69 



The mines of copper are not confined to any par- 

 ticular district, but scattered throughout the coun- 

 try ; those of silver, on the contrary, are found only 

 in the highest and coldest parts of the Andes. This 

 situation, so unfavourable for working them, and 

 the vast expense of refining, has caused a great 

 number of mines, though rich in ore, to be aban- 

 doned, and there are but three or four that are at 

 present worked. But it may be presumed, when the 

 population of this country becomes increased and 

 its industry excited, that these mines, now neglected, 

 will become an object of attention, and that the en- 

 terprise of a future generation will conquer those 

 obstructions which impede the labours of the present. 



All the provinces bordering upon the Andes pro- 

 duce 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 metallic form, but 

 under the appearance of vitreous ore, hornbend, and 

 red, grey and white ore, wherein the silver is mine- 

 ralized with sulphur and arsenic, and it is occasion- 

 ally found combined with other metals. In the year 

 1767, a piece of silver ore was found in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Copiapo; it was of a green colour, and, 

 on being assayed, w^as found to contain three-fourths 

 of pure silver. It was mineralized 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 the mi- 

 ners is the black, so called from its matrix being of 



