object of attention^ and that the enterprise 0^2;* 

 future generation will conquer those obstruc- 

 tions which impede the labours of the present. 



All the provinces bordering upon the Andes 

 produce some silver mines, but the richest are 

 in those of St. Jago, Aconcagua, Coquimbo, and 

 Copiapo. In these it is found not only in a me- 

 tallic form, but under the appearance of vitreous 

 ore, hornbend, and red, grey and white ore. 

 wherein the silver is mineralized with sulphur 

 and arsenic, and it is occasionally found com- 

 bined w ith other mefals. In the year 1767, a 

 piece of silver ore was found in the neighbour- 

 liood of Copiapo ; it was of a green colour, 

 and, on being assayed, was found to contain 

 three-fourths of pure silver. It was mineral- 

 ized with a small quantity of sulphur, and 

 much search has since been ineffectually made by 

 the inhabitants to discover the vein from which 

 it was detached. 



The ore held in the highest estimation by tho 

 miners is the black, so called from its matrix 

 being of a dark colour, 'lliose of them who 

 are experienced are scarcely ever deceived in thi* 

 -ore, and whenever they strike upon a new vein 

 can nearly determine by the eye the quantity of 

 silver which it will yield. This ore presents 

 three very distinct varieties, though difiering but 

 little in appearance. The first, called ncgrillo^ 



