Southern Bolivia: Cerro Rico, the mine at Potosí

The discovery of ore in silver-rich Cerro Rico (rich hill) by Indian Diego Huallpa in 1544 prompted the foundation of the city of Potosí on 10 April 1545 at the foot of the hill. It is from here that most of the silver shipped through the Spanish Main came. According to official records, 45,000 tons of pure silver were mined from Cerro Rico from 1556 to 1783. Of this total, 7,000 tons went to the Spanish monarchy. Indian labour, forced by Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa through the traditional Incan mita institution of contributed labor, came to die by the thousands, not simply from exposure and brutal labor, but by mercury poisoning: in the patio process the silver-ore, having been crushed to powder by hydraulic machinery, was cold-mixed with mercury and trodden to an amalgam by the native workers with their bare feet. The mercury was then driven off by heating, producing deadly vapors.

To compensate for the diminishing indigenous labor force, the colonists made a request in 1608 to the Crown in Madrid to begin allowing for the importation of 1500 to 2000 African slaves per year. An estimated total of 30,000 African slaves were taken to Potosí throughout the colonial era. African slaves were also forced to work in the Casa de la Moneda as acémilas humanas (human mules). Since mules would die after couple of months pushing the mills, the colonists replaced the four mules with twenty African slaves.
After 1800 the silver mines became depleted, making tin the main product. This eventually led to a slow economic decline. Still, the mountain continues to be mined for silver to this day. Due to poor worker conditions (lack of protective equipment from the constant inhalation of dust), the miners still have a short life expectancy with most of them contracting silicosis and dying around 40 years of age. It is estimated that, in the past years of indigenous labour, roughly 8 million Indians died, "eaten" by the Rich Hill. (from Wikipedia).

It is possible visiting the mines; a very interesting and sobering experience, especially in the cooperative mines, where the visitor is led through the steep tunnels, deep inside the earth, and, being at well over 4000 m above sea level, it is literally breathtaking!

	Mine worker, Potosí	Cerro Rico mine, Potosí	Chewing coca leaves	Workers, Cerro Rico mine
	At the Cerro Rico mine	"Mine god", Cerro Rico	Crushing ore	"Black slave", Cerro Rico
	Statue of a Miner	Miners at work	Young mine worker	View towards Potosí

Enter your search termsSubmit search form   Web WorldPics

Click on the map to select a continent...