Costa Rica has an active metalliferous mining industry producing gold and a quarrying industry producing aggregates such as limestone, clay, silica and diatomite. [1]
Costa Rica has an active metalliferous mining industry producing gold and a quarrying industry producing aggregates such as limestone, clay, silica and diatomite. [1]
Costa Rica became known as the "Rich Coast" to Spanish settlers because of the rich goldworking by the native cultures. [2] Juan Vazquez de Coronado is said to have been the first European settler to attempt mining in the country, with limited success. [3]
Mining for gold in Costa Rica began proper following the discovery of the Avocado Mines (Minas del Aguacate) by Bishop Garcia, Bishop of Costa Rica, in 1815. The discovery was announced by Don Rafael Gallegos, the second president of Costa Rica, and named Sacra Familia (Holy Family). A gold rush occurred and Upon hearing about the discovery, Richard Trevithick who was then in Peru, travelled to Costa Rica in 1824 to work the Sacra Familia mines under the Anglo-Costa Rica Mining Company; the project was said to be unsuccessful. Other attempts by Cornish miners are said to have occurred in the 1830s and 1840s. [3]
A "second cycle" of mining occurred in the early 20th century following closure of most of earlier mines by the 1870s. [2]
 |
As described by Reitz (1902). [3] [4]
While some 17 metalliferous commodities are known to have occurrences, only gold, silver and manganese have been worked productively. [21]
| Year | Kg |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1500 |
| 2014 | 1350 |
| 2015 | 950 |
| 2016 | 750 |
| 2017 | 4255 |
| 2018 | 5200 |
| 2019 | 4500 |
| 2020 | 599 |
| 2021 | 647 |
| Total | 19,751 |
In 2021 1,510,654m3 limestone, 80m3 kaoline, 244,635m3 silica and 14,642m3 diatomite were produced. [1]
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