Remedios Pagn

Expert in La Union Mining

yo@remepagan.com
www.carreteradel33.com
TICCIH Congress
Freiberg, 31 August 2009

MINING REMAINS AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION-

THE EXAMPLE OF LA UNION (MURCIA/SPAIN)

Keywords: Sierra Minera; La Union; Murcia; mining; mining heritage; mine; tourism; Agrupa Vicenta; Mining Park

The Mining Mountain Range of Cartagena-La Unin (Sierra Minera onwards) is a mountain
chain spread between the town of Cartagena and Cape Palos, a total average extension of 28
kilometres length per 5 width. It constitutes one of the most important mining districts in Spain, and
the most representative of the whole Region of Murcia due to its iron, lead and zinc deposits.

The area of Sierra Minera is between the two municipal districts of Cartagena and La Unin,
including a series of little villages associated to the mining activity (Portman, Llano del Beal, etc.)

The archaeological remains found in the Sierra Minera give evidence of the first settlements in
the area since prehistoric times. Afterwards, Carthaginians and Romans would continue with
massive silver mining in the district, above all to afford the great cost of their battles. It was a great
advantage to have the big harbour in the actual bay of Cartagena, city founded by the Carthaginians,
and the harbour of Portman (Portus Magnus, also founded by the Romans)

But the latest mining peak in the Sierra Minera happened during the 19th and 20th centuries.
More precisely it started in 1840 with the underground mining activity, continued from the middle
of the 20th century with open cast mining and all mines were finally closed in 1991.

After the mining activity finished, the city of La Unin and surrounded villages were plunged
into a deep crisis. The efforts of the local and regional government have recently been focused in
preserving, restoring and giving a new significance to all the mining remains left in the area: mining
heritage as a cultural and tourist attraction.

The listed remains of the Sierra Minera include 167 elements:

- 23 chimneys.
- 20 mineral washeries.
- 29 furnaces.
- 70 pit heads.
- 10 tunnels, old underground workings and veins.
- 6 powder store rooms.
- 9 open cast mines.
 One of the first projects in the area was Las Matildes mine: an underground mine with a
beautiful metallic pit head and two machinery houses which have been properly restored and now
host an Interpretation Centre for the history of mining in the area. More info at:
http://www.fundacionsierraminera.org/minamatilde/

The Town Council of La Unin is now working on the area called: Mining Park. It includes a
series of mining elements which are being promoted for tourism. The most important element, is the
underground mine Agrupa Vicenta, the first visitors mine of the area.

Inside the Mining Park the visitor will be able to walk along Camino del 33 the old road used
by the miners to access the mines, which can be also done by bicycle or on the modern tourist train.
Along the road there are other interesting remains, such as the nineteen-century calcination furnace,
the -partly underground partly opencast- tin mine Remunerada and its gravimetric washery, a big
tailing disposal from a floatation washery, a coil-chimney, as well as other mining installations in
mine Pablo y Virginia.

Underground mine Agrupa Vicenta is a pyrite mine, which was worked intermittently during the
last century and its latest period of activity was at the end of the 1960s. The exploitation method of
this underground mine was in rooms and pillars, a typical method in the area.
The mineral here is bedded: the layer of mineral is slanted, therefore, exploitation has been made at
different levels to enable mining access to these sloping deposits. During the underground tour,
there are five different levels, although the fifth level is flooded: the water, that has been filtrated
and accumulated at this deepest level, has formed an extraordinary lake of red waters. Undoubtedly,
a vibrating underground visit.