Recovery of Silver from Tailings and Mercury in Abandoned and Contaminated Soils at the Potosí Mine under the Reign of Fifth Viceroy Toledo during Spanish Colonial Rule

Anezaki Shoji, Yamamoto Takaiku, Miyoshi Emako

doi:10.3985/mcwmr.25.445

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Other Title

ペルー第五代副王トレドのポトシ銀山開発事業における廃鉱石，鉱泥からの資源回収
ペルー第五代副王トレドのポトシ銀山開発事業における廃鉱石,鉱泥からの資源回収 : 歴史資料から読み解く現代社会への示唆
ペルーダイゴダイフクオウトレドノポトシギンザンカイハツジギョウニオケルハイコウセキ,コウデイカラノシゲンカイシュウ : レキシシリョウカラヨミトクゲンダイシャカイエノシサ
—An Environmental Study Based on the Historial Documents—
――歴史資料から読み解く現代社会への示唆――

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Abstract

This paper focuses on the smelting technologies at the Potosí Mine, which was the first successful venture in the industrialization of silver amalgamation during colonial Spanish rule. We demonstrate key technologies found in historical documents, from the perspective of scientific knowledge. In 1572, Francisco de Toledo, the fifth Spanish viceroy, introduced a new method of smelting silver ore, an amalgamation process involving the use of mercury with which he intended to propel the recovery of silver from tailings that had stockpiled around the Potosí mine during the traditional mining period. Recovery reached about 2 million pesos of silver reclaimed from the tailings. Following the application of his new method, a total of 2000 quinales of mercury was recycled annually from abandoned and contaminated soils during water-washing of the amalgamating products. As a result of Spanish colonization, various pollutants affected the area around Potosí In particular, soil contamination in the Pilcomayo River gives evidence of the lingering effects of Spanish colonization right up to modern times.

Journal

Material Cycles and Waste Management Research

Material Cycles and Waste Management Research 25 (6), 445-453, 2014-11-29

Japan Society of Material Cycles and Waste Management

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