385, 
but at the dept ho Aart -varas the mine seemed to give out, weil the 
New Mexico and California. 
invasions of ndians became at the same time so troublesome, 
that the mine. was,ébando oned. od 
uch extreme richness of ore is of course not a com cur- 
rence ; and the result, found fee comparison of Mexican an ean 
mines, that the mines in Mexico are generally poses’ as to 
tive amount of silver, but far superior as to abund o aid ge t 
of silver in the carga, is genefally considered good enough to 
worked with advantage; and many with less per cent. are rende 
profitable. 
In recent times, the mines of ‘Guazapares and of Jesus Maria have 
ed 
attracted most of the capital of the state. The latter, southwest from 
Chihuahua, on the height of the Sierra Madre, were discovered in 1821 ; 
and so many valuable silver mines, beside some gold mines, have since 
that time been opened, that it promises to,be for a long time one of the 
richest mining districts in the state. 
the copper mines in the state of Chihuahua, the most celebrated 
is the * Santa Rita de Cobre,” in the western angle of the Sierra de 
Mo ogoyon, near the headwaters of the e mine, known for a 
long time to the Apaches, passed through the hands of several proprie- 
tors, till in 1828 it was effectually worked by Mr. Coursier, a French 
resident in Chihuahua, who is reported and generally believed bent have 
I he ore 
Mr. Coursier soon mon nopolized the whole copper trade in Chihuahua ; 
and as the state at that time coined a gréat deal of this’metal, he made 
a very profitable business of it; but at last the mine, which seems to be 
inexhaustible, had to be abandoned on account - hostile Indians, who 
killed some of the workmen, and attacked the trains. These copper 
mines are claimed by the state of Chihuahua, as ‘pelodwid to its terri- 
tory ; but as not even the latitude of the city of Chihuahua ad been- 
well determined by the Mexicans, more exact astronomical observations 
may perhaps prove that they falt within the territory of New Mexico. 
This question may become of importance, because this whole range of 
mountains is intersected with veins of copper and placers of gold. Cin- 
nabar also, says rumor, was Daa te there in 1824, but nothing posi- 
tive is known in relation to 
Coal has been found at meee only in two places in the state, near 
the mines of Carmen and near those of Sierra Rica; but it will prob- 
ably occur in other localities 
After this short review of the mines in the state of Chihuahua, ae 
question of course will arise, What is the annual production of thes 
mines? The only data to which I can refer, are the following: Tn 
the twenty-four years from 1738 to 1761, the amount of silver owed 
duced in the state of Chihuahua was 3 428,278 mares, or 
and in the seventeen years from 1777 to 1793, 1,394, 161 mares, 
or $12,501,828. 
Srconp Seriss, Vol. VL No. 18.—Nov. yies. | 50 
