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[gottadr]

Their are several old Nickel workings around Carratraca (Malaga) - namely San Juan, El Ingles, Los Pobres, San Augstin and El Sapo. I believe that Nickel Arsenides, Chromium and other metal sulphides were mined between the 1850s to the 1960s. Does anyone know where I can find further information regarding these mines ?

A company called Desarrollo de Recursos Geologicos SA from Salamanca held a mining claim over the area until at least 2005 & drilled several diamond drill holes.

[Jordi Fabre]

Gottadr,

You can find a text on our Spanish Forum where people already discussed about these area:

https://www.fabreminerals.com/forum/Foro-Mensajes/viewtopic.php?p=2168

just on case that you can't read Spanish language, this a link that was proposed there to inform more about it:

https://www.sociedadgeologica.es/archivos/geogacetas/Geo37/Geo37-5.pdf

using it or maybe using the bibliographic references at the end of the article, I assume that you can find topics related with what you looks for.

Jordi

[Brokenstone]

Good day, this is a little information as you request:

Denomination of the indication: Carratraca Localización's ultrabasic
Clump: Carratraca (Malaga)
Indication: Mineralizations of Co –Ni without specifying
State: left Developments
Setting of the presence of cobalt in these ultrabasic clumps (*):
Were recognized indications of mineralization of cobalt associated with ores of nickel in the former labors Mina San Juan and The Gallega Mines. In the latter, in the proximities of Ojen, some analyses gave contents of 0,05 % to 0,1 % of cobalt in the stones of cordierite with niqueline that appear inside serpentinites. Likewise, in the peridotites of Carratraca's clump they appear stones of limonite with pyrite ferroniquelífera (pentlandite), mineral with contents of 0,5 % to 0,7 % of cobalt.
Indexes: - The Minerals of Spain. S. Calderón Arana (1910).
(*):ENADIMSA realized researches and mining working for nickel in the ultrabasic clumps of Ojen and Carratraca in the sixties.

And this is the info about the company:
DESARROLLO de RECURSOS GEOLÓGICOS, S.A.
Cañón del Rio Lobos, 22
Polígono Industrial Montalvo II
37008 SALAMANCA
Mail: drg(at)drg.es
(DRG) is a company based in Salamanca (Spain), formed in 1988 on the initiative of Dr. Alfonso S. Gracia, the present managing director and main shareholder.
DRG specializes in R&D programmes, applying new technology to the management of natural resources (minerals, water, soils, etc.) sychronizing rational exploitation with respect for the protection of the environment.
DRG works with SMEs, industrial groups, research institutes and universities on a regular basis, offering multidisciplinary project management in the above-mentioned fields of activity.
Industrial R&D programmes are carried out using the company's own capital as well as different forms of risk capital and joint ventures.
As well as the founding partners, DRG has a stable scientific, technical and administrative staff, and can count on a wide spectrum of expert collaborators for specific projects in practically all of Europe and North and South America.
Although not located in a big city, DRG has an international focus, which greatly enhances the company's potential.
The following activities are typical of those carried out by DRG:
Design, management and coordination of R&D projects on geological resources.
Management and cooordination of European Union projects -
Mining exploration projects.
Environmental impact evaluation.
Reclamation projects.
Studies of ground contamination.
Studies of geological and environmental risk.
Design of methodology for the management of natural parks and reserves.
Environmental strategic planning.
Environmental training courses.

And this is the publications of Dr. Alfonso S. Gracia:

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/extaut?codigo=798143
(link fixed by Jordi)

Thats all. Regards.

