Sonia
Sonia mine has been in operation since November 1963, when the mining permits were issued. In 1996 joined Ferroatlántica Group, formerly belonging to Corporación Noroeste. The site of metallurgical quartz Sonia mine is philonian type and hydrothermal origin.
The operating method used in mine consists in clearing coating materials from the roof of the vein located, to allow access to quartz. The quartz mineral extraction is done by drilling and blasting, loading the material flown with backhoe and transported by miner dumpers to the treatment plant.
The treatment plant consists of two lines. The first one processes the material for the manufacture of silicon metal and ferroalloys, and the second line processes the material that does not comply with the chemical specifications or appropriate particle size and it is used in the local industry as aggregates.
- Mineral and aggregates crushing plants
- Mineral washing
- Aggregates plant
- Two Mikrosort plants for mechanised sorting of minerals
- Auxiliary installation to control the dust in the plant and treat the water from the wash
Sonia mine is situated in the area of Cañoles, at a distance of 1 km from the pretty Porto de O Barqueiro, in the Municipality of Mañón.
To access the mine take the C-842 Ferrol-Viveiro road, then the AC-101 at O Barqueiro towards Bares, for approximately 1 km, and then taking the first junction to the left. The products are shipped from the Port of Celeiro, at 22 km from Sonia Mine.