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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



A NITRATE PLANT OF NORTHERN CHILE 



At the side of the plant are big hoppers into which caliche, the crude nitrate rock from 

 the pampa, is unloaded. From the hoppers the rock is fed into the crushers, and, after being 

 broken into small pieces, is thrown into iron vats and boiled until the saltpeter can be filtered. 



Photographs by Richard B. Hoit 



CRYSTALLIZATION VATS, NITRATE PLANT 



The hot brine, brought down from the boiling-tanks through the trough in the foreground, 

 is cooled and crystallized in these vats. The nitrate, dug out of the vats a few hours ago, is 

 now draining on the ledge. Most of Chile's nitrate comes to the United States to be used as 

 fertilizer. 



