Galería de Minerales FMF

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MAP CAPTION

Map of Mapimi and district with an emphasis on some major tourist attractions, showing major and some minor roads.

As you head east from the historic town of Mapimí, you’ll discover striking emblems of its past and present. To your left, the vibrant Mapimí Plaza pulses as the town’s living heart, inviting you to contemplate your journey ahead while sipping an ice cold ponche de frutas. A little further along, the haunting remains of the great Peñoles Smelter archway stand silhouetted against the sky, a stark testament to a bygone industrial era. The expedition continues east of town to the junction of Federal Highway 30 and Cam. A Ojuela, marking the tourist entrance to the legendary Ojuela mine. After securing entry — for a fee of approximately 120 pesos for adults (about 6.50 USD) and 60 pesos for children (about 3.25 USD) — the true adventure commences. The final approach is a thrilling ascent up a steep, single-lane cobblestone road that clings dramatically to the canyon’s edge, leading you to the iconic suspension bridge and the ghostly mine itself. Modern photographs, shown in the inserts, capture the iconic beauty of some of Mapimí’s famous sites.

Benito Juárez Museum: 25.834166°Lat, -103.848510°Lon
Templo de Santiago Apóstol: 25.833903°Lat, -103.848470°Lon
Mapimi Plaza: 25.835270°Lat, -103.840922°Lon
Penoles Archway: 25.837484°Lat, -103.841450°Lon
Tourist Entrance: 25.842053°Lat, -103.816571°Lon
American Dos Mine: 25.806631°Lat, -103.802129°Lon
Ojuela Bridge: 25.792755°Lat, -103.790896°Lon










A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MAPIMÍ

INTRODUCTION

The town of Mapimí is located in the northeastern part of the State of Durango, approximately 65 kilometers northwest of Torreón, Coahuila, and 820 kilometers south of El Paso, Texas. It can be reached from the east via a paved road (Highway 30) from Bermejillo, a distance of 25 kilometers, or from the west from La Zarca, a small village on the Parral-Durango Highway (Highway 45).

Nestled within the sun-drenched expanse of Durango’s Chihuahuan Desert, the historic town owes its existence to the mineral rich Ojuela Mine. For centuries, this legendary source of Gold, Silver, Lead and Zinc fueled the town’s rise as a vital commercial and logistical hub, drawing a diverse populace of miners, engineers, and merchants.

The immense wealth unearthed from the mine is immortalized in Mapimí’s colonial heart, most notably in the defiant, Baroque facade of the Templo de Santiago Apóstol, which features intricate stone carvings and sturdy bell towers. Beyond its mineral legacy, the town holds a pivotal place in national history; the Benito Juárez Museum now occupies the very house where the president briefly established his government-in-exile. Today, the boom years echo in the haunting silence of the Ojuela ghost town, where a skeletal suspension bridge spans a breathtaking chasm — a dramatic elegy to the industry that once forged this desert jewel.

THE OJUELA MINE

From Economic Engine to Historical Landmark

The largest mine in the district, the Ojuela, plunges deep into the Mexican earth. Its name is a modern echo of its original, “Hojuela,” a title inspired by the exquisite, leaf-like texture of the Galena found within its depths. This legendary mine, one of the nation’s deepest and most productive, was the very source of Mapimí’s great wealth, forging the town’s fortune during its peak at the turn of the last century. Ore was discovered on the northern side of an east-trending arroyo near what is now the abandoned city of Ojuela. The “boca de mina,” the original discovery area, can still be seen, and its original hand-hewn steps in the limestone are still visible. The nearby town of Ojuela, located near the apex of two large ravines, had a population of almost 3,000 at its peak.

During more active periods, a railroad connected Mapimí with Bermejillo, a station on the Mexican Central Railroad, while a small spur led 3.5 kilometers from Mapimí up the canyon to the mine. In 1893-94, the company Peñoles introduced electricity and built an arsenic plant that produced 1500 tons of refined white arsenic a year.