[gottadr]

Many thanks

You can also find some additional information regarding recent Mineral Exploration in the same area by looking up a company called Solid Resources; the company has lodged two technical reports regarding it's activities in Spain (one is for the 'Malaga' Project). Solid Resources was looking for Pt & Au mineralisation assoicated with the Nickel. The link is: www(dot)sedar(dot)com

regards

Adrian

[Inma]

The Geological Resources Development Company (Desarrollo de Recursos Geológicos, S.A.) is the owner of a research mining permission so called "Malaga" Nr. 6593, issued in 2002 and still in force (according to the Sigma:
www(dot)juntadeandalucia(dot)es/empleoydesarrollotecnologico/w08/sigma/ ) from 272 mining grids.

Regarding the Nickel mining works in the Malaga province I would like to publish some data and a short bibliography, all recovered from several IGME reports (Spanish Geological and Mining Institute).

The age of the Nickel mining works in the area defined by the defunct Sierra de Ronda-Carratraca Reserve, it seems that dates back to mid-nineteenth century, without being aware of the exact date of the first mining works declared.
According to the oral information from the Carratraca area people, it appears that there were mines before to the beginning of the twentieth century, made by British miners, which has been endorsed by the names of some mines that after operated (Englishman Mine). Alvarez de Linera (1851) indicates Nickel old mining works dating back to 1840.

In the beginning of the twentieth century is known that some new exploration and mining works were carry out on old mines and on new mineral outcrops. All of them are perfectly located and were described by Domingo de Orueta (1917).
Coinciding with the 1929’s Great Depression and over the Republic and Spanish Civil War bring mining works to halt.
In the 1940’s decade, some new mining works were carried out by the Commission on Strategic Minerals (Comisión de Minerales de Interés Estratégico).
At the end of the 50’s, exploitation works were paralyzed again, due to the mines low productivity.
At the end of the 60’s, INI (National Institute of Industry), in a concerted action with an association of Spanish, Belgian and Canadian companies, known as PLANT, performs new explorations in areas near the old mine operated by the COMEIN, without satisfactory results that determines mining works end.

Subsequently, in the 70’s, some geochemistry prospecting works were carried out by the South African mining group “Charter” with an option for research on research permits, then in force, and the Real Compañía Asturiana de Minas possessed in the area.
Although there have been numerous Nickel mining declarations, along the history of this mining area, actually all have expired.

The most important mining works that have existed in this area correspond to those known as El Inglés (the Englishman), San Juan, South of Carratraca village and El Sapo (the Toad), to the North of the Álora-Carratraca road. These works had a certain size; old miners said that the mineralization ended in depth when compact rock appeared. Following in importance: the mines of San Agustín and Pozo (shaft) Moreno. Other described mines were small exploration works without significant economic results.

The parageneses in these mining works and outcrops corresponds to the association of Niqueline, Pentlandite, Chalcopyrite, Pyrite, Chromite, rich Nickel Pyrrhotite and Chloantite, on compact Serpentinite, becoming more despicable and limonitized on surface.
Chemical analysis carried out on samples collected in some mines indicate the presence of high contents of Nickel, especially in San Juan, where it was found an average around 14.75%. It is worth noting the low Chromium percentage of these samples, unlike what happens in the samples from Ojén and Ronda. The Cobalt contents are relatively high in general and particularly in the old mine El Inglés, with 1,800 ppm. The Copper contents are highly variable and do not seem to correlate with cobalt percentage, only the sample of El Inglés presents a significant amount of this metal.
Analysis performed looking for Platinum was only positive in San Agustín: traces, 0.5 grams per metric ton (0.5 ppm).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ALVAREZ DE LINERA, A., 1851.- Descripción del criadero de níquel de Carratraca con un plano en el que están todas las minas que contienen el mineral. Rev. Minera. T. 11, Págs. 125-250.

ALVAREZ DE LINERA, A., 1851.- Reseña geognóstica y minera de la provincia de Málaga. Soc. Malagueña Ciencias. Bol. Pág. 161.

ALVAREZ DE LINERA, A., 1851.- Descripción del criadero de níquel de Carratraca. Málaga.

