IA Recordings, This compilation has no commentary. Incidental dialogue in Spanish & English. The DVDs have over 180 chapter points to aid viewing. Digitally recorded, edited & mastered. Running time 2 hours 49 minutes (DVDs are also available in NTSC format for the USA)

he 11th International Mining History Congress was held in Linares, Spain in September 2016 and widely regarded as the best ever. A week before joining the Congress, delegates from the Shropshire Caving and Mining Club explored historic mines and related structures in the West of Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha.

Abandoned steam loco at Las Zarandas Station on the Rio Tinto railwyJust a few of the many sites and events featured in these two DVDs are listed here:

First week Rio Tinto Museum & Peña del Hierro opencast mine. Rail journey beside the deep red Rio Tinto river, passing buildings and slag piles from many eras of mineral dressing and smelting, plus railway locomotives and rolling stock. San Antonio mine, huge trucks in Cerro Colorado working opencast mine, English housing exhibit and Corta Atalaya open pit all in the Rio Tinto area.
Pithead buildings and headframe on the eastern shaft at La Zarza copper mine.The well-preserved pier of the Rio Tinto railway in Huelva was visited - now a popular angling spot.

The large Aznalcóllar opencast copper mine. Extensive preserved open pit and shaft workings around the eastern shaft at La Zarza & Tharsis.

The Malakoff tower at Villanueva del Rio y Minas coal mine.The picturesque Villanueva del Rio y Minas coal mine with its 'Malakoff' tower style headframe on the upcast shaft. The huge Peñarroya Company smelter site. Ancient and modern remains at Cerro Muriano.

The headframe at Puertollano coal mine museum Excellent surface and underground tours of Almadén mercury mine museum and a trip to the Almadenejos horse whim.

Puertollano coal mine museum, with its steel headframe and nearby sites.

Not far away, the former railway tunnel to Horcajo mine village has been converted into a road and makes for an interesting drive.


The narrow gauge railway tunnel between El Centenillo mine and Pozo NuevoCongress week Buildings of El Centenillo mine, La Aquisgrana mining museum, Pozo Ancho Cornish engine houses and the nearby La Cruz smelter and preserved lead shot tower. The surviving steel headframe at El Cobre mine.La Esmeralda headframe and buildings, Matacabras mine - the last to work in the area, and El Cobre, which still retains its headframe and cages.

Linares English cemetery, La Tortilla smelter and shot tower, San Guillermo mine. Part of the vast excavation of Alquife opencast iron mineRounding the trip off at the vast excavation of Alquife opencast iron mine which closed in 1996 and may re-open soon.

Thanks to Rob Vernon for researching and documenting the sites in the first part of this DVD and to him and our friends in the Colectivo Proyecto Arrayanes for organising the excellent 11th International Mining History Congress in and around Linares. La Cruz lead shot towe rThe DVDs have over 180 chapter points, so it is easy to jump to your favourite subjects!