Monte Kali (Heringen)

Monte Kali or Kalimandscharo is colloquially called in herring ( Werra) in Hersfeld -Rotenburg near the Hessian- Thuringian border, the slag heap of potash mining. The conspicuous collection, whose summit plateau at an altitude of 530 m above sea level. NHN is, also represents a tourist attraction

The mountain, one of several mine dumps of the K S in Germany is, pouring out of about 150 million tonnes of overburden salt. The Monte Kali has an area of ​​55 hectares and growing funding per hour to 800 tonnes. A 1.5 km long conveyor belt transports the tailings salt on the mountain. The landfill began in 1973. More than 10,000 visitors per year climb the artificial mountain. The difference in height from the foot of the mountain to the summit plateau is about 200 m.

Formation

The degraded potash are always accompanied by sodium chloride ( NaCl, table salt) and have a potassium content between 20 and 35 % on. Thus per ton recovered Kali arise several tons of overburden salt. The overburden salt consists of 96% saline.

Ecological Significance

The entry of salt into the surrounding soil and the surrounding rivers is enormous. Due to the high amounts of salt to the surrounding soil has become virtually barren and it can only grow on salt-loving plants. The Werra has such a high salt content, that for freshwater organisms is no longer livelihood. In addition, the groundwater is too salty.

A conveyor belt transports the tailings salt on the summit plateau.

On the summit plateau of the incoming salt overburden is transported with conveyor belts to a boom.

The boom will place the overburden salt on a flank of the mountain.

The extracted overburden salt is moistened to prevent airborne dust.

Look at the work of Wintershall, where the overburden salt is separated from the potash.

View from mountain onto the slag heap at Philippstal.

Partial view of the mountain with boom