A A History History of Coal of Coal Mining Mining

in in AsturiasAsturias

We know that in prehistoric times We know that in prehistoric times copper was already being mined in copper was already being mined in Asturias, and that later on, the Asturias, and that later on, the Romans exploited gold, silver and Romans exploited gold, silver and other minerals. Some of the remains other minerals. Some of the remains of these mines still survive in the of these mines still survive in the west of Asturias. west of Asturias.

Remains of gold exploitations during Roman times in la Medulas

Recently a company called “Narcea´s Recently a company called “Narcea´s Gold mine” has been extracting gold Gold mine” has been extracting gold ore in areas that had already been ore in areas that had already been mined 2000 years ago by the mined 2000 years ago by the Romans. Romans.

In 1730 coal was discovered by In 1730 coal was discovered by chance in Asturias, and coal chance in Asturias, and coal mining became one of the main mining became one of the main activities that would cause the activities that would cause the beginning of the process of beginning of the process of industrialization in this regionindustrialization in this region

Between 1750-1810 coal mining was Between 1750-1810 coal mining was started in a small scale and it was started in a small scale and it was used mainly for cooking, in bakeries used mainly for cooking, in bakeries and for heating the houses. and for heating the houses.

In 1883 a German In 1883 a German engineer called Guillermo engineer called Guillermo Schultz began geological Schultz began geological studies in Asturias. He studies in Asturias. He discovered that there discovered that there was plenty of coal that was plenty of coal that could be mined easily. could be mined easily. That’s the beginning of That’s the beginning of industrial coal mining in industrial coal mining in AsturiasAsturias. He also founded . He also founded the first School of the first School of engineering in Asturias.engineering in Asturias.

At this time coal was mainly used by At this time coal was mainly used by ships and trains. The first railway was ships and trains. The first railway was built in 1838 in Langreo.built in 1838 in Langreo.

From 1840 to 1900 From 1840 to 1900 a lot of foreign a lot of foreign companies (Belgian, companies (Belgian, German and German and English) invested English) invested money in the coal money in the coal mining industry. mining industry. They had many They had many problems, especially problems, especially due to the lack of due to the lack of communications communications and infrastructure, and infrastructure, so industrial so industrial production was production was slow.slow.

Coal extraction was Coal extraction was not mechanized so not mechanized so production wasn’t production wasn’t very efficient. But very efficient. But coal was still the coal was still the main source of main source of energy for most energy for most Spanish companies Spanish companies that had just that had just started started manufacturing manufacturing things in Asturias things in Asturias and other regions and other regions in Spain. in Spain.

From 1900-1920 was, From 1900-1920 was, what we might call, the what we might call, the “golden period”. At its “golden period”. At its height, there were 300 height, there were 300 mines and 60.000 mines and 60.000 workers. Foreign workers. Foreign companies invested companies invested money in many coal money in many coal mines. Asturias was mines. Asturias was producing big amounts of producing big amounts of coal and companies were coal and companies were making a lot of moneymaking a lot of money

In 1914 World War I started but In 1914 World War I started but Spain remained neutral. After the Spain remained neutral. After the War most of the infrastructure in War most of the infrastructure in Europe had been destroyed while in Europe had been destroyed while in Spain it remained intact. At this time Spain it remained intact. At this time Asturias was selling coal to other Asturias was selling coal to other European countries and European countries and industrialization was very strongindustrialization was very strong..

1929 was the 1929 was the year of the year of the economic crack economic crack down in America down in America and, as a and, as a consequence, consequence, economic economic development development slowed down. A slowed down. A lot of coal mines lot of coal mines were closed. The were closed. The miners went on miners went on big strikes and big strikes and the government the government fell and changed fell and changed several times.several times.

In 1936 the Civil War In 1936 the Civil War began. Previous to began. Previous to the war there was a the war there was a big revolution among big revolution among the miners and lots the miners and lots of them were killed. of them were killed. A few months later A few months later war started. The war started. The miners defended the miners defended the republic but finally republic but finally Franco won and a Franco won and a dictatorship was dictatorship was established. established.

