Notes

Dineral Silver Mine -- Bolivian Health and even Safety
Potosi silver mine in Bolivia has been set up by the particular Spanish with slave labour in 1545. 465 years features not shown a great improvement in functioning conditions.

A check out for the mine starts with the local industry in the town. Below you can aquire goods to help the miners in their function. For 10 Bolivianos (1 pound) you can purchase them 2 litres of soda and a large packet regarding coca leaves. If you wish, you can in addition buy them smoking cigarettes (made from marijuana), alcohol (96% proof) or sticks involving dynamite, fuses or nitrates to help make the explosion even more powerful.

The mines of Potosi rule the surroundings. They are located on the Loma Rico (rich mountain) which rises way up some 600m merely beyond the borders of the area. The mines possess provided wealth plus resources to the particular town for almost 500 years, plus the mountain on its own is included in religious paintings from colonial times, portrayed because the centre associated with the world.

The mine complex sprawls up the part in the mountain: ramshackle corrugated iron shacks, several pick up trucks and 4WD jeeps, and mounds associated with rubble piled high. These are the exterior signs of typically the work which requires place within.

Even though the mines are called cooperatives, it is usually really only typically the network of passageways that is owned within common. The miners and pit staff do not reveal the profits regarding the mine. Every miner works for himself, obtaining a business to mine everywhere he thinks may possibly prove profitable. Usually miners operate clubs: father and child, brother with buddy. 3% from the employees there are nowadays women.

If the profitable seam is definitely found then the miner may subcontact others to help extract the silver precious metal or other mineral deposits for him. Almost all raw materials will be then brought to the surface and sold to waiting pickup trucks from the refinery who will in that case bring it to the particular factory for purifying.

If there is nothing discovered, then the miners receive no funds. There are many waged workers in the mines running essential services regarding the miners. These types of people are paid 6 Bolivianos (60p) one hour, for some sort of ten hour working day.

A 18% duty is deducted by the miners�income. This is certainly used to pay for the repair of the mine and to offer them with some form of pension, health plus social security cover. The boys are allowed to retire at sixty six, though they might keep earlier if they undergo from ill wellness.

Miners can start work when these people choose, and do the job as long since they require each day time - though typically they arrive at 8am and leave at 5pm. The old lady holds at the entrance towards the mine depending the miners throughout, to make certain there is usually some record associated with how many people are inside in the event associated with an accident.

However some 8 million slaves (African and local Indians) died inside the mines in the particular time that they will were run simply by the Spanish, casualties in the fosse today are relatively rare. These are usually usually cases associated with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Far more popular will be the early death and health related issues affecting the particular lungs. Asbestos and even other harmful silicates occur naturally inside the mines, and the particular atmosphere is furthermore thick with dust from the exploration activities.

Entry to the mines is via a simple hole created into the area with the mountain. The mines stretch straight down some 150m -- a substantial depth, but not enough in order to warrant the use of pulls, so all improvement must be produced on foot.

A new narrow set of rails lies together every passage regarding the wagons which in turn move materials throughout the mines. A totally laded wagon weighs about 2 . not 5 tonnes and it is pulled by simply a team of four men. check here is easy, because the men usually just sit inside and then let the wagon roll naturally along typically the gentle slopes. Though the moving lorry is almost impossible to halt, and presently there is virtually zero space between it is edge and typically the tunnel walls.

Upward movement, however , is gradual in spite of an regular truck. At one stage in the visit, it was necessary for several members of the party to join within with all the men to be able to move the truck up a really high section of track.

The passageways inside the mines themselves are narrow: stooping reduced is essential at all times, even within the relatively spacious sections. Most associated with the time, that was required to stroll along half squatting; and in many sections the simply option was to be able to crawl along palms and knees.

Plumbing run throughout the passageways, frequently crossing them from one area to the various other making the roof even lower. These kinds of pipes were to provide oxygen to be able to the mine circle and served 3 purposes: to provide o2 to the biggest areas where that was almost low existent, the give general ventilation for the passageways, and to be able to give oxygen to be able to some with the devices that operated inside of the mines.

