Almadén Mine, Historic mercury mine in Almadén, Spain.
Almadén Mine is an underground mining complex in the Sierra Morena with tunnels, shafts, and chambers carved through rock across multiple levels. The site has been restored and allows visitors to explore different extraction techniques that were used in various periods.
Mining began here in ancient times and continued for over 2000 years until the site closed in 2002. This long operation occurred because of the huge mercury deposits found in this region.
The site displays evidence of different periods through its structures and how workers operated here over the centuries. You can see remains of Roman galleries and medieval Arab extraction methods when you walk through.
Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring warm clothing since underground passages are cool and damp. Guided tours lead through safe, restored areas and show the different mining layers in the site.
The mine holds one of the world's largest mercury deposits and is recognized by UNESCO alongside the Idrija mine in Slovenia. This pairing shows how only a few places on Earth possessed such concentrated amounts of this rare mineral.
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