Mina Costanaza Logrosán

Useful Information

Location:	Ctra. Guadalupe, 11, 10120 Logrosán, Cáceres. (39.335419, -5.484636)
Open:	OCT to MAY Tue-Sat, Hol 10-14, 16-19, Sun 10-14. JUN to SEP Tue-Sat, Hol 10-14, 17-20, Sun 10-14. Closed 24-DEC, 25-DEC, 31-DEC, 01-JAN, 06-JAN, 07-JAN, Easter Monday. [2020]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children (-16) EUR 3. Locals: Adults EUR 3, Children (-16) EUR 1. Groups (25+): Adults EUR 4, Children (-16) EUR 2. [2020]
Classification:
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Mina Costanaza Logrosán, Ctra. Guadalupe, 11, 10120 Logrosán, Cáceres, Tel: +34-927-360180. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

19th century	mine opened.
1944	mine closed.

Geology

600Ma ago the Logrosán Batholith ascended into the pre-existing Neoproterozoic rocks. This caused large fractures into which mineralized phosphate fluids were injected by the magma. The large faults were filled with crystallized fluids, and are called a dam or seam. The phosphorite vein of the Costanaza Mine is one of the most easily recognizable filonian deposits in Spain. The phosphate was raw material for the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers in Europe.

In Mina Costanaza fluorapatite was discovered which makes Logrosán the Type Locality for this mineral.

Description

The Mina Costanaza is 210 m deep and has 14 different levels. It consists of numerous parallel galleries. Two tunnels were renovated and opened to the public for underground mine tours. On the tour geologic features like the mineralized phosphorite seam, breccia zones, folds, and fault mirrors can be seen. Quite exceptional are geodes and stalactites. But the mining technology is als explained, for example mining support arches and a masonry master pit. The original mining facilities on the surface are well preserved and include the fines factory, the superphosphate factory, the pyrite cooker and the mine laboratory.

At Costanaza the miners mined upwards. After digging a tunnel into the seam they followed the seam upwards. As a result they just loosened the minerals and then tey fell down into the carts.

The mine is part of the UNESCO World Geopark Villuercas-Jara-Ibores.