Rock Extraction at the Stöffel (Basalt-Mile)
| Rock Extraction at the Stöffel (Basalt-Mile) | |
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| GeoStation at the GeoRoute Tertiär - Industrie -Erlebnis Stöffel-Route | |
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Rock Extraction at the Stöffel
Around 25 million years ago, a volcanic eruption gave rise to the Stöffel hill. It consists of basalt, a rock type commonly found in the region. The deposit here at the Stöffel is the largest contiguous basalt deposit in the entire Westerwald!
Basalt is a particularly high-quality natural stone and, due to its specific properties, is well-suited for a variety of applications. Its high density and weather resistance make basalt indispensable in hydraulic engineering, for example. Due to its hardness, it is also excellently suited for use as railway gravel.
The extraction of natural stone has a long tradition here at the Stöffel. Its special properties and the high demand for natural stone made Stöffel basalt a highly sought-after raw material as early as the last century. Industrial extraction of the volcanic rock began on Stöffel hill in 1902.
Due to the size of the deposit, three companies eventually established operations at different points on the Stöffel over time. Since 1910, the Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft, headquartered in Linz am Rhein, has been the leaseholder at the Stöffel and has been operating the quarry alone since 2002.
Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft is one of the largest building material manufacturers in Germany and has been deeply rooted in the German raw materials industry for over 130 years. Since its founding in 1888, Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft has continually expanded its network of locations in Germany and has also established several affiliates in other European countries. The company operates more than 350 extraction and production sites across Europe, with over 300 of them in Germany as of 2021.
Its operations include quarries, asphalt mixing plants, infill operations, and landfills. In addition to active extraction and production sites, Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft is also responsible for some decommissioned sites currently undergoing reclamation.
After reclamation is completed and a final assessment by independent experts and relevant authorities is conducted, the restored land is officially returned to the local municipality. Basalt is still being extracted at the Stöffel today. While the historical part of the quarry, now the Stöffel Park, is one of the largest museums in the Westerwald, basalt continues to be mined in the northern section.
In a few years, the deposit will be completely exhausted. Then the full area will be subject to reclamation. The Stöffel will be returned to a natural state, including a lake.
Nature Conservation Takes Priority!
In Germany, no quarry may be operated without a so-called after-use plan. This plan must clarify what will happen to the quarry site after extraction—before any work begins. After-use options include reclamation and renaturation.
With renaturation, the quarry is literally left to nature after operations cease. All technical facilities and equipment are removed, and nature reclaims the area. Within just a few years, a young, dense forest can emerge on the former quarry site. However, this process also leads to the loss of a unique habitat, as bare rock surfaces and steep rock faces are rare ecosystems in Germany and provide vital habitats for endangered species of plants and animals.
For this reason, reclamation is now often preferred over renaturation. In reclamation, special habitats are intentionally created and maintained through regular, environmentally friendly measures. This usually involves years or even decades of ecological responsibility on the part of the company.
In addition to reclamation and renaturation, there are other forms of after-use. These include specially designed mountain bike trails, marked hiking paths, or artificial lake landscapes. The latter is currently planned for the quarry at the Stöffel. In such special cases, the former quarry site could become a local recreational area.
Verfasser: Carolin Geißler, Christoph Eul und Roger Lang
Stand: 4/2025