Master Thesis: (Re)Activating the Minette Landscapes

by Daniel Domine

Supervisors:
Dr. César Reyes Nájera
Céline Zimmer
Fall Semester 2022

Remnants of mining infrastructure in Southern Luxembourg. Daniel Domine, 2022

This work examines the development of the iron mining and steel industry in the Minette region of Luxembourg from its start in 1870 until the present day. Understanding the changes that it brought, the infrastructure it created, and the pollution it left behind. The objective is to give local and regional actors the information they need to make informed decisions concerning the affected areas.

By searching through historical literature and films, as well as analyzing historical maps, a concise history of the mining and steel industry is painted to grasp the construct of the Minette region. Data provided by the government's agencies is analyzed to plot the polluted areas left behind by the industry, and topographical changes made by 100 years of iron ore extraction and processing are mapped. Through academic literature and scientific reports, the techniques capable of dealing with these issues are cataloged, helping to inform readers of the possibilities at hand. Additionally, recommendations are made based on an analysis of the region and discussions with different agents.

What results is a master plan intended to be used as a base for decision-making concerning the remediation and reactivation of production areas and mining landscapes in Luxembourg’s Minette region.

Remnants. Pollution and landscape changes. Daniel Domine, 2022