The Quicksilver mines of Almaden, Spain. 11 
The mechanical appliances of this great mine are of the 
most primitive description. The ore is raised through the Teo- 
doro shaft by 8 mules working a whim with an eftective force 
of about 3 horses (steam standard), The amount of water in 
the mine is very small and appears to have varied but little in 
a century. The system of pumping is slow, expensive and 
barbarous. An antique machine of the last century, no- 
constant additional force of 30 to 40 men employed in pump- 
ing by hand. 
The cost of extraction of the aio quintal of 100 lbs. of 
n.) 
ore is as follows, given in reals (=5 cents U. 8. coi 
Excavation in ore and dead ground 7°40 reals 
Interior transportation 
ew timber, refuse rock, etc 055. * 
Tools, 0°92, whim, shops, | Bee 
Masonry, 1-25, timbering, 3°67, carpentry; 1-11 6°03 
Draining the mine 445°" 
Laborers at mine, shaft, yard, ete. 286 
Various expenses, 0°78, salaries, 1°48 2°26 “ 
29°49 
Transportation to furnaces, Ose 
Cost of metric quintal of ore at furnace, 29°66 
This is equal respectively to 67°8 ¢. and 68-2 c, of U. 8. coin. 
Much doubt seems to rest over the amount of metal obtained 
from the. ye — respecting the relative merits of various modes 
of distillati The most trustworthy observations, however, 
appear to ‘ sn made between 1851 and 1855, from which 
the avereee per centage obtained was 6°9, at the following cost 
per quintal (100 Spanish pounds.) 
Mining and transportation 197°65 reals. 
Cost of reduction in furnace ao36 
Flasks 40°00 “ 
260°00 
denejas we find at 16,582 quintals (=22,199 flasks) » Which cost 
in the aggregate $304-535, or $13.77 per eae If the expenses 
and product of the Almaden mine are estimated separately, 
= eenarnen! being a small mine, raises the ratio of cost con- 
siderably), it is seen that its average annual yield was 21 468 : ae 
ks, costing $268,214.53, or $12.49 in Seville. 
apportioned as follows. 
