Miniera d'Oro della Guia

45º 57' 25'' N 7º 59' 32'' E

North

Italy

Description

The Miniera d'Oro della Guia (Gold Mine of Guia) is located inside the Monte Rosa (4,634m asl). 

Extracted Materials

The heydays of the mine were between the two World Wars, between 1937 and 1945. In 1942 40,000 tonnes of ore were mined which equalled 408kg of gold. In 1948 the production was 580kg of gold.

Antropological info

Active from 1710 to 1961, it went through a period of strong production, concentrated between 1937 and 1945. In 1942, 40,000 tonnes of ore were mined, resulting in 408 kilograms (1058 lbs) of pure gold, and six years later as much as 580 kilograms (1279 lbs) were mined.
In the 1950s, the mine still employed about 300 workers, but obsolete technology and competition from abroad led to the mine permanently closing in 1961 due to unprofitable productivity.

Sociologal info

 Examples of such conflict are many, and several reasons have been advanced as to the causes for these conflicts and are based on structural controls of different governments.

Archaeological info

The mine has a size of 12km and 11 levels. The three levels below the show mine are flooded and not accessible any more. The show mine uses an adit, which is completely flat, so it is wheelchair accessible. Some 800m of the adit were cleaned for the show mine. The tour enters the mine through this tunnel and returns the same way.

Sustainable tourism insights

The show mine is open only for a short time in Summer. According to the facebook page the given dates seem to be reduced now and then, so the mine typically opens in mid June and closes mid September. Also the tours take place only with a minimum of three participants. The mine tour is not very expensive, but the mine is not as informative as the other mines in the area.

Environment sustainability

At this time there is no environmental problems.