralen.
In jüngerer Zeit waren dabei vor allem der Eisen- und
Flußspatabbau von großer Bedeutung für die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung
des Oberpfälzer Waldes. Wie neuere Untersuchungen zeigen, hatte jedoch
im Mittelalter und der frühen Neuzeit der Goldbergbau eine weite Verbreitung
im Oberpfälzer Wald, aber auch im Bayerischen und Böhmerwald.
Durch geologisch-mineralogische Untersuchungen können zahlreiche, ehemals
abgebaute Goldvorkommen wiedergefunden und genauer beschrieben
werden.
ABSTRACT
Since the Middle Ages intense mining activities are reported in the
"Oberpfälzer Wald" (NE-Bavaria). The special geological features of
the area are the basis for mining of different metallic ores and industrial
minerals. In more recent times iron and fluorite production has
been of predominant importance for the economy of the "Oberpfälzer
Wald" area. Recent investigations show that during the Middle Ages and
late Middle Ages gold mining was widespread.
A study of medieval documents and of early geological descriptions as
well as the evaluation of names of localities, small rivers and villages
in old and recent maps yield a number of hints on old gold mines.
During a field campaign for alluvial prospecting numerous places with
old pits and heaps were found in the "Oberpfälzer Wald". 35 localities
are compiled with short descriptions of the history and extent of the
mining area. The upper "Murach" valley was a center of gold mining in
the late Middle Ages. Widely extensive gold mining fields are known.
In recent geochemical investigations and a diamond drilling campaign
the primary deposits of the gold were found in a highly metamorphosed
cordierite-gneiss-complex. The primary gold associations with Bi and
arsenic minerals are altered by weathering and increasing deformation
of gold grains from river transport is observed. The geomorphological
features of the old mining areas and mineralogical-geological studies
show a clear connection between the richest gold occurrences and the
medieval mining activities. These results show the necessity of further
investigations on this more or less unknown matter.