Mikobata Ore Dressing Plant Remains

Overview

The Mikobata Ore Dressing Plant Remains are located in Sanou, Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture. It was built as an ore dressing facility for the Akenobe Mine. Mining in the Akenobe Mine began as early as the Sengoku period (Warring States period), and it was a multi-variety non-ferrous metal mine producing gold, silver, copper, lead, and tin. Mikobata itself also once thrived as the Mikobata Mine, a silver and copper mine. At one point, it was under the control of the Shogunate as a branch mine of Ikuno, but due to the unstable ore production compared to the Ikuno Silver Mine, it experienced periods of both prosperity and decline. In 1878 (Meiji 11), the discovery of promising silver veins around Mikobata spurred modern mine development, with the Meiji government investing heavily. Part of the foreign residential area and the mine office from Ikuno were relocated to Mikobata. The mine office, now preserved as the "Mousse Former Residence," displays materials related to the Mikobata Ore Dressing Plant and serves as the Mousse House Photograph Gallery. It is designated as a Hyogo Prefectural Cultural Property. However, Mikobata declined in 1908 (Meiji 41), necessitating the downsizing of exploration and mining operations. In 1896 (Meiji 29), it was sold to Mitsubishi, and finally closed in 1917 (Taisho 6). Around that time, the increase in the amount of ore mined at the Akenobe Mine made the existing ore dressing facilities insufficient. A plan was proposed to move the ore dressing function to Mikobata, which would handle primary crushing after mining. Though its role as a mine had ended, Mikobata was reborn in 1925 (Taisho 8) as a large-scale "mechanical ore dressing plant" processing ore transported from the Akenobe Mine. The mechanical ore dressing plant, utilizing the mountain slope, was lauded as "the largest in the Orient" in terms of both scale and output. Its "specific gravity separation technique" was internationally acclaimed, attracting inspection teams from overseas. Operating 24/7, the plant's illuminated night-time appearance was said to resemble an impregnable fortress. Unfortunately, with the closure of the Akenobe Mine in 1987 (Showa 62) due to the rapid rise of the yen, Mikobata Ore Dressing Plant also ceased operation and was closed. While the buildings remained for some time, they were demolished in 2004 (Heisei 16). Today, only the reinforced concrete foundation structures and the remains of the incline connecting the upper and lower parts of the ore dressing plant remain, now developed as the "Koseki no Michi Mikobata Station" historical park. The "Myojin Electric Train," which connected Akenobe and Mikobata, is also on display. Mikobata, having changed its form with the times, supported the Japanese economy. The remaining impressive ruins of the ore dressing plant convey its profound history, truly embodying its status as "the largest in the Orient."