The mining activity of the Montevecchio mine

The history

All information provided by Eng. Giuliano Marzocchi- For a exhaustive historic outline of the mine see: Marzocchi, Giuliano, Cronistoria della miniera di Montevecchio, Roma, 1995.

Period Informations

Nuragic No activity informations

Punic-Phoenician No activity informations

Roman The mines were surely active, but we do not know their name.

Findings:

· Equipement: picks, shovels, terracotta lamps, wooden bowls;

· Machines: lead pumps, a mill-wheel with 24 copper containers;

· A lead ingot with the engraving: IMPeratoris CAESaris HADRiani AUGusti.

First Middle Age No activity informations

(400-1100)

Pisan The mines were active, but we do not know their name.

(1100-1300) No finding:

· The Judge Comita II d’Arborea gives half of the silver mines of Arbus on concession to the San Lorenzo Church and to the town of Genoa (1131);

· The Judge Barisone d’Arborea sent 670 kilos of silver to Genoa by way of compensation for the help the emperor Federico Barbarossa had given him when he became king of Sardinia (1172).

Spanish The name “miniere delle montagne di Arbus” appears for the

(1323-1719) first time.

The documents of mining dues concession to privates companies.

The kingdom of Sardinia The name Montevecchio (or Monte Vecchio) appears in a

contract in 1759: “La grotta de li colombi a Montevecchio, a

Sa Fraiga…” ;

Exploitation concession to Nieddu-Durante (1721-1740);

Exploitation concession to Mandell (1741-1760);

State menagement, “Belly” (1761-1806);

Exploitation concession to Vargas (1806-1809);

State menagement, but the mine is inactive (1810-1841);

State menagement as research permission to Don Pischedda

(1842-1847).

The kingdom of Italy Perpetual mining concession to Giovanni Antonio Sanna

from 28.04.1848;

Private direction of the families Sanna, Castaldi, Bertolino

(1848-1933);

Montevecchio mine limited partnership (1925-1927);

Montevecchio mine limited liability partnership (1928-1932);

Montevecchio mining joint stock company (1933-1938);

Montevecchio SIPZ, italian lead and zinc company

(1939-1946).

The Italian Republic Montevecchio SIPZ, italian lead and zinc company

(1946-1961);

Monteponi & Montevecchio joint stock company (1962-1970);

SOGERSA, State and regional menagement of mining

resources company (1971-1976);

SAMIM, ENI group (1977-1985);

SIM, Italian mining company, ENI group (1986-1991).

18.05.1991 Shooting down of the mine.