Name 1
MAQUETA HORNOS DE ALUDELES O BUSTAMANTE
Name 2
MODEL OF ALUDEL OR BUSTAMANTE FURNACES
ID number
001.67.Almadén
Manager / Administrator
Reyes Ávila Bercial, Cerco San Teodoro, s/n, 13400-Almadén (Ciudad Real)
Ownership
Private
Individual
LOANED
Local / Original ID Number
001.001.003.296
Type of Object
Smelting
Description
Short description
"Built in Spain in the 17th century, they were used until the 20th century. Also known as aludel ovens, they were invented in Huancavelica (Peru) in 1633 by Lope Saavedra Barba, but they were not introduced in Spain until 1646 by Bustamante and Sotomayor.
The implementation of the Bustamante furnaces constituted a fundamental advance in the history of mercury technology since, in addition to contributing decisively to the rise in mercury production, they represent one of the most brilliant examples of technological exchange between America and Spain.
This distillation system remained in operation until 1918, making a long history (300 years) and becoming the most significant metallurgical ingenuity in Almadén.
The phases of this furnace are:
1st – The ore is placed inside the furnace without the need to put it in pots, but distributed in several layers, according to size and properties.
2nd – Once the furnace has been put into operation, mercury vapour is generated and passes through holes to a small chamber; several pipes lead out from this chamber.
3rd – Each pipe is made up of a row of containers, aludels, perforated at the bottom so that once the mercury has condensed, it passes into the channel where it will be collected.
4th – Before proceeding to the next round of roasting, the aludels are dismounted and cleaned to recover the mercury that remains on their walls.
This furnace is still a discontinuous system."
The implementation of the Bustamante furnaces constituted a fundamental advance in the history of mercury technology since, in addition to contributing decisively to the rise in mercury production, they represent one of the most brilliant examples of technological exchange between America and Spain.
This distillation system remained in operation until 1918, making a long history (300 years) and becoming the most significant metallurgical ingenuity in Almadén.
The phases of this furnace are:
1st – The ore is placed inside the furnace without the need to put it in pots, but distributed in several layers, according to size and properties.
2nd – Once the furnace has been put into operation, mercury vapour is generated and passes through holes to a small chamber; several pipes lead out from this chamber.
3rd – Each pipe is made up of a row of containers, aludels, perforated at the bottom so that once the mercury has condensed, it passes into the channel where it will be collected.
4th – Before proceeding to the next round of roasting, the aludels are dismounted and cleaned to recover the mercury that remains on their walls.
This furnace is still a discontinuous system."
Measures
"length: 2.70m
width: 1.50m
height: 0.90m"
width: 1.50m
height: 0.90m"
Materials
Papier-mâché
Dating
2008
Author / Producer
Minas de Almadén
Illustrations
Original use
Present use
Museum and didactic use
Original location
Mercury Museum (Mining Park)
Present location
Mercury Museum (Mining Park)
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses /collections/links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
www.parqueminerodealmaden.es
Submitted
AYUNTAMIENTO ALMADEN
Submitted by
Águeda Moyano & Alicia Escudero
Date Submitted
26. 4. 2022
Date Edited
Never