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some silver might be discovered in antimonial ores, also in pyrites which accom- 

 panies gold. 



Perhaps it may not be improper, in this place, to describe the method pursued 

 in working the silver mines on the coast of Chili, which may be estimated to produce 

 about a million of dollars annually. Some of these mines are full fifty yards deep ; 

 and we are told of one nearly as many fathoms. It is probable that they are sunk 

 u,pon the vein ; and they are so ill secured, that they frequently fill, and bury 

 those within them. The ore, a sulphuret of silver with antimony, lead, and 

 blende, is brought up on the shoulders of wretched Indians, who descend and 

 ascend by insecure posts with notches cut in them. They are total strangers to 

 the operations of boring and blasting, and use only miserable hammers and wedges. 

 The gang with the ore is, in some places, reduced by means of a large stone, ill- 

 constructed, not unlike a bark-mill ; in others, it is reduced by hand, and, when 

 sufficiently fine, it is washed by several operations in a slovenly manner, until the 

 metallic part alone remains, which is not unlike lead ore dust in appearance. This 

 is formed into small heaps, perhaps about loolb. in weight, to each of which are 

 added about 20 or 25 lb. of muriate of soda. This is triturated and worked both 

 by hands and feet for three or four days. When the soda is judged to be suffi- 

 ciently incorporated with the metal, mercury is used in the proportion of five to 

 ten per cent., and is triturated until it loses its globular form 5 to prove which, a 

 small bit is rubbed upon a horn, or upon the thumb-nail, and if any globules 

 appear, however minute, the trituration is continued until they totally disappear *. 

 To this mixture the workmen frequently add filth, rags, &c. place crosses upon 

 the heaps, and use many ridiculous ceremonies dictated by folly and a belief in 

 necromancy. At length the mercury unites itself to the silver, and forms with it 

 a paste-like mass, separating itself from the remainder, which is thrown away. 

 This mass is put into goat-skins, and, by twisting and squeezing, a great part of 

 the mercury passes through. The remainder is sublimed by heat, and is condensed 

 with more or less loss, according to the mode applied, and the skill of the operator. 

 The little gold which is procured in some of the mines on this coast undergoes a 

 similar process ; afterwards, the remainder is melted and assayed. 



In this part of Chili, the state of society is wretched j gambling is a general 

 vice, and murder is scarcely deemed a crime. The greatest depredations are com- 

 mitted with impunity, nor do the crosses placed on the heaps protect them from 



• It would be interesting to enquire, in what manner the salt acts upon the ore containing silver, 

 for without it the mercury has no effect. 



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