Atacama virtual: English

www.geovirtual2.cl

History of the Atacama region (Chile): Mining

R. A. Philippi (1856): The village Tres Puntas

Mining at Atacama

W. Griem, 2021

Content
Pictures
Annotations
Text of Philippi
---
page +



Philippi Carta del sector Trespuntas de Philippi
Ruinen eines Schornsteins in Tres Punta, Atacamawüste

 Literature: History of mining at Atacama desert

deutsch  / español / english

Text:
Philippi describes the mining place Tres Puntas in a very real way. It does not gloss over anything and also makes it clear that many mines do not make a profit at all. The sale of water from the pits is often the main source of income.

From Chañaral to Trespuntas, the "silver-town", there are still 7-1/2 leguas. Trespuntas is located 5447 feet above sea level in the saddest area, in the middle of the desert, where you don't see a green stalk, where there is no drop of water. The village has only existed for a few years and may have 2-3000 inhabitants; the houses are almost only wooden huts, or dry walls near the pits; the roofs are mostly only rush mats. Perhaps 80 or more mines are being worked on, four or five of which yield an enormously rich yield, give half a dozen moderate profits, and the others are being worked on in hopes of finding silver in greater depths; the most common ore here is Proustite (Ag3AsS3; orig.: Rothgültigerz).

The gold mines are of minor importance. Some mines cover the costs by selling the mine water! but most of the water comes from 10 Ieguas far, from one place Puquios, and the mule charge costs a Spanish thaler. Each mule drinks water daily for 2 Real (10 sgr.) and eats barley daily for a Prussian thaler. Life in this charming place is almost as Pöppig of Cerro de Pasco describes it.

On the old Inca Trail, if you have a good horse, you should be able to ride in 7 hours to Copiapó, the trail will be calculated to 30 Leguas, but in our opinion it is only 19 2/3 Leguas long; we returned it in less than two days by riding at night, and arrived the 27th of February happily in Copiapó, very pleased to see a civilized man.

 

 

The original texts were digitized, converted to ASCII and edited by Dr. Wolfgang Griem. Sketches and drawings are digitally cleaned.

 

Malacate en Tres Puntas de Philippi
R
Picture from R. A. Philippi: Town of Tres Puntas in Atacama - see picture total (Chapter Pictures of Chile and Atacama) - see winches in mining (more)

Literature:
PHILIPPI, RODULFO AMANDO (1860): Viage al Desierto de Atacama, hecho de orden del gobierno de Chile en el verano 1853-54.- 236 +6 p. 25 tablas; 7 perfiles  Halle Sajonia, Librería Eduardo Anton.

Any new publication not authorized by the authors is expressly prohibited. This applies in particular to electronic publications:  Usage guidelines.

previous page of geovirtual, Atacama
History of Atacama Mining - Content Atacama Region
History of Atacama
next page of geovirtual, Atacama
Linea plateada en www.geovirtual2.cl

www.geovirtual2.cl
Geology (Spanish)
Apuntes
Apuntes Geología General
Apuntes Geología Estructural
Apuntes Depósitos Minerales
Apuntes Exploraciones Mineras
Geological periods
Literature and Citation
Geological index (spanish)
Virtual museum
Virtual Museum: First page
Geological excursion
Some Minerals
History of Geosciences
Mining in historical literature
Fossils in historical literature
Historical authors mining and geology
Geological index (spanish)
---
Images of Chile and Atacama
---
The Coquimbo Region, Chile
The Coquimbo Region
History of the Coquimbo Region
Railroad history of Coquimbo
Names and places
---
Images from Chile
Atacama Region, Chile
Journey to Atacama
Atacama sightseeing places
History of Atacama
Mining history of Atacama
Geology of Atacama, Chile
The railroad history of Atacama
Flora Atacama
Animals of the Atacama Desert
Virtual viewpoint Atacama
Atacama en b/n
Road - maps /
Morphologic 3-dimensions
Climate history of Atacama
Books & Collection of Books
List of names and places of Atacama
sitemap - list of all files  - schematic content - Information site geovirtual.cl

www.geovirtual2.cl / Virtual Museum: First page / History of Atacama / Mining history of Atacama
Mining history of Atacama, Chile
© Dr. Wolfgang Griem, Chile - all rights reserved  (Mail a Wolfgang Griem Uso de las páginas de geovirtual.cl y geovirtual2.cl)
Published (spanish): 19.9. 2017; Updated: 8.10.2017, 30.1.2021
Mail a Wolfgang Griem Mail and contact
Ver el perfil de Wolfgang Griem en LinkedInSee profile of Wolfgang Griem
All rights reserved
Any new publication not authorized by the authors is expressly prohibited. This applies in particular to electronic publications: Usage guidelines.
© Wolfgang Griem (2005, 2009) - Todos los derechos reservados - alle Rechte vorbehalten - all rights reserved
valido W3C
validated 30.1.2021
HTML/5- R