1561: Favorita, Mina
Barrio de Arriba 30T 444906 4799611 (Datum: ETRS89. Accuracy code: A) Altitude 146m
Length 250m
Area position : Site entrance in context : Logbook search Out of the current permit area : A Google search for this site (Favorita, Mina+Barrio de Arriba)

Updated 16th May, 30th September 2015; 19th February, 30th April, 2nd, 6th May 2016; 8th May 2018; 16th September 2019

   Researching the history, including the names, of the mine workings above Barrio de Arriba is "a work in progress".

    A mine entrance on the northern hillside above Barrio de Arriba which leads into a set of old workings with natural passages and chambers. This is part of the "Very Good Mine" complex which appears to have been run at some time by the mining company Cueva de la Mora S.A. See also site 4251.
    According to Wikipedia, zinc blende (sphalerite) was mined here and extraction finished in the '80's. The only mention of name "Favorita" appears to be on the Wikipedia page.
    Most natural features have been "pushed" and the site has been partially surveyed.
    It would appear that, judging by the relatively small amount of deads in the mine and on the surface nearby, the site was a natural cave with exposed mineral(s) which were easy to extract.
    The site was first explored by cavers from the Matienzo Caves Project in the 90's when the "1990's" pictures below were taken. The surface remains were associated with the the "new mine" - a 60m drop to a level.  A sketch elevation has been drawn by Phil Goodwin. Further details were obtained by Phil, allowing a Survex/Aven file to be generated and the mines' relationship to the backend of Fuente Aguanaz. (Note that the verftical linking the old and new mines doesn't exist. See below.)
   According to Ruiz Cobo J and Muñoz Fernández E, 2013 and other sources the mine may have been of Roman origin with a suggestion of Roman coins found. There may be another entrance to the complex in the private plot attached to No 5, Barrio de Arriba on the main road.

   In late March 2016, a line survey (174m) was carried out from the track to the pitch into the lower series (Pozo 8, a short distance in from the entrance,on the right with a wooden framework over it), and of the lower series. (Data with PGo.) On this visit, the Forestry Officer, David, was shown the entrance series.

   An email from Miguel Blanchard Rodríguez, a member of the Grupo de Espeleología Pistruellos, recived by Phil Goodwin, 18/4/2016:
A few days ago I've been in Torrelavega (Fondo Mina Reocín) investigating about "Very Good" mine in Riotuerto in order to find another entrance and new galleries. My conclusion is that there are 2 mines: the "old" and the "new" one and they are not joined. The "old" is the one we know and the other was closed when they removed the derrick... unfortunatelly the pit was the only entrance. Regarding Apolonia, I think it is the name of the mining claim... but not a particular place. In "Fondo Mina Reocín" you can find a huge amount of information about this and other mines: topographies, maps, historical data... very interesting.
   
   A Spanish blog documents a visit in July 2009.

   A tourist trip by the MCP occurred in April 2018.

Reference: Ruiz Cobo J and Muñoz Fernández E, 2013; anon., 2014d (autumn logbook); anon., 2015b (Easter logbook); anon., 2016b (Easter logbook); anon., 2018b (Easter logbook); anon., 2019d (summer logbook)
Entrance pictures: Surface remains of the mine, 1990's
Underground pictures: 1990's : 2015 : 2016
Video: Investigations, Easter 2015 (YouTube)
Detailed survey: sketch elevation of the "Very Good Mine" (Phil Goodwin)
Line survey:
On area survey:
Survex file: upper and lower workings : with Fuente Aguanaz