Looking for a model of success: the regulations of the Commission for the Geological Map of Spain (1870, 1873)

The Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME) has a long history, dating back to its creation in the mid-19th century, and is one of the key institutions in our country for the development of knowledge related to Earth sciences and technologies. The absence of a historical archive at IGME makes it difficult to reconstruct its earlier history, so external sources must be consulted to learn about some of the milestones that contributed to the consolidation of the institution. This article provides new information about the individuals and circumstances that led to the re-establishment of the Commission for the Geological Map of Spain in 1870, the predecessor to IGME, following the upheavals since 1849, and the restructuring it underwent in 1873. The latter was led by mining engineer Manuel Fernández de Castro, who authored the text of the 1873 Decree and headed the Commission for twenty-two years. The precise instructions for the formation of the geological map contained in the Decree are among the highlights of his leadership, which ensured the completion of the 1:400,000 scale map in 1889 and the continuation of the institution in the face of potential threats of dissolution, as had occurred in previous stages.