OF ATACAMA AND COQUIMBO. 



Ml 



The following table will uMunl some idea of the amount of work, the purity of the metals 

 I'n.ni diH'cn-nt mines, ami tho cost of n-.lm-i ion. Capital letters followiug the names of mine* 

 an- initials of the Mi <-i.il mineral districts. All not marked are within the Chafiarcillo (Bolaco) 

 district. 



Amalgamating establishment of Cerillot, 1850. 



The charge for amalgamation is according to the ley or ratio of pure silver contained in the 

 ore, as ascertained by the analysis. This is expressed by the number of marks of bar silver 

 that a cajon will yield. A mark is eight ounces, which, in preparing the above table, I have 

 valued at $9. The deduction in favor of the miner is not made at any other establishment, 

 and its presumed object is to attract custom. No returns from them for other years were obtain- 

 able ; and in their absence we can best judge of the increase of the mining interest from the 

 returns of silver exported since 1830 from the Copiapo custom-house. 



I could not learn any satisfactory reason for the great falling off in the exportations of 1836 

 and 1840; and we must attribute it to the variable success to which mining is subject. That 

 of 1851 is attributable to the revolutionary condition of the country, and the temporary aban- 

 donment of many mines in consequence thereof. The rapid increase in 1849 is principally due 

 to the discoveries at Tres Puntas in September of that year. 

 34 



