478 Copper Mines of Chilt. [April, 
the supply from this quarter must decrease, and that consi- 
derably. 
Panulcillo sails so close to the wind that if copper falls it 
will inevitably fall; if copper stands at even 15s., there 
seems to be no reason why it should not live and prosper ; 
for although the mine has been worked improvidently, 
and the necessities of the company have prevented any 
unproductive work being done, in the course of a twelve- 
month or so of good prices the evil might be rectified and 
the supply of ore brought up to the old figure. No large 
Chili mine depends so entirely on a slight variation in the 
price of copper as Panulcillo. As at the late low price it 
managed to hold its own, a rise of 2s., or even Is. per unit, 
would make the enterprise profitable. 
No doubt the Brillador could yield more than it does. 
Higuera and the mines back of Pena Blanca taken all in all 
are as likely to fall off as to increase. 
Carrizal, if the Veta Principal continues to grow poorer, 
has seen its best days; if, however, the new shafts now 
being sunk strike good ore, the mznerale will produce more 
than ever. Judging from the experience of Tomaya, 
Carrizal, Catemo, and other mines, the Chili lodes steadily 
grow poorer in depth, the ore becomes more and more 
mixed with iron either as sulphuret or oxide; but as the 
deepest mine has not reached 300 fathoms in the inclination 
of the lode, it is unsafe to conclude that the deterioration 
will be progressive. Should it be so, Chili, even with the 
advantage of better prices, will not again bring up her pro- 
duction to that of 1869. 
Cerro Blanco may continue producing as-much as at 
present for some years tocome. ‘The Copiapo, suffering as 
it does from the increase in wages and the emigration of its 
population to the new silver mnerale of Caracoles, will 
probably decline; but Chanaral, now that it has a railroad, 
mav be expected to increase its yield. Bolivia is rapidly 
falling off in her production. 
There is very little chance of any new mines of conse- 
quence being opened. A copper lode in a desert country 
cannot escape detection, more especially in Chili, where all 
the inhabitants are dire¢tly or indire¢tly interested in mines, 
and where proiessional mine hunters are constantly search- 
ing even the most arid and elevated regions for mineral. 
All the great lodes now worked, except, perhaps, those of 
the Salado and othersinthe Atacama desert, have been known 
and worked from time immemorial. ‘There is, therefore, no 
probability of an increase in the production of Chili, but 
