Las galerías de agua como patrimonio minero y cultural. Propuesta para utilización de la capacidad petrificadora de sus aguas

Abstract

The water galleries are almost horizontal mine-holes, made for the extraction of groundwater. In Tenerife, the drilling of galleries has been a necessity almost since the beginning of the Conquest, and this drilling activity has been especially significant since the end of the 19th century, as a response to the needs associated initially with agriculture for export and later with the expansion of tourism. The number of drilled galleries exceeds one thousand, of which almost five hundred are still in operation. The group of galleries, as well as the historical network of pipes, make up highly significant heritage groups to understand our cultural evolution, which deserve attention and maintenance. As a consequence of the high mineralization of the aquifers, the water in many galleries has a high petrifying capacity, especially those located in the northwest and southwest areas of the island. The characteristics of lithic waters and sediments are analysed, providing correlations with other places where this type of carbonated water appears. It is proposed to take advantage of this petrifying capacity for the production of sculptural forms