The mine was officially shut on 27 November 1981.
For decades, the mining industry helped Luxembourg increase its wealth and prosperity. The last mine was closed 40 years ago almost to this day.
One hundred and seventy people worked in the Differdange mine towards the end. Between 1865 and 1981, an estimated 500 million tonnes of iron ore were extracted, about 400,000 tonnes per year on average.
Working in the mines was known to be a dangerous profession, with close to 1,500 people losing their lives underground over the years. The Thillebierg mine extended over a surface of 380 hectares.
By the end of the 1960s, machinery used in the mines was modernised, but the facility was nevertheless shut at the end of November 1981.
