The Boleo Copper Mine

Steam Derrick

Ruins of Copper Processing Plant

Santa Rosalia was originally founded in 1705 but the town failed to prosper because of repeated epidemics and disastrous floods affecting farmlands. A chance find of copper-bearing ore changed its fate. In 1885 a new lease on life was granted by the El Boleo mining company backed by French capital. President Diaz of Mexico granted the company a 99-year concession to begin mining for copper in exchange for building the necessary infrastructure: a port, railway, town, and foundry. The world market for copper was taking off so it proved to be good timing; a rising demand for the metal was coming from electric companies in Europe and the USA. Within a decade the mining company had become responsible for more than 80 percent of Mexico’s export of copper ingots and recognized as a major world copper producer. Square-rigged vessels, flying the British, US, or German flag were constantly arriving in the harbor. We were fascinated to learn that smelted ore was shipped to Washington State to be refined and ships would return with loads of lumber and other supplies for Santa Rosalia.

Malecon - Old Smelter Plant in distance

Workers flocked to this little town in Baja from around the world, including three thousand from China. Working conditions were atrocious and health conditions for the miners and foundry workers were appalling, causing many deaths. To help alleviate the problem the company decided to move the smelter chimney rather than move the workers’ homes. The new chimney was built about a mile out of town, connected to the smelter by a large, ground-hugging flue. The flue can still be seen today on a hill above Hotel Frances. Copper deposits thinned in the 1920’s, but El Boleo continued mining until 1953. The State-run “Compania Minera Santa Rosalia” continued to mine the claim until 1985, at which time the smelter was finally shut down on the eve of the town’s 100^th anniversary.

Historic Boleo Office Building & Museum

The original office buildings, homes, and hotel of the early period still stand on the hill overlooking the old processing plant and harbor. The office building constructed sometime between 1885 and 1900 now serves as a museum. The interior of the building has been left intact and the furniture is also original. Of interest is the telephone system that functioned with dry cell batteries. The switchboard and lines were for the exclusive use of the company and served as communication between the mines and the different offices. Today the executive houses are occupied by residents or serve as government offices, while the old company hotel continues to welcome guests.

Insulators for Telephone Lines on Office Building

The hotel was built in 1886 and provided all the services required for those single employees, French and Mexican of certain social standing. Surprisingly, Santa Rosalia has just begun a new era focused on mining. The massive El Boleo copper cobalt zinc-manganese deposit, which fueled the town’s first boom period, is now being re-developed with new technology. Baja Mining based in Canada owns 70 percent of El Boleo with a consortium of Korean companies owing the remaining 30 percent. During its anticipated 23-year life span, El Boleo is expected to yield more than 2,000 metric tons of cobalt, 25,000 tons of zinc sulfate, and 50,000 tons of copper annually plus provide over 3,000 jobs to the local economy.

Boleo Office Building Overlooks the Harbor

We could clearly see evidence that Santa Rosalia is a busy working town, cars line the streets and people are constantly coming and going throughout the day. At the waterfront next to the old plant, we saw workers taking the bus, undoubtedly to the new site camp and earthworks.

Two-story Office Building Entrance Hallway

These new workers are following in the footsteps of those who have gone before, but thankfully with improved environmental standards, work conditions, and new technology that have brought about the revitalized copper production in Santa Rosalia, begun in early 2013.