The Rieder graywacke quarry is located between Gernrode and Ballenstedt above the village of Rieder.
The extraction of greywacke in the Eulenbach valley near Rieder goes back to a small quarry of the Reich Labor Service in 1935. At the end of the 1960s, the VEB Natursteinkombinat Halle-Sennewitz relocated its production facility here from Teichgrund near Ballenstedt.
The modern plant for crushing and classifying was built in 1992 by the current operator of the high-grade chippings plant, Mitteldeutsche Baustoffe GmbH. Most of the production is sold within a radius of up to 40 km.
Because 800,000 tons leave the plant every year, the reserves of high-quality greywacke in the Eulenbach Valley deposit will soon be exhausted. A final operating plan regulates the subsequent renaturation. However, the plant for crushing and classifying will continue to operate and be supplied with raw material from another deposit by means of a conveyor system.
The quarry is already home to many rare animal species that are particularly worthy of protection, including the largest native owl, the eagle owl. As video footage shows, the shy lynx has also been roaming the site at night for some time now.
The Harz Regional Association, together with the operator of the quarry, the Harzklub Zweigverein Ballenstedt and the AFG Harz, has erected a viewing platform with a display board.
The shortest access route begins near Buttlar’s grave at the parking lot with the field kitchen on the B 185 Ballenstedt – Mägdesprung. From the parking lot, cross the main road and follow the path towards Hubertushöhe. Descend via a narrow zigzag path to the small Sieberstein pond, cross the dam, climb a short ascent to a wide forest path leading up from the Selketalstieg, which leads slightly uphill to the stamp box with the viewpoint.