FEBREL MOLINERO, T., 1955.- Estudio petrográfico de la parte de la Sierra de Aguas en que están enclavados los cotos mineros de San Juan, El Inglés, San Agustín y El Sapo. (unpublished IGME).

FERNANDEZ BECERRIL, J.M., 1958.- Estudio de concentración de los minerales de níquel de las minas de San Juan, del coto minero de los Jarales, de Carratraca (Málaga). Private report.

FERNANDEZ BECERRIL, J.M., 1958.- Nuevos ensayos de concentración sobre una muestra de mineral de níquel-cromo del coto minero de Ojén. Private report.

FERNANDEZ BECERRIL, J.M., 1964.- Estudio de concentración de los minerales de níquel de la mina La Gallega, del coto minero de Ojén. Not. y Com. IGME. Núm. 76. Subst.: Ni y Cr.

HERNANDEZ-PACHECO, A., 1967.- Estudio petrográfico y geoquímico del macizo ultramáfico de Ojén (Málaga). Estud. Geol., Vol. XXIII. Págs. 85-143. C.S.I.C. Madrid.

ORUETA, D., 1917.- Estudio geológico y petrográfico de la Serranía de Ronda. Mem. del IGME.

ORUETA, D., 1919.- Informe sobre el reconocimiento de la Serranía de Ronda. Bol. IGME. T. XL.

ROSO DE LUNA, l., 1955.- Estudio Metalogénico de los yacimientos de cromo y níquel San Juan, El Inglés, y El Sapo de la Comarca de Carratraca. (Málaga). Unpublished Report.

MINA EL INGLES

Map Nr.1,052-Álora. Mapa Topográfico Nacional at 1:50.000. Coordinates referring to the meridian of Madrid: 36º49'43''N-1º07'48''W.
On the road from Carratraca to Casarabonela, which leads to San Juan mine and about 1,000 m. to the S. thereof by the same road track.

MINA SAN JUAN

Map Nr. 1,052-Ardales. Mapa Topográfico Nacional (1:50.000). Coordinates referring to the meridian of Madrid: 36º51’05’’N-1º07’48’’W.

On the road from Carratraca to Casarabonela, where it intersects with Pines and El Moro creeks (“arroyo” in sp.), South of Carratraca and an approximate distance of about 2 km from there. The San Juan Mine is practically at the intersection of streams referred before.

MINA EL SAPO

Map Nr. 1,038-Ardales. Mapa Topográfico Nacional (1:50.000). Coordinates referring to the meridian of Madrid: 36º50’52’’N-1º04’50’’W.

On the road from Álora to Carratraca, close to the Montija Creek, between the 8 to 9 km you could find a track toward NE that leads us to the vicinity of the mine. Situated on the eastern side of Monte Agua (Water Mount), about 700 meters.

If anyone would like to see old maps and mining documents, it is possible to consult all expired Nickel mining reports in the Archivo Histórico Provincial de Málaga:

C/ Martínez de la Rosa, nº 8.
29009 - Málaga
informacion(dot)ahp(dot)ma(dot)ccul(at)juntadeandalucia(dot)es
www(dot)juntadeandalucia(dot)es/cultura/aga/Censara/DetalleArchivo(dot)jsp?id=230

Opening hours:

9 to 14:30 (Monday to Friday)
17 to 19:30 (Monday)

In Summer time (from July 1st to September 15th): Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00.
Closing dates: national and local holydays, also August, 19th and September, 8th.

The access to this archive is open to public and will preserve about 51 boxes of mining expired reports (period 1873 - 1979) from the former "Jefatura Provincial de Minas de Málaga".

[gottadr]

Inma

Many thanks for the information, it is indeed very useful.

regards

Adrian

[Roberto]

Where and how can I find the publications of Alvarez de Linera 1851?

[Inma]

Hi, Roberto.

You can send me an e-mail to my account: inma(.)ramos(@)gmail(.)com and I'll send you the publication in "pdf" after.

Regards