For those who are not aware, mining was always part of the historical development of City Real. Today, it is again in the focus by a finding that conjugates Gold and Wolframio. And everything occurs in a context of growing demand for essential raw materials, a situation that for Spaniards could bear fruit long term both in the national economy and in European self -sufficiency.
The exploitation zone, known as The motorcyclewill begin to build in 2025 and is scheduled for Start your productive activity in 2027. It is an already completely authorized project, which of course all the required environmental and technical requirements exceeded by current regulations.
Where is the Gold and Wolframio site discovered in Ciudad Real and what is its relevance?
The site It is located in the municipality of Abenójarsouthwest of Ciudad Real. The promoter company, ABENÓJAR TUNGSTEN SLled by Gonzalo García San Miguel, developed for more than a decade prospecting and investigation that concluded in a favorable environmental impact statement.
The motorcycleas the place has been baptized, It houses an estimated volume of 91 million tons of Wolframio mineral and 1.2 million goldaccording to data extracted from the final feasibility study. The total investment associated with the project reaches 16,250 million euros.
To calculate the economic value, the following factors are considered:
- Wolframio: With a law of 0.44%, it is estimated that the 91 million tons of ore contain approximately 400,400 tons of Wolframio trioxide (WO₃). Multiplying this amount for the WO₃ market price (approximately € 30,000 per ton), an estimated value of 12,012 million euros is obtained.
- Gold: The 1.2 million ounces of gold, at the current market price (approximately € 3,500 per ounce), represent a value of 4,200 million euros.
Adding both values, the estimated total amounts to 16,212 million euros, a figure that approaches the 16,250 million euros mentioned.
It is estimated that production will cover up to 25% of Wolframio’s demand in Europe. As mentioned at the beginning, The construction will begin in 2025. Besides, Extractive activity is expected to start in 2027.
It should be remembered that the Wolframiomineral with the highest melting point that is known, It is part of the list of critical and strategic raw materials of the European Union. Its usefulness extends to sectors such as defense, aerospace technology, precision electronics and the manufacture of industrial tools.
Abenójar Tungsten SL already has all the permits and ensures that the initiative is ready to execute. After more than 14 years of technical works, the company considers that this finding It will be a reference in the 21st century mining.
What impact could minerals found in this Ciudad Real site generate in the industry?
The two main Wolframio minerals located in this site are Ferberita and Scheelita. These appear as euhedral crystals of fine grain in quartz veins and in disseminations present in intrusive rocks.
This type of geological configuration makes a large -scale extraction viable, with modern methods that reduce environmental impact and optimize exploitation costs. The combination with the gold found in the same area increases the strategic value of the enclave.
The project will have a direct impact on the economy of the region. As recently pointed out by the second vice president of the Government of Castilla-La Mancha, José Manuel Caballero, The motorcycle will generate more than 500 qualified jobsmany of them oriented to specialized technical profiles.
For his part, Mercedes Gómez, counselor for sustainable development, remarked that it is a modern mining model, which responds to criteria for sustainability, territorial integration and environmental respect. In his opinion, this initiative contributes not only to guarantee the supply of essential resources, but to stop the risk of depopulation in the area.
“From the regional government we support this initiative for its contribution to the development of the region and for its environmental and social commitment,” said Caballero.
This is the historical and mining context of the region
Remember that Ciudad Real was already the scene of mining activity relevant in the past. In the municipality of Almadén are the largest mercury mines in the worldcurrently closed for toxicity.
These facilities, such as Real Mining Hospital of San Rafael or the door of Carlos IVwere declared assets of cultural interest.
Almadén’s mining legacy is preserved as a museum, with elements such as the bariteles of the wells of San Andrés or San Carlosand the Aludeles or Bustamante ovensrepresenting a key industrial memory to understand the evolution of this activity in the region.
