Durango - Cerro del Mercado

The 200 m (656 ft) -high Cerro del Mercado, a hill to the north of the city, consists almost entirely of iron ore (haematite). Although this was well-known to the 16th c. conquistadors, mining only began in 1828. Recently more than 300 tonnes a day have been extracted, despite which reserves are estimated to be sufficient for another 100 years.