4 



MINERALOGY. QQ 



ing to the correspondences the mine has kept up with the in- 

 terior ; to the ratio of the charges incurred in working it ; 

 and, lastly, to the abundance or scarcity of the extradted ore. 

 By estimating, however, the above cited quantity of one 

 million forty thousand four hundred and fifty-two quintals, 

 twenty- five pounds, and two ounces, of mercury extra£led 

 from the mine, at the fair average of the different prices at 

 which it has been sold, it will be found to have yielded a to- 

 tal produce of the value of sixty-seven millions six hundred 

 and twenty-nine thousand three hundred and ninety-six pi- 

 astres, and two reals*. 



In this concise statement, care has been taken to corredl the 

 erroneous notices, relatively to the mine of Huancavelica, 

 which have been published by various historians and geo- 

 graphers^, at the same time that much novel information has 

 been added. 



In the city of Huancavelica there is a fountain of hot water, 

 which has a petrific quality, and is considered as a great cu- 

 riosity in the country. 



* By dedu€^ing the expenditures, as above stated, and estimating the piastre, or 

 dollar, at four shillings and sixpence English, it will be found that the mine of Hu- 

 ancavelica has yielded to Spain nearly thirteen millions sterling in the above space 

 of tinre- It enjoys the exclusive privilege of supplying to the proprietors of the 

 gold and silver mines of Peru, the quicksilver employed in the extraction of the 

 Vnetals from the ores. 



t Among the writers who have published defedive and erroneous information 

 on this head, may be cited M. Berenger, in his continuation of Busching ; the au- 

 thors of the Sncyclofedte Methodi^ue-, those of the Encyclopedie de Geographic ; 

 Echart, &c. &c. 



' ■ ^ 



CONDITION 



