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Haul trucks delivering ore to the crusher, 1974. Miguel Sabino Díaz.

Ángela is the name of an ancient mine situated in lands under the Matienzo council jurisdiction in the Valley of Carranza (Bizkaia) characterised by the presence of numerous sulphide ore deposits: galena (lead), sphalerite (zinc) and fluorite (fluorspar).

The earliest extraction activities took place between 1929 and 1931, reaching only shallow layers of galena. Starting in the 1940s to the end of 1964, the seams of lead were further exploited by the mining company Sierra de Gredos S.A. The construction of the shaft or main access tunnel up to a depth of 286 metres was undertaken for that purpose, the entrance to the mine being located in a spot known as Las Veneras half a kilometre away from the neighbourhood of Matienzo. (more…)