Las labores mineras antiguas conservadas en la mina del Valle de Valmayor, Fuencaliente (Ciudad Real)

Abstract

In the place of the Valmayor Valley, at the eastern end of the Fuencaliente municipality (Ciudad Real), are found the remains of an old mine of lead-silver ores called Cora Pearl, although more popularly known as La Romana mine. This name makes reference to the origins of these mining works, which were included by Domergue in his catalogue of old mines with code CR34, published in 1987. Two elongated long trenches aligned according to a NE-SW strike, a pair of shafts and two parallel adits dug on the right bank of the Valmayor river, stand out on the field. Other minor trenches, slag heaps and walls of ancient buildings appear next to these mining works. One of those adits is accessible. Inside the adit, is possible find a showcase of old underground mine workings, probably Roman. Currently, without a doubt, this mine is the place of Eastern Sierra Morena where we can see the best preserved works remains, since the “modern” works have only altered a general drain adit from old miners. In this communication we show a group of images token inside the mine, where it is possible see the interaction between ancient and modern works, as well as the design of the Roman works developed to optimize its functionality, bearing in mind the enormous effort that representing the rip out operations for those old miners.