Teufe

Teufe is the German mining term for depth.[1] The Teufe (hT) indicates how deep a given point lies below the surface of an open-cast pit or below the ground level in the area surrounding the pit. By contrast, the height, h, refers to its distance from a reference surface 'above'.[2] The vertical distance between the surface and a point in the mine (Grubengebäude), i.e. the vertical depth, was formerly also called the Seigerteufe.[3] This difference is no longer made today. The terms Teufe and Seigerteufe are synonymous.[4]

## Reference points[edit]

The Teufe is always given from a reference point. In earlier times, during the construction of galleries (Stollen) there was the concept of "gallery depth" or Stollenteufe. For this purpose, the survey engineer or Markscheider determined a fixed reference point from which measurements were made. The gallery was either above or below the reference point. If the gallery lay above the Markscheider's reference point, it had a positive "vertical height difference" (Seigerteufe). If the gallery lay below the reference point, it had a negative vertical height difference.[5]With the emergence of mining engineering the upper surface of the terrain was used as the reference point, usually at the headgear.[2]

Today the reference surface for mining in Germany is standard sea level (Normalhöhennull, NHN, formerly Normalnull).[4] As a result there are negative and positive heights, however, these heights are not an indication of depth. If a point is below NHN, it is give a minus sign (-); if it is above, a plus sign (+). A height based on the NHN has the symbol H.[2]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Woldemar Schneider: Taschenbuch für practische Bergleute und Bergwerksunternehmer. Verlag von J. H. Heuser, Neuwied, 1857.
2. ^ a b c DIN 21913: Bergmännisches Rißwerk, Teil 11: Geometrische Größen im Grubengebäude.
3. ^ Carl von Scheuchenstuel: IDIOTICON der österreichischen Berg- und Hüttensprache. k. k. Hofbuchhändler Wilhelm Braumüller, Vienna, 1856.
4. ^ a b Markscheiderbergverordnung Online (pdf; 109 kB) (last retrieved 9 April 2015).
5. ^ Heinrich Veith: Deutsches Bergwörterbuch mit Belegen. Verlag von Wilhelm Gottlieb Korn, Breslau, 1871.

## External links[edit]

Look up :de:Teufe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.