A History of Coal Mining in Asturias

1. A History of Coal Mining in Asturias

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. 1929 was the year of the economic crack down in America and, as a consequence, economic development slowed down. A lot of coal mines were closed. The miners went on big strikes and the government fell and changed several times.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25. THE MOST FAMOUS SONG FOR MINERS: “En el pozu Maria Luisa” Santa Barbara bendita trailarailarai trailara Santa Barbara bendita trailarailarai trailara Patrona de los mineros mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Patrona de los mineros mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Nel Pozu Maria Luisa trailarailarai trailara Nel Pozu Maria Luisa trailarailarai trailara 16 mineros muertos mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo 16 mineros muertos mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Que importa categories, trailarailarai trailara Que importa categories, trailarailarai trailara Quedaron en el testeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Quedaron en el testeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Traigo la camisa roja trailarailarai trailara Traigo la camisa roja trailarailarai trailara De sangre de un compañeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo De sangre de un compañeru mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo El alma tengo partia trailarailarai trailara El alma tengo partia trailarailarai trailara Nun sera el ultimu duelu mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Nun sera el ultimu duelu mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Unos dicen que ye Dios trailarailarai trailara Unos dicen que ye Dios trailarailarai trailara Otros dicen : Non lo creo mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Otros dicen : Non lo creo mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo El casu ye que ca poco trailarailarai trailara El casu ye que ca poco trailarailarai trailara La muerte llama al conceyu mirai Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo Mirai maruxina mirai Mirai como vengo yo