The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16
MINERAL RESOURCES
CHILE'S CHIEF WEALTH
Nitrate Production Worth More Than 500, 000,00 An
nually-Schwab and Guggenheims Control Big
Iron and Copper" Ore Deposits.

Chile has a coast line Of 1900 miles
and the breadth OF the country varies
from only 100 to $50 miles. The crest
o. the Andes marks the eastern boun-
dairy and the Pacific ocean the west
ern. The coast chain ard the prin-
cipai cordillera OF the Andes traverse
the country longitudinally. Between
then lies the central valley. the great
AGRICULTURAL section OF the country.
In the north are the arid deserts
which contain the nitrates. In the
south is the Chloe Archipelago and
the mainland where the rains are fire.
e and constant. The long stretch
~ coast and tho variations due to the
mountain chains AFFORD every variety
OF cl,mate, but the greater section of
the country may be said to have "A
temperate climate.
The mineral resources are the
natural wealth which furnish the
major part OF the purchasing power.
Nitrate Of soda, or saltpetre. Is the
principal mineral product, but there
are extensive deposits OF iron ore, coal.
copper. gold and silver. There are
also deposits OF borste Of lime cobalt.
nickel, ieid, zinc, graphite, sulphur,
gypsum, marble and tungsten.
Big Nitrate Production.
The area Of nitrate production is
- L.. l.- - -nn .-,,a.a
miles and the production in recent
years has fuctuated from 2,50e. 600 20
above 3,250.000 metric tons. The
question Is sometimes raised as TO the
extent OF the nitrate deposits and the
quantity which may be obtained be-
fore their exhaustion. Government
engineers have estimated that the
known and prospected grounds are
capable OF yielding 2i9.o 900. 900 tons.
The value OF the ritrates produced
during the century has been estimated
AZ not less than sl.250,O 00. coo.
The commercial exploitation OF the
nitrate fields on a modern scale began
about 1881, when Chic acquired the
nitrate bearing provinces Of Antofa-
gasta and Tarapaca from Peru and
~ 10 Aht lNSuI VI wa. Sla'N
then the nitrates have been an i'm
portant source q fertilizer supply to
the words agriculture. and in a
lesser degree have served in the man
ufacture Of explosives. The annual
product is worth at a minimum $780,
0O0. 900 to Chile, and the value to the
Government in the form OF revenue
has exceeded $50. 900 900 in a year.
Coal deposits exist in different parts
Of the country. The fields that here
tofore have been worked with the best
commercial results lie close to the sea
and some OF them. as al Coronel. eX-
tend out under the ocean.
schwab's Iron Ore Holdings.
The Toto iron fields have been ac.
quired by Charles VI. Schwab FOR n,
Bethlehem Steel Company. Heretofor,
they have not beer exploited com
mercially, but II is expected that wher
the ore fleet which Mr.. Schwab has
ordered built is completed 1000, 0O(
Ions of this ore will be brought {,
the United States annually.
The Chilean copper deposits lie il
widely separated sections. Thost
which haVe been worked continuously
for many years are in the district o
Lota and Coronel. $50 miles south o
Valparaiso. These mines have beef
very productive and are still produc
ing.
Another productive district. III,
Braden, thirty miles from Santiago il
the heart OF the Andes. mas beer mad'
commercially profitable for its low
grade ore by new processes of smelt
ing. II is nov controlled by the Gug
senheims. The anne capitalists con
troll the Chuquicamata fields in tn
province OF Antofagasta. This dis
trict Is said 10 be capable of produc
ing sixty tons of bar copper annually.
In past years Chile has exporte,
10000 tons Of copper yearly. The ex
ports Of late years have been In tn
neighborhood OF 90 900 tons. With tn
new mining era that has opened