The Helena independent., 1889-07-28
ANDEAN MINING.
An American Engineer Tells of the
Silver Mines Of Bolivia and
Their Workings.
The Altitude too Great for Any but the
Natives-Traces of An
Gent Oiggings.
Railways win soon Open Up Rich
Country to Enterprise Prom
the North.

Engineering and Mining Journal, New
York: Bolivia ranks as the third largest
silver-produ country in the world, and
its mines produce annually from Sl0,O ,OOO,-
900 to $4,000, 900. This comparatively large
production from a country without rail
ways and fuel is, perhaps, the best index Of
the Importance of its mines.
All the mines of Bolivia are situated at a
very great elevation above the level of the
sea, generally 1900 10 900 miles. The
mountain peaks rise above the general ele-
walton OF the valleys TO a height of 1900
or 10000 feet. The principal producing
districts in Bolivia to-day, in the order OF
their importance, are, first Huanchaca;
second, COlquechaca; third. Oruro, and
fourth, PotOsi. The last named famous
locality has a record Of a production OF
more silver than anv other place in the
world. According 10 the royalties paid 20
the crown of Spain, the production of
the mountain Of POtOSi must have been
not less than three thousand millions.
All the mines OF silver now worked in
Bolivia have been worked by the Spanisrds,
and most Of them were worked by the lncas
long before the advent OF the Spanish con-
querors. How well the lncRs understood
mining i thlAEtQ DA tue tuuTIuOus
Ties of silver found In their possession on
the arrival of the Spaniards, and their
work in the mines themselves. The writer
has himself seen tunnels many hundreds of
feet long cut in the solid rock by the use of
chisels or knives, and as straight and per-
feet as could be run to-day.
Old Stag heaps throughout Bolivia attest
the fact that the Indians understood the
smelling OF galena ores, and the cupella-
tiOn of the resulting lead bullion. Indeed,
Lana IN
day are the Indians with their primitive
furnaces. Lead smelling on a medern scale
and with modern means has not so far
been introduced in the country, and could
not have been, owing 10 the absolute lack
of all fuel The general method of treating
all silver ores In Bolivia Is either by
process known as the FondO process. or
the Tina process. The latter is simply
an improved Fondo, the motion of the sill
yer ore in the process being by power In
stead of by hand. The FondO process is
exactly the same as invited by the old
priest, AlOnzO de Barba, who was a cure
near P0tOSi. His work, published over one
hundred years ago, contains complete
description of the process as used even to-
day. No improvements were made on ii
until the Messrs. Francke introduced the
Tina at Huanchaca- The principle of both
the Tina aud FOndO processes is the same,
and consists in the action of sub-chloride of
copper on the silver minerals. Decom-
posed minerals or pacOs are treated direct
iy in the FondOs OF Tinas, but by the ne
grillOs or sulphOretted minerals are first
subjected TO chlOridizing roasting in
small hand furnaces.
The Tina process has one very consider
able advantage over the iron-pan process,
and that is its ability 10 treat galeuas.
Ores with 40 per cent of lead are success
fully amalgamated in Tinas.
PulveriZatiOn OF the ore is generally
done in Gillian mills or very primitive
stamps. It is only within the last twelve
months that an automatic battery has
been introduced in Bolivia The writer
has also successfully introduced the White
Howell chlOridizing furnace. Owing 10
the exceptional character of the fuel (Ilama
dung and resiDous mOss), the great ele-
walton and very base character OF the ores,
some very considerable changes had 10 be
made in the furnace 10 make IL a success.
A curious feature in nearly all the silver
ores OF Bolivia is their occurrence in con-
Juneture with tin ores. Many silver ores,
and especially those of POtOsi and OurOrO,
contain an appreciable percentage of tin,
while most ores which are really tin ores,
and contain from 50 per cent and upward
OF metallic tin, have a notable content OF
silver
The export of rich tin ores is regularly
carried on IN Bolivia and tin smelling ON
small scale has also been introduced. With
the completion OF the railroad now build
i3g through Bolivia a very lsrge percent
az of the worlds supply Of tin may be
expected to be shipped from Bolivia
The great draw back of Bolivia today is
its distance from lines of transportation
aud the inferior character of its labor. The
only labor which can be had in quaint is
Iniia-. These Indians live principally on
burnt ma'Za, or corn, and constantly chew
COCO leaves of course with snch aclass of
food they can have 20 strength. Their
only value Is as runners and 10 carry loads
on their backs Their capacity TO do this
equals and even exceeds the native camel
OF the country, the llama
While the climate of Bolivia generally is
very healthy, the great altitude is some
times so severe on white men that they
have 10 leave the country. People with
heart disease do not survive its effects.
The average white Inan finds 1t very di III
cult to walk mile in the rarified atmos-
phere of Bolivia, but the native Indian
will trOt alongside of q mule for many
leagues without any apparent effort. In
large measure this Is due TO their great
depth Of chest The children when born
have this very deep chest, and look quite
different from any children born At the
level OF the sea- In the course of ages the
law of the survival of the fttest has ex-
pSnded the lungs of the inhabitants and es-
peciAlly adapted them for this thin air
They can walk and run as rapidly at these
elevations as human beings born at the
level OF the sea can at their homes
The peculiarly of the climate and ab-
sence OF transportation account in part for
the unsuccessful attempts To obtain foreign
labor in Bolivia OF ten wOrkmen sent TO
the country, not over two OF three Will find
the atmosphere and life cungenial and few
care TO stay. even though the wages ara
high. Notwithstanding all these draw
backs, however, the AntOfagasts railroad
now entering into Bolivia will certainly
open out the country.
This railway has now climbed the Andes.
and in a few months will be opened TO q
point near the HuAnchaca mines, on the
great Plateau of Bolivia
With the possibility OF obtaining fuel.
many of the silver and tin and other mines
will become valuable, and a considerable
increase in the production of these metals
may be looked for.
A Heavy Discount.
The Duke OF Portland, while he was