ERZGEBIRGE (Ore Mountains), a mountain chain of Germany, forming the boundary between Saxony and Bohemia, and extending in a south-western direction from the Elbe to the source of the White Elster, where it is connected with the Fichtel-gebirge. It is about 120 miles in length, with an average breadth of 30 miles. The southern declivity is generally steep and rugged, while the northern slopes more gradually towards the great plain of Northern Germany. The highest points are Keilberg, 3920, and Fichtelberg, 3835 feet above the level of the sea. This range consists chiefly of granite and gneiss, and is rich in metallic ores of various kinds. Gold is found in several places; while the silver, iron, tin, lead, and cobalt mines are extensive and valuable. Copper is found, but not abundantly, and there is some arsenic, brimstone, vitriol, quicksilver, antimony, bismuth, &c.