From time to time it was achievable to know the fizz fizzle wheeze whistle snuffle with the oxygen from the pipes because it was released in the tunnels nearby. During these areas mid-air felt heavy and thick, since they were significantly away from the particular entrances to typically the mines and virtually any source of all-natural oxygen.

When contemplating oxygenation in typically the mines is have to not be forgotten that Potosi is certainly the highest town in the world at 4200m above sea level, in addition to the mines them selves closer to 4600m - only merely under the height regarding Mont Blanc. Actually outside, the ambiance only contains about half the o2 available at sea level.

During typically the visit into typically the mines, which held up around 2 hours, that was possible to meet with several associated with the people who worked there and speak with them.

read more was the oldest man in the mine. He or she was now 70 and had proved helpful there for typically the last 30 years. We were told that this was outstanding - most men only worked there in their 20s and even 30s. When inquired how long he or she would carry on and work in the acquire he replied he would stay till he was 70 unless he had been forced out previous by ill well being.

At present he was resting, for he was waiting for the men to return along with the loaded carriages, so these might be emptied into some sort of large basked to transport the rubble up to the particular surface.

Another people was working away in a chamber chiseling out a little niche for his stick of dynamite. It was warm in this reduced region of typically the mine, and he sweated as he repeatedly banged the mill into the rock and roll above his brain. It was almost impossible to be able to reach him, with regard to he was stored inside the machine behind a significant pile of debris and a wooden wheelbarrow, on the far aspect of your gaping 1m square hole in the ground.

Typically the dynamite sticks are small, and later whack away a tiny place of rock. The fuses are going around 3-4 mins. In an wide open space this supplies ample time and energy to find a far length away from the explosion; but also in typically the cramped confines of the mines, not necessarily possible to proceed a fantastic distance inside this time. It had been possible to see many marks found in the walls by where previous explosions had been produced.

After a couple of minutes the person arrived out and declared he was performed for your day. They had arrived from the mine at 4am, and acquired worked for around 8hrs or so. Typically the dynamite would end up being set the subsequent day.

Having been inside his mid 50s; but did not think he might work for much longer on account regarding the health issues with his lungs. We all gave him a few of the juice and coca leaves which having been very pleased along with. A few people had also bought smoking cigarettes on the market, and even he happily approved a packet associated with these also.

A 3rd man was being placed in what passed as being the rest area associated with the mine. When I asked your pet what he was mining for, they replied that because well as trying to find silver, he expected to find topaz since this was a quite valuable mineral.

Typically the men go on nearly nothing but cocaÃna leaves, and happen to be continually chewing them coming from a large bag. They reckon about getting through 3 hand bags per day. The coca prevents fatigue, suppresses appetite and provides energy.

The cocaÃna seems to assist also as a new cure for just about all ills. We were told that in spite of the quantity of dust plus asbestos in the particular air the miners did not need masks, since the particular coca leaves offered as being a filter. One particular of the party injured her nose when banging in the low ceilings : and a coca leaf was quickly put on the afflicted spot for a numb the particular pain and prevent the particular swelling.

Making our way out of the mines, we likewise passed by typically the statue of Theo - a much larger than life size wooden representation involving the devil which often served as a best of luck symbol for typically the miners.

They got adopted the determine of the devil in the moment of the The spanish language occupation. The The spanish language had told them that Jesus plus God ruled more than the world involving light at first glance of the earth, yet that the underworld and below the surface was your sphere of the satan. Since they performed under ground that was not correct that they have to look to The almighty, but accept their particular place among typically the disciples of the satan.

Each day the miners place some sort of lighted cigarette and even a coca leaf in the oral cavity with this devil as an offering for good luck. Upon Fridays they also provide him alcohol: the drop on their mouth for being thirsty, a drop upon each corner of his torso for your four points regarding the compass, and even a drop upon his penis for fertility. It is definitely important to use the purest form of alcohol possible given that this will make sure that will only the purest minerals and gems are found.

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