S3 



resembles the scoria of iron, and affords no ap- 

 parent indication of silver. The second, the ros- 

 ciclaro, which is distinct from the red silver ore, 

 yields a red powder when filed; it is very rich, 

 although its external appearance is not promising. 

 The third, thfe piombo ronco, is the richest of 

 all; as it is mineralized with a very small quan- 

 tity of sulphur, it is much more easily separated 

 than the others, which require a more laborious 

 and complicated operation. 



These three varieties of ore are obtained from 

 the mine of Uspallata, the largest and richest 

 of any of the silver mines in Chili. It is situated 

 upon the eastern mountains of that portion of 

 the Andes which forms a part of the province of 

 Aconcagua. On the top of these mountains is a 

 large plain called Uspallata of more than seven- 

 teen leagues in length and three in breadth, it is 

 watered by a pleasant river and covered with de- 

 lightful groves, the air is healthy and temperate, 

 and the soil fertile. This plain serves as a base 

 to another more elevated, called Paramillo, upon 

 which the Andes of the first rank rise to such a 

 height as to be seen distinctly at St. Louis de la 

 Punta, a distance of one hundred and tvvcnty 

 leagues. The ridge of these immense mountains 

 is a blackish clay stone, containing a great num- 

 ber of round stones similar to thoic of rivers. 

 This phenomenon appears to be uiiexplainable 

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