Streppenosa Asphalt Mine - RG

October 27, 2019.
The Streppenosa mine, located in the Ragusa territory in the district of the same name, was managed for a very limited period by the English company Val de Travers, which also held the concession for the Tabuna-Cortolillo mine; both were worked underground. The mine is accessible through a main entrance carved into the rock that leads into a labyrinth of tunnels, ranging from 2-3 meters high up to ten meters in the most impressive sections. In several places, it is still easy to see the mineral substance seeping from micro-fractures in the walls; small flows of pitch-black bitumen, glistening in the light of our torches, sit alongside yellow-ochre calcite flows from embryonic karst phenomena, caused by the constant dripping of rainwater soaking through the rock barrier that separates the mine from the outside. Walking through the tunnels, we reach a large, square-shaped shaft, about 50 meters high, which once housed the elevator used to bring the excavated material to the surface. Outside, at the top of this shaft, we find the trestle that supported the elevators and the remains of the boiler room. Part of the track on which the carts transported the asphalt stone is also still visible. A section of the mine, which follows the main bituminous vein downwards, is affected by flooding due to the accumulation of water percolating from the ceiling. This phenomenon has created a fascinating sequence of small pools that, together with everything else, make a visit to this site a truly unique experience.

Fee: € 10.00 – Includes guide services and RCT insurance.
Meeting point: Sunday at 08:30 AM at Bar Bruscé, gas station parking lot, or at 09:00 AM on the S.S. 115 Ragusa/Modica, after the bridge over the Irminio river, in the lay-by 100 meters before the exit for Modica Alta.
End of excursion: 04:00 PM at the Mangiagesso picnic area.
Lunch: packed lunch
Travel: own car
Difficulty: moderate.
Loop trails: 5 hours of walking for both routes; the first to reach the Streppenosa mine and the second to reach the Mangiagesso picnic area where we will have our packed lunch – On and off-trail paths.
Required equipment: trekking clothing, small backpack, flashlight, k-way (rain jacket), hiking boots, waterproof jacket, hat, sweater, 1.5 liters of water, and a helmet provided by the organization.
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact 3334987946
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]