We go in search of the geological basis of our everyday lives. Geologist Colin Devey and astrophysicist Sibylle Anderl discover Germany’s mineral resources. How have they shaped our landscape and our lives? And can we supply ourselves with them?
Part 1 – From salt to coal
Germany’s wealth was founded on coal. Huge salt deposits in the north and a huge wall of quartz in Bavaria have nourished it. Even the Romans appreciated the availability of water and basalt everywhere. Even today, these mineral resources determine our lives, our economy and our culture. This film reveals where they are found, why they are important and how they are used.
Part 2 – From sandstone to slate
Many regions in Germany are characterized by typical building materials that give them their regional identity. They have influenced people, written history and given the different regions of Germany individual faces. This film focuses on why this is the case, where our country’s building materials come from and how they were created.
Part 3 – From gold to lithium
The gold treasure of the Nibelungs is legendary. Gold can still be found in the Rhine. Porcelain is considered white gold. Kaolin, the raw material that colors porcelain white, is indispensable for a sustainable future – just like lithium and cobalt. These raw materials can be found in Germany’s soil. The film goes in search of traces of our raw materials, their history and origin.
Written and directed by: Mona Haffner, Daniela Pulverer, Wolfram Giese
A production by K22 on behalf of ZDFinfo
3 x 43 min | 2024