Eisenloch

The Eisenloch is a fissure cave with a total length of 27 m within the calcareous marlstone of the Oerlinghausen Formation (Middle Turonian, formerly lamarcki beds). The entrance shaft was enlarged by human hand. It descends vertically for about 3 m and ends on a natural debris cone made up of stones, earth, leaves and branches that have fallen into the hole from above. On both sides of the debris cone, cavities lead obliquely downward; the western one runs about 4 m and the eastern fissure about 10 m into the mountain. The entrance shaft of about 7 m depth, situated at a fissure intersection, has been enlarged by mining; in this way access was gained to the roughly 1.5 m wide, 10 m high and 15 m long oblique fissure. The spoil heap, today about 12 m high, divides the cleared-out fissure.

The entrance shaft descends vertically for about 3 m and ends on a natural debris cone. On both sides of the debris cone, cavities lead obliquely downward, the western one about 4 m and the eastern fissure about 10 m into the mountain.

At the edge of the debris cone there also lie bones of animals that have fallen in (fallow deer, roe deer, fox or marten). After the fissure (today the eastern fissure) was cleared out, the Eisenloch was left by humans for a long time; branches, twigs, leaves and also animals fell into the shaft. Outside the Eisenloch, a spoil mound containing pieces of iron ore and quartz has been piled up around the shaft. The entire mountain slope laterally below the Eisenloch is also said to have been dug up by human hand; further traces of mining are to be expected here.