Barruecopardo Tungsten Mine: Spain’s Historic Open‑Pit Operation

Barruecopardo Tungsten Mine

Barruecopardo is a historic open‑pit tungsten mine in the Salamanca province of western Spain. With almost a century of operation, it once held the title of Spain’s largest tungsten producer and was ranked among the world’s top ten mines outside China.

Barruecopardo Tungsten Mine

In 2011, a JORC‑compliant resource assessment estimated the deposit at 27.39 million tonnes of ore, containing 0.26 % tungsten trioxide (WO₃). This translates to roughly 71,214 tonnes of WO₃ in resources. Proven ore reserves stand at 8.69 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.30 %, equating to 26,100 tonnes of WO₃.

The mine began extracting tungsten in the early 1930s, peaking during 1942‑1945. It became a cornerstone of the local economy until operations halted in 1982 due to economic and regulatory challenges, leaving behind infrastructure and residual waste.

From 2005 to 2009, Saloro conducted exploration and technical studies. In March 2011, Saloro acquired full ownership, completed a feasibility study in February 2012, and secured environmental and mining permits in 2014.

Financing and development commenced in 2015 with an expected 2016 commissioning. Land‑use disputes and market volatility delayed full construction until mid‑2017. By July 2019, the mine achieved full commissioning and entered its first production phase.

Current operations target an annual output of 2,600 tonnes of tungsten concentrate, with an anticipated nine‑year mine life.

Conclusion

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