Today marks the 40th anniversary of the end of iron ore mining in Luxembourg. On the 27th of November 1981, the last shift of miners entered the Thillenberg mine to extract minette.
© Copyright: Archives Entente Mine Cockerill Esch-sur-Alzette
Last week, Denis Klein, historian and member of the board of the “Musée National des Mines de Fer“ in Rumelange, told us that iron ore mining had been practised in Luxembourg since the time of the Celts. He explained to us the smelter clause, which contributed significantly to the development of the iron industry in the Grand Duchy, and the switch from underground to open-cast mining in the second half of the 20th century.
This week, the historian deals with the end of mining, an end that was gradually announced. As early as the 1960s, there were signs that iron ore mining in Luxembourg would not have a prolonged future:
The oil and steel crisis in the 1970s further accelerated the decline of mining, according to Denis Klein:
After the closure of the last open-cast mines, only the Thillenberg mine remained, but its end was also sealed, even though it apparently came as a surprise to the miners who worked there, says Denis Klein:
The Thillenberg mine is still partly maintained today, however, and still supplies the Arcelor-Mittal steelworks in Differdange with water that is used to process the steel produced there. Nevertheless, the mine is not open to the public.
After the closing of the Thillenberg, there was only one mine left in the whole region. Minette continued to be mined in the “Mine des Terres Rouges” in Audun-le-Tiche until 1997. This mine is currently being restored and will reopen its doors as a museum next year for Esch2022 – European Capital of Culture.
 |
 |
|
