262 



A VISIT TO THE PROVINCES 



Chanarcillo, we meet layers of porphyritic rocks having the same external characteristics as the 

 rocks on the road from Ingenio, and those we shall see more fully developed in the mountain of 

 Agua Amarga." 



Of the one hundred and fifteen mines* discovered and actually worked in El Bolaco at the 

 time of our visit, only eighteen much more than paid expenses, and but four yielded abund- 

 antly. These were La Descubridora, El Delirio, San Francisco, and San Jose. Work in the 

 others is continued in expectation that a rich vein will again be struck, many hundred thousand 

 dollars being annually spent, for which not one dollar is immediately received in return. But 

 the miner never gives up hope in El Bolaco, and never abandons the mine there for which 

 he has been so lucky as to secure a patent. 



The longest horizontal shaft excavated so far, is about four hundred yards ; the greatest depth 

 attained in any mine, about two hundred yards. All the best veins have a direction nearly 

 north and south, the most productive inclining to the east. If the inclination be to the west- 

 ward of north, it is regarded as an unfavorable symptom, and is very discouraging, because all 

 such have hitherto proved to contain very poor metal. Though the several mines contain 

 almost every combination of silver, no other metals have been found in El Bolaco, as there 

 has been at some of the hills in the province of Coquimbo. Of 10,488,088 pounds of ore ex- 

 tracted and conveyed to the amalgamating establishments during the year 1850, its cost to the 

 miners delivered and reduced was $600,000 ; and the clear profit to them, $2,100,000. In 

 addition to the sum spent at the fruitful mines and their products, it is estimated that $400,000 

 was paid to persons employed in excavations producing nothing. Sometimes there are veins 

 situated between others yielding the richest ores, but which on working prove wholly valueless. 

 One in particular, so favorably situated in this respect, and externally promising so well, caused 

 the ruin of every one who persevered in its deceitful exploration. 



The following table will show to what extent silver mining is carried on in the province, and 

 what were some of its results during the year 1850. 



Of these two hundred and ninety-four silver mines, there were only two hundred and fifty- 

 five worked at the close of the year; the remainder had been abandoned. The other mines in 

 operation were as follows : 



* This is the number given in the report of the Intendente. On the spot one hundred and eighteen were named to me, and 

 the latter number is more probably correct for the date at which I write 1851. 



