Mining spots of Mazarrón

During XIX and XX centuries, there was a resurgence of mining and industrial activities in Mazarrón, due to the re-exploitation of ancient roman mines of Cotos de San Cristóbal and los Perules, Coto de las Pedreras Viejas and Coto Fortuna, as well as other minor facilities.

This reactivation of mining activities made it necessary to create a big foundry next to the Puerto de Mazarrón to manufacture the mineral. The heyday of mining in Mazarrón inrecent times started in 1880, with several companies such as ‘Compañía de Águilas’ from France, with big investments in Mazarrón with the support of relevant European firms, such as the Rothschild company.

Mines were already working in Roman times, thanks to the geological features of Mazarrón, the easy access by sea and its vicinity with Carthago Nova, as a distribution center of manufactured raw materials. Coto Fortuna still has important roman engineering buildings, such as the sewage lines, as well as mineral extraction wells and sinks.

The roman company in charge was Societas Montis Argentaris Ilvcro. Some ingots with its logo engraved have appeared even in Tiber river, close to Rome.

Inside Coto San Cristóbal and Los Perules there is a spot called Corta Romana. It is an open-pit mining more than 300 meters long, with a medium height of 25 metres and an imposing main front, still visible today.

Its walls still have the percussion marks from mineral extraction instruments (picks, hammers and wedges), and in the upper part holes and exploration galleries can be seen.