Page:Mexico in 1827 Vol 2.djvu/363

Rh vein is, in many places, from fourteen to seventeen varas in breadth. The mine contains little or no water, and what there is, is carried off by a Socabon, or Adit, which enters it at the depth of 113 varas. The lowest workings do not exceed 168 varas, and that only at one particular point.

I had the advantage of visiting every part of the mine with the proprietors, who passed nearly three hours with us underground, and I certainly never saw so enormous a mass of metal. Of course, the quality varies, but although there are richer and poorer ores, there are none so poor as not to be worked with profit.

The most valuable ore, called Pepena, has been found, when smelted, to yield five Marcs to the Arroba, or 162 ounces to the Quintal; but this is rarely met with. The ordinary ores, which I saw amalgamated, produced seven and a quarter ounces to the Carga of three quintals, (equal to seven dollars and two reals;) and the expences of the process amounted to four dollars and four reals, leaving a profit upon each Carga of very nearly three dollars. Baron Humboldt's theory as to the saving which may be effected by the introduction of the Freiberg process of amalgamation into Mexico, has not yet been verified. The Germans merely shorten the process by placing the amalgam in stoves for twenty-four hours, which is regarded as equivalent to a week's exposure in the Patio. When the Hacienda is completed, it is their intention to carry flues under