16 million euros for the Malachitdom: court is hearing today!

16 million euros for the Malachitdom: court is hearing today!

Today, July 2, 2025, the administrative wrangling over theMalachite Domein Bad Wünnenberg-Bleiwasch in focus. The Minden Administrative Court will be hearing from 12 p.m. on the complex situation surrounding this unique stalactite cave, which is considered a protected biotope. A company from Hanau is demanding compensation of a whopping 16 million euros from the country after it sued against a ban on mining limestone in the cave and came away empty-handed in 2022.

The Malachite Dome is not only a geological wonder, but also home to numerous bats and represents significant scientific value. The court made it clear that dismantling would not only affect the Malachite Dome, but completely destroy it. “Such destruction would be irreversible,” said the experts.

The history of the cave

This secret lies in the northeastern Rhenish Slate Mountains, in the Düstertal. The Malachite Dome, named after the copper minerals malachite and azurite that occur there, was discovered in 1987 during quarry work. The rocky subsoil of this cave consists of Brilon mass limestone, which was formed around 360 million years ago from reef carbonates on a coral reef. The Düstertal is known for its numerous caves, which were created by the karstification of the limestone.

The central hall of the Malachitdom is the largest self-supporting cave room in North Rhine-Westphalia. During excavations in the cave's circle, remains of Ice Age animals such as cave bears, wild horses and aurochs were found, which make the archaeological heart beat faster.

Environmental protection and sustainability

The debate about protecting the cave is not new. For over 30 years there have been disputes about whether to preserve or dismantle the Malachite Cathedral. In 2017, the Federal Nature Conservation Act was amended, declaring caves to be particularly protected biotopes. Nevertheless, the protected status of the natural monument was revoked on December 31, 2011 due to claims for damages from Mitteldeutsche-Hartstein-Industrie GmbH (MHI).

The Association of German Cave and Karst Researchers (VdHK) is committed to protecting these underground ecosystems. As part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the VdHK is working to preserve these valuable habitats. The goals include, among other things, landscape and water protection as well as the preservation of biodiversity and are therefore an important building block for the sustainable use of nature.

What happens next remains to be seen. It is uncertain whether the court will make a ruling today. What is definitely clear, however, is that the preservation of the Malachite Dome plays a central role in protecting regional biodiversity and as a research facility.

For more information on this topic, visit the articles on Radio Hochstift, Lead washing or that VdHK.