We still see them today in parades, carved Christmas decorations and even on an altar: proud miners in smart uniforms. This traditional profession shaped the economy and culture of the Ore Mountains. The mining exhibition "Silberglanz und Kumpeltod" opens its doors on 25 October 2024 at the State Museum of Archaeology Chemnitz, smac. Until 29 June 2025, the year in which Chemnitz holds the title of European Capital of Culture, it tells the story of mining and brings to light what went on underground for thousands of years. It reveals the dark secrets of the miners from the Bronze Age to the 21st century. Mining has always been a laboratory for technical, social and economic innovations, which often have a long-lasting effect. The exhibition concludes with the question of where we will get the raw materials in the future to cope with the upcoming transformations.