Mining in the Atacama Region, Chile: Cerro Blanco

Mines of Cerro Blanco: p.1 | p.2 

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In 1869 45 mines had been counted in the district, but only 23 show continuous production (more than 6 months in the year). In December of the same year, there were 501 people working in the sector. Most of them were hewer, and barrow man. The sector had 2 steam engines and 16 winches.

The most important mine, the "Agua Amarilla" produced about 50% of fine copper in the district. Copper grades of the vein were generally between 15 to 27%. The most productive and technologically advanced mine, the "Agua Amarilla" shows a fairly low value of 15.6%.
In 1909 there were about 300 people working. Especially in the Minas Agua Amarilla and Coquimbana. (Yunge, 1910).

It is worth mentioning that in total 17 mines had 1869 a certain amount of silver. But only 4 (Socabon, Viscacha, Lindero and Candelaria) achieved an almost uninterrupted production. Some mine operations appeared in a more sporadic form, for example, the Andacollo Mine, which in its only month of production reached a quantity of 4,560 kilograms of fine silver.

Silver grades were quite interesting: from 285 g/ton to 1,800 g/ton. But always in conjunction with a good copper grade. In conclusion, silver had a certain importance in the Cerro Blanco sector, but it remained far from production figures obtained in Chañarcillo or Tres Puntas.