1872.] Copper Mines of Chili. 161 
houses of the several establishments, about two-thirds of 
the way up, marks the position of the adits driven on the 
great lode, and long white streaks reaching far towards its 
base the enormous piles of desmontes, whose total amount 
probably exceeds 200,000 tons ; and as one approaches nearer 
the hill looks as if a net had been thrown over it, the cords 
in their regular reticulations being the roads zig-zagging up 
the almost perpendicular sides. 
There is not a spring of water on the hill, and the mines 
are so dry that they do not supply the needs of the establish- 
ments. The Piké mine alone has expended as much as 
600 dols. a month, for water-jigging in the English still hutch 
is all the water concentration that can be effected. 
The mznerale contains three systems of N. and S. lodes :— 
(1.) The most easterly lode runs near the eastern base of 
the hill. It yields very little copper. 
(2.) The middle is the great Tomaya lode. It consists of 
twin veins, with a N.and S. strike and dipping west at an angle 
of 60°. They vary in distance from each other, being some- 
times 5 fathoms apart, at others uniting to form large 
bunches. The eastern lode is left standing because too poor 
to work; but the largest stopes are at spots where the 
E. and W. lodes come together. 
(3.) The third system of lodes is on the western slope of 
the hill. It was in working a mine on this lode that 
Mr. Urmeneta commenced amassing the fortune which the . 
Piké mine has helped to swell; but the production from 
here has always been small compared with that derived 
from the middle lode. 
This, the second group referred to above, crops out so 
near the summit as to form almost the crest of the hill. It 
runs as a twin lode for from 3 to 4 miles; but when its 
outcrop descends the N.and S. slopes of the ridge, it breaks 
up into a number of stringers, which diverge from the N. 
and S. course. The lode has not been traced as productive 
beyond the hill on either side. 
It is therefore from this isolated hill that a great pro- 
portion of all the Chili copper came from the years 1860 to 
1865 ; for Carrizal and Chanaral did not produce then what 
they do now. 
The principal mines on the Maslir lode proceeding from 
south to north are :— 
Of 400 varas each in length along the 
strike of the lode. They were both rich 
at surface, but have fallen off in depth. 
VOL. II. (N.S.) Y 
1. Almagro 
2. Pizarro 
