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A BRIEF LOOK AT THE OJUELA MINE AREA

PAST AND PRESENT

Discovered by Spanish prospectors in 1598, the Ojuela Mine carved its legacy into the arid mountains of Mapimí, Durango for over 350 years. Initially a source of colonial Silver, its true wealth was later found in the oxidized zones; vast deposits of Lead and Zinc ores locked within a complex network of interconnected ore bodies. The surface layout was a chaotic yet efficient testament to its challenging location. A dramatic suspension bridge, engineered by the Roebling family of Brooklyn Bridge fame, spanned the deep arroyo — a vital artery connecting the mine entrance to the bustling settlement. Across this precipitous link, ore cars rattled day and night, shuttling their payload to the smelter whose smokestacks painted a permanent haze against the cerulean sky. A powerhouse, its engines panting, provided the lifeblood of compressed air and electricity, while the assay office held the final verdict on each day’s hard-won progress.

Underground, the mine was a sprawling labyrinth. A primary vertical shaft plunged over 450 meters, a man-made abyss from which countless adits, drifts, and stopes branched out like a subterranean root system. They relentlessly chased the mineralized limestone-shale contact zone, a geological prize that demanded immense effort. In the cavernous stopes, intricate square-set timbering, a forest of wood imported at great cost, was required to hold back the treacherous ground. The ring of steel on rock from hand-drills eventually gave way to the deafening chatter of pneumatic machinery, and mule trains were superseded by electric locomotives hauling ore along narrow-gauge tracks through the perpetual cool darkness.

The operation was overseen by a succession of formidable mine managers, often German or American engineers who brought industrial-era precision to this remote outpost. From their austere offices overlooking the works, they orchestrated the flow of men and machinery. They battled constant flooding, necessitating massive pumps, and engineered complex ventilation systems to bring air to the deepest workings. Their geological maps detailed a treasure trove not just of ore, but of spectacular mineral specimens. The mine became world-famous among mineral collectors for its crystalline Wulfenite, vibrant green Adamite, and the unique, canary-yellow Legrandite that formed in the voids. These managers transformed a mountain’s geological heart into industrial wealth, a process that continued until the high-grade ores were exhausted and the cost of pumping water from the depths became untenable. The pumps were finally silenced in the 1940s, leaving the lower levels to flood and turning Ojuela into a ghost town, a silent monument to centuries of relentless endeavor.

MINA DE SANTA RITA

The Mina de Santa Rita, located in the historic mining district of Mapimí, Durango, Mexico, is a significant poly-metallic mine in its own right and is closely associated with the renowned Ojuela Mine. While often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, the Santa Rita Mine shares a common geological and historical landscape.

Modern Tourist Attraction

After a dizzying walk across the swaying Puente de Ojuela Bridge, visitors are beckoned into the cool darkness of the Santa Rita mine, the heart of this historic ghost town. For over 350 years, this mine was a bustling artery of Silver, Lead and Zinc, its life abruptly extinguished by a catastrophic flood in the 1920s.

Today, guests tread through dimly lit adits where the chill air echoes the harsh conditions once endured by miners. Along the path, exhibits of original tools and glittering mineral samples are watched over by lifelike mannequins, frozen in their timeless labour. The tour’s most poignant stop is the remarkably preserved body of a mummified mule, a silent testament to the beasts of burden that shared the miners’ fate deep beneath the earth.

While the Ojuela Mine is celebrated for its spectacular mineral specimens, particularly arsenates, the Santa Rita Mine also boasts a history of extracting a variety of valuable metals. The two mines are not part of a single, continuous underground operation but are considered distinct yet related entities within the larger Ojuela-Mapimí mining district, sharing a common history of discovery, exploitation, and eventual decline in large-scale commercial mining. Their proximity and intertwined history make them integral components of the region’s cultural and geological identity. (Author: silvia)