URANIUM MINING IN BERGEN AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R004400120002-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 29, 2001
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 7, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION SF;CRETAJNTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
I FORM TION REPORT co NO.
COUNTRY Germany (Russian Zone)
SUBJECT Uranium Mining in Bergen Area
PLACE
ACQUIRED
RN TO CIA LIBRARY
DATE OF 25X1C
INFO.
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DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
7 March 1950
4
2 (2 PagerW5(1 A
ee, The discoveries in the Bergen istrict led to new prospecting activities
for urantam-containing mother rocks. The Object 25 (Auerbach) was made
a prospecting object to intensify these prospecting operations.
Geological findings proved that uranium-containing rocks were imbedded
in quartz veins, generally running N-S. The prospecting Operations
therefore were done exclusively south from Bergen whore sizable impreg-
nations were assumed.
Preparatory clearing work was started in April 1949, immediately
followed by surveying and marking activities. The prospected field
was in the Lottengruen-Neehelgruen area.
It was planned to continue the prospecting operations to the south and
reach the area north of Bad-Bramhaeh early in July 19490
b. Do data on the uranium content of the mother rock prospected in the
Bergen district has become known in the Object 25 by 30 June 1949. It
wee assumed that the uranium percentage was not very high as this
district is very far from the Aue uranium center. however, prospecting
will be continued for an undetermined period. According to source, the
slight activity of the rock is favorably balanced by easy mining con-
ditions. It is believed that the varying labor assignments are not in
contradiction to this observation. One should not give too much weight
to this fact for, as shown in the rest, the Wismuth Corporation is
rather quick in its decision and concentrates the available labor on short
notice for increasing the mining output.
0. According to source, the exploratory activities in this area mean,-
while have been ended. The Soviet-controlled operations have
generally developed along more sestematic lines. It cannot be said
whether the brisk Soviet personnel changes replacing the former economic
experts by actual mining experts were responsible for this improvement.
2. Development of Object 25 - Auerbach - since 28 March 1949:
r e
k Oa:AA ir
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
a. The mine shaft opened in a sand pit near Schroiersgruen (M 51/k 22)
designated "Mine No. 7" is part of the Object 25.
b. The excavation of additional ohafts may be expected.
c. Soviet Capt. Engineer Runyanteev, 30 years old and an expert, is
the manager.
3. "Nine No 6" of the Object 25:
a. Work assignment: The work fere? of eight hundred, man was employed by
the Mine No. 6 in Bergen at the end of April 1949. They were mostly
assigned to clearing anA protracting operations. Two hundred of than
were returned to the mines Hce 2 through 5 in Tannenbergsthal early in
Nay 1949. Six hundred workmen uere employed in the Mine No. 6 on 30
Juno 2949. No specified infeemation of the underground prospecting
and clearing work forces can he given because of the constant change
of work assignments.
b. Prospecting operations as of 30 June 1949:
The operations in the gallery driven from the sand pit at the
Oelsnitz-Bergen highway to the south were suspended as original
expectations were not fulfilled. A promising quartz vein was hit in
the initial stage of mining opeeations and it was hoped that favor-
able conditions woul4 continue. However, the gallery was not closed.
The shaft driven in the former sump No. 2 hit a rich enertz vein at
a depth of 65 feet running NeUW to S-SE. This shaft is now pro-
gressively sunk (bee Annex 2). The mouth of this shaft was 65 feet
deep with a diameter of 13 feet, The underground level drifts are
feet wide and 61- feet high,, The crosscuts driven from these
levels are shown on Annex 2. The excavation of additional crosscuts
at 65 to 130 feet intervals may be expected. According to source,
the impregnations in this qua rt vein have a comparatively high
activity.
The previously reported prospecting sumps No. 1 and 3 through 6
have developed into so-called prospecting shafts. Additional pre-
spectinee... Ana have the numerical designations No. 7 through 10 and 12.
