Ore from the individual corridors was transported by hand in small tubs, woven baskets, or a wheelbarrow. And then with the help of buckets the ore was pulled up to the surface, where it was further sorted and processed. Minerals that were accessible from larger mineshafts were transported in wooden carriages that used to run on wooden rails.
Initially ore was brought to the surface using windlasses. Towards the end of the 13th century whims were invented, which at first were powered by humans or horse power and later, where possible, by water wheels. Depending on their size both the windlasses and whims required 2 to 4 men or horses to power them. The windlasses had a maximum reach of 60 m while the whims could reach depths of up to 200 m underground. Water wheels increased the depth to 600 m. Windlasses were used until the end of the 16th century, while horse and water‐powered whims were used until the 18th century when they were eventually replaced by steam‐powered engines. In the Johannes mine a working replica of a windlass has been constructed which can be seen on the surface of the mine.
