Mineral de Pozos in San Luis de la Paz, Guanajuato, Mexico — The Central Highlands (North America)

Angustias Mine

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 28, 2018

1. Angustias Mine Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Mina Angustias Las vetas de Mineral de Pozos ya habían sido descubiertos por los indígenas antes de la conquista española. Usaban cuñas de madera y cal para extraer el mineral, pues no conocían la técnica del azogue ni los explosivos con los que, posteriormente, los españoles extraerían los metales. En 1585, los colonizadores redescubrieron las minas de la región, y en 1592 los jesuitas obtuvieron el permiso para trabajarlas. Sin embargo, por diversas circunstancias sociales, las minas fueron abandonadas hasta 1888, cuando un grupo de personas llegó al sitio para reactivarlas.

Así, llegaron y se crearon varias compañías en Mineral de Pozo para explotar las minas, siendo algunas de las más productivas la de Santa Brígida, Escondida, Triángulo, Potosina, El Dorado, Trinidad, Ocampo, Nona y la Mina Angustias.

Esta última era propiedad de la compañía Angustias y Anexas, y su importancia a finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX radicaba en la veta de gran tamaño que en ella se formó. Contaba con alrededor de 1000 personas, las cuales trajaban en dos turnos, por lo que la mina se econtraba siempre en constante movimiento. En su mayoría, los mineros y demás trabajadores eran indígenas que venían de distintos pueblos adjuntos a Mineral de Pozos, pues los registros oficiales que se tienen muestran que en Pozos no vivían indígenas, salvo unos cuantos que construían casas improvisadas.

Actualmente, en la mina se realizan recorridos de unos 300 metros en un tiempo de alrededor de treinta minutos. En el interior hay algunas singulares formaciones rocosas así como estalactitas. Entre sus diversos pasadizos se halla un pozo inundado, pues cuando se estaban Ilevando a cabo las excavaciones se toparon con un cuerpo de agua que hizo estragos en esta y varias minas adyacentes, provocando su inutilización. El hecho contribuyó, en cierta medida, al paulatino abandono de las minas y haciendas del pueblo.

English:
Angustias MineThe veins of Mineral de Pozos had already been discovered by the natives before the Spanish conquest. They used wooden wedges and lime to extract ore; they did not know the technique of mercury and explosives the Spaniards used to extract metals. By 1585, colonists rediscovered the mines in the region, and in 1592 the Jesuits obtained permission to work them. However, for various social circumstances, the mines were abandoned until 1888, when a group of people came came to the site to reactivate them.

So, several companies came to Mineral de Pozos to exploit the mines, some of the most productive ones were that of Santa Brígida, Escondida, Triángulo, El Dorado, Trinidad, Ocampo, Nona and Angustias Mine.

The latter was owned by Angustias y Anexas Co., its importance in the later XIX and early XX century layed in the large vein that was formed in it. It had about 1000 people, who were working in two shifts, so the mine was always in constant motion. Most of the miners and other workers were indigenous people coming from different villages close to Mineral de Pozos; records show that indigenous people did not live actually in Mineral de Pozos, except a few of them that constructed makeshift homes.

There are mine tours that go in about 300 meters, in thirty minutes. Inside there are some unique rock formations and stalactites. Among its various passages there is a flooded well, because when the excavations were made, they came across a body of water that ravaged this and several adjacent mines, causing their deactivation. This fact contributed to some extent, to the gradual abandonment of the mines and haciendas of the town.

Erected by Gobierno

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de Guanajuato.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1585.

Location. 21° 13.483′ N, 100° 30.862′ W. Marker is in Mineral de Pozos, Guanajuato, in San Luis de la Paz. It is on Unnamed road, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the road that comes into Mineral de Pozos towards the east from Highway 57. The road contains other notable former mines and haciendas. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mineral de Pozos GTO 37600, Mexico. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Mexico

and in the Bajío.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

and in the Western Hemisphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

a Spanish colony,

and the Aztec Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ex-Hacienda El Triángulo (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Mine and Former Hacienda of Los Cinco Señores (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Hacienda Baldomero

Angustias Mine Marker reverse with English text. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 28, 2018

2. Angustias Mine Marker reverse with English text.

(approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Model School (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); Aqueduct (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); J. Encarnación Olguín and Juana Lucio (approx. 1.9 kilometers away); Old City Hall (approx. 2 kilometers away); City Cemetery (approx. 2.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mineral de Pozos.

An additional marker on the Angustias Mine and other nearby mines image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 28, 2018

3. An additional marker on the Angustias Mine and other nearby mines

The text of this additional marker and its corresponding map are not completely clear, but it reads:
Complejo MinasEste complejo se compone por las minas Angustias, Argentina y el Fénix
En el Fénix se extraía plata cobre y hierro. Comienza a trabajar en 1890 y deja de funcionar con las inundaciones de 1923. En Angustias se extrada plata. comienza a trabajar en 1859
encontrar accidentalmente una veta de agua, al estar todas las minas conectadas fue inevitable la inundación de todas las minas. Argentina comienza a trabajar en 1862 y en 1870 se une con Angustias pues no encontraban una de 1923.

English translation:
Mine ComplexThis complex is made up of the Angustias, Argentina and Fénix Mines. At the Fénix Mine, copper and iron were extracted. It began to work in 1890 and stopped with the floods of 1923. In the Angustias Mine silver was extracted. It began to work in 1859 and accidentally found water. Since all of the mines were connected, their complete flooding was inevitable. Argentina Mine began to work in 1862 and in 1870 it was united with the Angustias Mine because they did not find one of 1923.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, January 28, 2018

4. Angustias Mine Marker

To the right can be seen a portion of the ruins of the Triángulo Mine.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 448 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 7, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.