History of mining - Atacama Region, Chile

 Introduction to mining history 1830 - 1920

español /  deutsch / english

School and education between 1830 and 1920 :

The society of the time understood that the key to all progress is education and the most important aspect is access to education for everyone. This includes school education and professional education:

During this period, there have been some fundamental changes in the education system. Large sections of the population used to be excluded from adequate education. The new education system reaches all social classes. This new education system removes the old "father-son" vocational training, and public schools or vocational schools are formed.
We should also mention that the early entry into working life, i. e., child labor, had not made it possible for young people to receive an education;
Friedrich Engels wrote:
"Church and school are attended by very few, and the teachers complain of great drowsiness and dullness in all their curiosity for learning "
(Engels, 1844)

List of mining schools in the world by order of their foundation:

In this way, the "Escuela de Minas" was founded in Copiapó, the Copiapo mining school. In Chañarcillo the "ESCUELA PRACTICA DE EXPLOTACIÓN Y MENSURA DE MINAS" was opened in 1875.

The companies quickly realized that efficient mining was only possible with trained and professional miners. The high production rate, which the companies could only achieve through strong mechanization, could only be achieved with skilled personnel.
The curriculum of the old mining school in Chañarcillo is exciting. In two years, the students learned about mathematics, topography, geometry, geology, mineralogy, ventilation, and accounting. The curriculum of the school practices exploitation and measurement in mines (Escuela de Minas, location Chañarcillo) of Chañarcillo in summary: 1st year: Arithmetic and accounting of mines geometry applicable to graphic mapping mine excavations Compass and its uses mine ventilation, physics to pumps and steam engines. Practical study of copper, silver, and gold tests. 2nd year: equations and logarithms. Resolution of right triangles three-dimensional geometry Analytical mine mapping and analytical resolution of measurement problems. Study of tripod instruments. Mining of mines Mechanical preparation of minerals Applied geology explanations Mineralogy of metals mined in Chile and its main breeding grounds.

Curriculum of the Mine school in district of Chañarcillo in summary:

1º year:
- Arithmetic and mine accounting
- Geometry applicable to the graphic drawing of planes
- Excavations of mines
- Compass and its uses
- Ventilation of mines, physics to pumps and steam engines.
- Practical study of copper, silver and gold tests.

2º year:
- equations and logarithms. Resolution of right triangles
- Three dimensional geometry
- Analytical mine mapping and analytical resolution of measurement problems.
- Study of tripod instruments.
- Mine operation
- Mechanical preparation of minerals
- Applied geology explanations
- Mineralogy of metals mined in Chile and its main deposits

Biology class in 1929 at Copiapó
Foto grande
De: Guillermo Rojas Carrasco (1930): Liceo de Hombres Copiapó

Literature and Links
List of books

Literatura:
PHILIPPI, RUDOLPH AMANDUS (1860): REISE DURCH DIE WUESTE ATACAMA AUF BEFEHL DER CHILENISCHEN REGIERUNG IM SOMER 1853-54 UNTERNOMMEN UND BESCHRIEBEN. VON DR... NEBST EINER KARTE UND XXVII TAFELN HALLE Eduard Anton 1860

Sources:
Historia del Partido Socialdemócrata en Alemania (en alemán)
http://www.dh-museum.com/lemo/html/kaiserreich/innenpolitik/spd2

SIMONIN, L. (1867): La vie Soutterraine ou les mines et les mineurs. - Paris, Libraire de L. Hachette et G.