The mouthseof the prospecting sumrs No. 1 and 3 presently measure 1Ilr
x 7i.feet;?tho depth of both :rumps is 130 feet. The mouths of the re-
maining sumps measure 81x 0 feet, the depth being only 65 'feet.
Small levels with crosscuts at 65 to 130 feet intervals are driven from
all these prospecting shafts to connect the following prospecting shafts:
No. 4 and 5, shafts No. 6 and 8, shafts No. 9 and 10, shafts No. 3 and
12. The last mentioned conneetion is especially vigorously pushed.
The area north and south of tee sand pit is also lrisscrossed by numerous
ditches. If additional prosneting shafts should be sunk in these
ditches it will be reported later.
The radiometric tests in thin district are continued but they were
gradually shifted to the south into the Lottengruen and Neehelqrnen area.
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CENTRAL IUTELLIGMCE AGENCY
e. Production figures of the Boren Mine (Mine No. 6):
Workings inthe Mine No. 6 utre on a small scale in April 1949. The
reined wee consisted practically of only large ameunte of tent ma-
terials (about three hundred bores. i.e., 9 to 12 tons from 25 !larch
1949 to the end of April 1949.) A mining quota of 230 so-called
"running meters" .(750 feet) was fixed for the first time in May 1949.
This quota was ftlfilled.
The quota increased to 300 "running meters" (1,000 feet) for JUre
1949, which was not met.
The manager of the mine stated that only 60 ."running meters" (200
feet) were reached during the- first 10 days of June, the poor results
being caused by deficient pules. 'dark was considerably delayed by
water influx.
The mines in Tannenbergsthal:
a. The mines No. 2, 3,e4 and 5 were also part of the
operations were especially intensified here. The
had good results.
b. The production was about a thclusand bo (25 kg
May 1949. Thia would meah an avernge of 25 tons
glimmer per shaft. Recently t?e mined materials
dressing plant in Longenfeld 031.
5. Dressing plant of the Mine No. 1 in.Tannenbergsthall Object No. 32:
a. The dressing plant of the mins No., 1 resumed eperation but oat,
inferior pitchblende was dressed here. Pitchblende of better quality
was processed in the dressing plant of the "David-Richt" Mine in
Freiberg and in the Schneeberg dressing plant.
he The ore was dressed in the dressing plant of Mine No. 1 only by
mechanical-physical meanie. The prospected materials were first crashed
in three ball mills and the pitchblende was then sorted in the washing
process. The dressing plant consisted of shaking grates on which the
materials were rinsed with mator. Because of its higher specific weight,
the pitchblende dropped through the grates while the waste mas washed
away. The produced concentrate was packed in boxes.
6. The Freiberg Area;
Only the dressing plant of the -avid-Richt Nine was still in Freiberg. It
had been considerably enlarged* The work forces of all other Freiberg mines
were suddenly transferred to St, Georgenthal in the last 10 days of Nhrch
1949. Quartz lodes with dense pitchblende deposits mere prospected in Ste
Georgenthal - just as in the Ar district. Mining of such lodes started
immediately but results so far have been poor.
25X1A Msazgad
The new uranium discoveries near Bergen which resulted in a western ox
tension of the restricted area ware previously- reported. The present
report supplies information on he activities of the later eatablished
Object 25, especially on the exnarsion of the Mine no. 6 with its pros-
pecting shafts No. / through Wand 12. According to this report
predominantly exploratory and opening operations were being done by the
middle of 1949.
Object 25. Mining
mines No. 2 and 5
or 100 kg each?) in
of uranium-copper-
wore sent to the
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Whether operations have now become more pystematic
cannot be eonfirmed on the basis of these in.atimis.
No detailed records are available on. the Freiberg (David-'Richt Nine)
and Schneeberg, dressing plants used for procebsing high grade
pitchblende. A dressing plant at the DaVid-Nine in Freiberg is
confirmed by the inventory of the Himre1fahrt4undgrabe Nine*.
2 Annexes 10 Bergen, ITIne No. 6
2. Bergen, Prosrecting Shaft No. 2
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