MINES 283 



numerous mines of rock-salt, and several deposits of golden sands situated chiefly on 

 the banks of the Danube, the Marosch, and the Nera. 



MINES OF SOUTH AMERICA. 



Few regions are so celebrated for their mineral wealth as the great chain which, 

 under the name of the Cordillera of the Andes, skirts the shores of the Pacific Ocean 

 from the land of the Patagonians to near the north-west point of the American Con- 

 tinent. Who has not heard of the mines of Mexico and Potosi ? The mineral wealth 

 of Peru has passed into a proverb. More recently the gold of California has thrown 

 half the world into a fever of excitement. 



The most important mines of the Cordilleras have been those of silver ; but several 

 of gold, mercury, copper, and lead, have likewise been opened. These mountains are 

 not equally metalliferous in their whole extent. The makings occur in a small num- 

 ber of districts, far distant from each other. 



In the Andes of Chili, particularly in the district of Copiapo, silver mines are ex- 

 plored, which afford chiefly ores of an earthy or ferruginous nature, mingled with small 

 particles of ore with a silver base, known there under the name of pacos. Sulphide, 

 chloride, and chloro-bromide of silver are also found, and an alloy of silver and mercurj 

 called arquerite. The same province presents also copper mines of considerable impor- 

 tance, especially in Coquimbo and Huasco, from which aro extracted native copper, 

 red oxido, carbonate of copper (malachite), and copper pyrites, associated with some 

 chloride of copper. In a few mines, masses of native copper of extraordinary magni- 

 tude have been found. 



The second metalliferous region of the Andes occurs between the 21st and loth 

 degrees of south latitude. It includes the celebrated mountains of Potosi, situated 

 iu nearly the 20th degree of south latitude, on the eastern slope of the chain, and 

 several other districts likewise very rich, which extend principally towards the north- 

 west, as- far as the banks of the lake Titicaca, and even beyond it, through a total 

 length of .nearly 150 leagues. All these districts, which formerly depended on Peru, 

 wore united in 1778, to the government of Buenos Ayres, and are now included in 

 Bolivia. The mines of Potosi were discovered in 1545, and have furnished since 

 that period till our days, a body of silver which Von Humboldt values at 230,000,000^ 

 s-terling. The first years were the most productive. At that time ores were often 

 found which afforded from 40 to 45 per cent, of silver. Since the beginning of the 

 eighteenth century, the average richness of the ores does not exceed above from 3 to 4 

 parts in 10,000. These ores are therefore very poor at the present day ; they have 

 diminished in richness in proportion as the excavations have become deeper. But 

 the total product of the mines has not diminished in the same proportion ; abundance 

 cf ore having made up for its poverty. Hence, if the mountain of Potosi is not, as 

 formerly, the richest deposit of ore in the world, it .may, however, be still placed im- 

 mediately after the famous vein of Guanaxuato. The present yield is estimated at 

 about 50,000 Ibs. troy. The ore lies in veins in a primary clay-slate, which composes 

 the principal mass of the mountain, and is covered by a bed of clay-porphyry. This 

 rock crowns the summit, giving it the form of a basaltic hill. The veins are very 

 numerous ; several, near their outcrop, were almost wholly composed of sulphuret of 

 silver, antimoniated sulphuret of silver, and native silver. In 1790, seven copper 

 mines were known in the vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres, seven of lead, and two of 

 tin ; the last being merely washings of sands found near the river Oraro. 



On the opposite flank of the chain, in a low, desert plain, entirely destitute of water, 

 which adjoins the harbour of Iquique, and forms a part of Peru, occur the silver 

 mines of Huantajaya, celebrated for the immense masses of native silver which have 

 been sometimes found in them. In 1758 one was discovered weighing eight cwts. , 



Baron Humboldt quotes 40 cantons of Peru as being at the time of his journey most 

 famous for their subterranean explorations of silver and gold. Those _ of gold are 

 found in the provinces of Huaailas and Pataz ; the silver is chiefly furnished by the 

 districts of Huantajaya, Pasco, and Chota, which far surpass the others in the abun- 

 dance of their ores. 



The silver mines of the district of Pasco are situated about 30 or 40 leagues north 

 of Lima, in 10| degrees of south latitude, 4,400 yards above the sea-level, on the 

 eastern slope of the Cordilleras, and near the sources of the river Amazon. _ They 

 were discovered in 1630. These mines, and especially those of the Cero of Yauricocha, 

 are actually the richest in all Peru. Their annual produce is above 400,000^. The 

 ore is an earthy mass of a red colour, containing much iron, mingled with particles of 

 native silver, hornsilver, &c., constituting what they call pacos. At first nothing 

 but these pacos were collected ; and much grey copper and antimoniated sulphuret of 

 silver were thrown amongst the rubbish. The mean produce of all the ores is y^ ; 



