Ani Mine
The Ani Mine is a former mining complex in Kitaakita, Japan. Situated in the valley of the, the workings extend for several kilometres under Mount Moriyoshi.
The mine was a source of copper, silver, and gold. Ani copper was especially highly prized for its gold content.
History
A placer deposit of gold was discovered near Ani in 1309. It is unclear when mining operations began at Ani, with two different documents giving the years 1637 and 1670.By the 18th century the Ani Mine was operated by the Kubota Domain and accounted for almost half of Japan's national supply of copper. In 1764, the Tokugawa authorities attempted to nationalise the mine in order to secure a strategic reserve of copper. The Akita Domain reacted strongly, and after negotiations the confiscation order issued for the mine was revoked.
In 1773, the Kubota Domain hired the engineers Hiraga Gennai and Yoshida Rihē to improve the smelting techniques used at Ani. Reportedly, the Ani miners got along well with the sincere Yoshida but disliked Hiraga's arrogant personality.
During the early Meiji period, a team of German mining engineers led by Adolf Meckel were hired by the Japanese government to renovate the Ani Mine with European technology. In 1879, two buildings were constructed as official lodgings for the Germans. These were built in a Western architectural style and used bricks fired from local clay.
In the early 1880s, pneumatic rock drills were used at Ani. Some of these drills were later transferred to the Ashio Copper Mine.