Strossenbau construction on the Sauberg

"Strossenbau" (bench mining) — the oldest extraction method used in vein mining — refers to a top-down mining process. In this method, "dead" (waste) rock was deposited onto an artificial "roof" made of round timber — the "Strosse" (bench) situated above. This technique allowed the resulting void to be immediately backfilled and stabilized, while also eliminating the need to transport the waste rock to the surface.

The bench mining sites in Ehrenfriedersdorf include workings on the "Einigkeit" and "Leimgrübner" vein systems; the "Prinzler" bench mining site is located to the southwest of these. These vein systems all run roughly parallel to one another in a northeast-southwest direction. A small section of the "Leimgrübner" bench mining site was reopened to mine visitors in 2001. Additionally, a "Kaue" (mine shed) equipped with a hand-operated windlass was reconstructed.