Today it seems that nothing has changed. Not surprisingly, asthma, silicosis, and other pulmonary problems are the most common health hazards. Even today, the conflicts that emerge relate to the exploitation of mineral resources at Potosi and involve several actors: the Government, mines, social movements, workers and unions. Soon Potosí became the hometown of the Spanish Colonial Mint, the first mint in the Americas, and it stayed like this for centuries. Map of Bolivia showing Potosí Department. For centuries this Andean mountain has been the largest source of silver in the world. The only difference today is that the ore (mostly zinc) doesn’t go to the Spanish crown. Miguel de Cervantes mentions Potosí in Don Quixote, describing it as a place of “extraordinary richness.”. The Riches of Potosi, Slavery & Death in Cerro Rico, Bolivia Within a few years of the Spanish arrival thousands of indigenous workers were toiling in the mines. This is probably why the expression “vale un Potosí” (which is still in use), which means “to be worth a Potosí,” was invented. With road and air links blocked, food supplies are running low and some foreign tourists have been stranded. Instead of battery-powered flashlights, miners use lamps that burn acetylene gas. Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience, since 1972. The king said that this mountain should be left alone, because it was meant to belong to another master. Mita workers were given the worst possible jobs and a huge number of them died in the mines due to pneumonia, rockslides, or mercury poisoning during the refining process. To keep the miners frightened and  therefore more productive, the Spanish introduced them to the concept of the devil. Article copyright Cultural Survival, Inc. Our website houses close to five decades of content and publishing. There are around 15,000 workers risking their lives every day in the mines of Potosí, working with no protection, exposed to the rocks and dust and gas poisoning. S19 35 0.996 W65 45 11.016. They collected the silver and took taxes from all the entrepreneurs who wanted to open mines. In these poor health and working conditions, the miners literally work themselves to death. US election results 2020: When might we get a winner? North Pole time capsule washes up on Irish coast. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Cerro Rico is not only rich with silver, it also possesses zinc and tin ores. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}Anti-government protests in the Bolivian region of Potosi have entered a third week, hitting mining production and disrupting normal life. The frightened miners returned and told the king what happened, using the word “potocsí” (noise) for the thunderous sound. When Bolivia achieved independence in 1825 its silver mines were nearly exhausted and Potosí's population had decreased from 200,000 to 10,000. The two dozen small-scale, often familyrun, mining cooperatives that took over can rarely afford the safer modern technology used in larger mining operations. Discover Potosí Silver Mines in Potosi, Bolivia: Mountain of unimaginable riches that bankrolled the Spanish Empire, complete with its own underworld god. Because of the high death toll (even today), Cerro Rico is also known as the “mountain that eats people.”.

The small mining town of Potosí was founded in 1545 and it eventually became a huge city with around 200,000 inhabitants, most of whom were indigenous Andeans working as miners. Its silver soon became the foundation of the Spanish Empire, and at its peak in the seventeenth century Potosí was one of the world's largest and wealthiest cities. He remains the sole owner of the material he extracts and his profit is based on production. Paid jobs are difficult to find and most people live on subsistence agriculture or small herds of Llamas and Alpacas. Cooperatives provide a very basic health insurance and control funds raised from "adventure" tourists who take tours of the mines and visit the workers. Many miners smoke strong unfiltered cigarettes and believe that these will fill up their lungs with tar (which they perceive as the lesser evil) until there is no more room left in them for dust. © 2020 Cultural Survival. Mine entrance Cerro Rico Author:Marco Ebreo CC BY-SA 4.0. Very few survive more than twenty years of underground labor; their life expectancy is not above forty. US election 2020: When will we know the result? US election 2020: Could it be decided in courts? It is made of silver, as the locals say. VideoRescuers rush to save beached pilot whales, Finding positivity in lockdown through photography, .css-orcmk8-HeadlineContainer{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;}US election results: Trump sues as path to victory over Biden narrows.css-1dedj2h-Rank{-webkit-align-self:center;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;color:#B80000;margin-left:3.125rem;}1, US Election 2020: Results and exit poll in maps and charts2, US election 2020 polls: Who is ahead - Trump or Biden?3, US election results 2020: When might we get a winner?4, US election results: Tables turned as Trump voters start to worry5, US election results: Does Trump or Biden have the easier path to victory?6, US election 2020: When will we know the result?7, North Pole time capsule washes up on Irish coast8, US election 2020: Could it be decided in courts?9, US Election 2020: Democrats' hopes of gaining control of Senate fade10.