Puits Rodolphe I et II, Historic headframe in Ungersheim, France.
Puits Rodolphe I and II near Ungersheim comprises two mining shafts constructed with different materials, the first featuring a steel headframe and the second using reinforced concrete. The two installations enabled potash extraction at considerable depths with modern hoisting equipment.
The first shaft began operations in 1913 to extract potash from considerable depths, while the second shaft was completed in 1928 to expand production capacity. An ammunition storage explosion during World War I led to a major reconstruction of the site in the following years.
The mine complex served as a major workplace for miners from many countries who came to extract potash in this industrial region of Alsace.
The site is accessible through guided tours organized by the local heritage association which share the history and operations of mining. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as there is walking involved around the outdoor grounds.
The two shafts display different construction styles from their respective eras, with the first using steel structures typical of the 1910s while the second employed modern reinforced concrete technology. These side-by-side structures reveal how mining engineering advanced significantly within a single decade.
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