To facilitate access, the impressive Puente de Ojuela was constructed to span the arroyo separating the main shafts from the mines to the south. Built by the John A. Roebling Company in 1899, it was, at that time, the second-longest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge is 325.83 meters long, 1.83 meters wide, and stands about 80 meters above the bottom of the arroyo. Despite its age, the overall structure remains strong.

In the late 1880s, the Compañía Minera de Peñoles forged an industrial destiny for Mapimí, Durango, with the establishment of a massive smelter. This fiery crucible was the heart of a regional boom, built to process the immense wealth of Silver and Lead ores pouring from the legendary Ojuela Mine. The smelter’s insatiable appetite became a catalyst for progress, demanding the construction of a vital railroad and the awe-inspiring Ojuela Bridge. Together, these engineering marvels created an industrial lifeline that defined an era of intensive extraction.

However, the same economic tides that created this powerhouse would also dismantle it. The fire of industry, so fiercely lit, began to cool in the 1920s. By 1921, Peñoles found it more profitable to centralize operations in cities like Torreón and Monterrey, and the systematic dismantling of the Mapimí smelter began. This coincided with the faltering pulse of the mine itself; its primary veins were becoming depleted, and production slowed to a trickle before ceasing almost entirely in the 1930’s. The once-thundering industrial complex fell silent. In its demise, however, the site found a new purpose, transitioning from a generator of mineral wealth to a custodian of history, where the ghosts of its industrial past now draw tourists to marvel at the legacy it left behind.

The Modern Municipality of Mapimí

The contemporary town of Mapimí has a population of several thousand inhabitants. The local economy has diversified from its historical reliance on mining and is now primarily supported by agriculture adapted to arid conditions and a growing tourism sector.

The town’s well-preserved colonial architecture is a key attraction for visitors. Mapimí’s integration with regional transportation networks is crucial for its economic stability; Mexican Federal Highway 30 connects the town to Bermejillo, which in turn links to Mexican Federal Highway 49, a major national corridor providing vital access to larger urban centers like Gómez Palacio and Torreón.

Geography and Climate

Mapimí is situated at the base of the northern end of the Bufa de Mapimí, an elongated mountain approximately 3 kilometers wide with an axis that trends about 40° northwest. Seen from the west, its profile resembles a woman’s face. The mountain’s eastern side is steep and almost impassable, while the western slope is considerably gentler. The crest of the Bufa rises to an elevation of about 2700 meters, some 700 meters above the valley floor. The Ojuela mine is located on the east side of the mountain, about 400 meters below the crest.

Geographically, the town is located within the Bolsón de Mapimí, a large endorheic basin that is part of the Chihuahuan Desert. The region is also known for the Mapimí Silent Zone (Zona del Silencio), an area noted in popular culture for alleged anomalous magnetic and radio phenomena, though these claims are not supported by scientific evidence.


The climate is classified as desert, featuring hot summers with temperatures around 35°C and mild winters around 5°C. Annual precipitation is minimal, varying from 20 to 35 centimeters, most of which falls during the rainy season from July to October.

Ecology and the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve

The local flora and fauna are adapted to the arid environment. To conserve this unique and fragile ecosystem, the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve, a protected area recognized by UNESCO, was established. The reserve serves as a critical habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including pumas, mule deer, and coyotes. It is particularly important for the conservation of the endangered Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus), the largest land reptile in North America.

The vegetation is designated by botanists as Chihuahuan Desert Shrub. The dominant flora is xerophytic scrubland, composed of plant species that have evolved to tolerate prolonged drought. The most characteristic species is Larrea tridentata (creosote bush), which is associated with Acacia (huizachal), several species of Agave (lechugilla and maguey), Dasylirion wheeleri (sotol), Euphorbia anti-syphilitica (candelilla), Fouquieria splendens, at least four species of Opuntia (cholla), Prosopis (mesquite), and Yucca. In the higher portions of the district, especially on the western side of the Bufa, Quercus intricata (scrub oak) can be found. The principal crops of the area are corn and beans. (Author: silvia)