In 1940 World War In 1940 World War II started and Spain II started and Spain remained neutral remained neutral again. After the again. After the Spanish Civil War Spanish Civil War most of the most of the infrastructure had infrastructure had been destroyed. been destroyed. Spain was a very Spain was a very poor country and poor country and more than 3 million more than 3 million people had been people had been killed.killed.

From 1945 to 1960 From 1945 to 1960 there was a new there was a new golden era for coal. golden era for coal. Economic Economic relationships between relationships between Spain and other Spain and other countries were small countries were small because of Franco’s because of Franco’s dictatorship. Spain dictatorship. Spain had to use its own had to use its own resources to develop resources to develop its industry and coal its industry and coal was the main source was the main source of energy.of energy.

A big state A big state company Hunosa company Hunosa was created and a was created and a lot of miners lot of miners worked there. worked there. Asturias became Asturias became one of the richest one of the richest regions in Spain regions in Spain and many people and many people came from other came from other regions to work regions to work herehere

Steel and iron Steel and iron factories were factories were also started, first also started, first in Mieres, then in in Mieres, then in Gijon and Aviles, Gijon and Aviles, along with along with shipbuilding and shipbuilding and other related other related industries.industries.

In 1965 coal production started In 1965 coal production started to slow down. Steel and iron to slow down. Steel and iron factories were moved to Gijon factories were moved to Gijon and Aviles, closer to the sea. The and Aviles, closer to the sea. The opening of new economic opening of new economic relationships with other relationships with other countries, which produced countries, which produced cheaper coal caused the increase cheaper coal caused the increase of imported coal.of imported coal.

At present less than 5000 miners are At present less than 5000 miners are left and only a dozen of coal pits left and only a dozen of coal pits remain. The future of coal is now remain. The future of coal is now uncertain as it’s being substituted by uncertain as it’s being substituted by gas and other cleaner sources of gas and other cleaner sources of energy.energy.

THE MOST FAMOUS SONG FOR MINERS: “En el pozu Maria LuisaTHE MOST FAMOUS SONG FOR MINERS: “En el pozu Maria Luisa””

– Santa Barbara bendita trailarailarai trailara Santa Barbara bendita trailarailarai trailara Santa Barbara bendita trailarailarai trailara Santa Barbara bendita trailarailarai trailara Patrona de los mineros mirai Patrona de los mineros mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Patrona de los mineros mirai Patrona de los mineros mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo

Nel Pozu Maria Luisa trailarailarai trailara Nel Pozu Maria Luisa trailarailarai trailara Nel Pozu Maria Luisa trailarailarai trailara Nel Pozu Maria Luisa trailarailarai trailara 16 mineros muertos mirai 16 mineros muertos mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo 16 mineros muertos mirai 16 mineros muertos mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo

Que importa categories, trailarailarai trailara Que importa categories, trailarailarai trailara Que importa categories, trailarailarai trailara Que importa categories, trailarailarai trailara Quedaron en el testeru mirai Quedaron en el testeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Quedaron en el testeru mirai Quedaron en el testeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo

Traigo la camisa roja trailarailarai trailara Traigo la camisa roja trailarailarai trailara Traigo la camisa roja trailarailarai trailara Traigo la camisa roja trailarailarai trailara De sangre de un compañeru mirai De sangre de un compañeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo De sangre de un compañeru mirai De sangre de un compañeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo

– El alma tengo partia trailarailarai trailara El alma tengo partia trailarailarai trailara El alma tengo partia trailarailarai trailara El alma tengo partia trailarailarai trailara Nun sera el ultimu duelu mirai Nun sera el ultimu duelu mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Nun sera el ultimu duelu mirai Nun sera el ultimu duelu mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo

Unos dicen que ye Dios trailarailarai trailara Unos dicen que ye Dios trailarailarai trailara Unos dicen que ye Dios trailarailarai trailara Unos dicen que ye Dios trailarailarai trailara

Otros dicen : Non lo creo mirai Otros dicen : Non lo creo mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Otros dicen : Non lo creo mirai Otros dicen : Non lo creo mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo

El casu ye que ca poco trailarailarai trailara El casu ye que ca poco trailarailarai trailara El casu ye que ca poco trailarailarai trailara El casu ye que ca poco trailarailarai trailara La muerte llama al conceyu mirai La muerte llama al conceyu mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai como vengo yo