78 



miners^ who assert that copper^ when it extends 

 fo a certain depthj becomes transmuted into gold. 

 The veins do not always preserve the same course, 

 and are frequently divided into small ramifica- 

 tions ; and there is a still greater diversity in their 

 gangues or matrices. A great number of mines 

 have been opened^ but those only are worked 

 whose ore is so rich as to yield at least one half 

 its weight in refined copper ; those of a less pro- 

 duct having been relinquished as too expensive ; 

 notwithstanding which^ between the cities of 

 Coquimbo and Copiapo, there are now inwork 

 more than a thousand mines, besides those in the 

 province of Aconcagua. 



The most celebrated copper mine in Chili was 

 the old mine of Payen, but the working of it 

 has been for many years relinquished, in conse- 

 quence of the opposition of the Puelcbcs, who 

 inhabit that district.* On its first discover 



* Mines of copper are very frequent in the vicinity of Co- 

 qr.inibu, "at three leagues distiinee to the uorth-east of that 

 city. It is also said, that mines of iron and of quicksilver 

 are found there. Frazicrs Voyage, vol. i. 



All the parts of the Cordilleras near St. Jago and Concep- 

 tion abound in copper mines, and particularly a ]>lacc called 

 Fayen, some of which were formerly vvrougi^t, and pieces cf 

 pure copper of fifty and a liundred quintals weight cbtahied 

 from them. Avierican Gazellcer; article CniLI. 



Anioii'r the mountains of llie Cordilleras a sreat number of 

 jnitits of all kinds of metals and minerals are to be met with, 

 pujticulariy in two ridge*-', distant only twelve leagues from the 



