#rock-salt mines in Peru
2 messages in this thread
Hi,
Reference: 'PERU: A Mining Country', by Mario Samame Boggio, published by
INGEMMET (Institute of Geology, Minerals and Metallurgy – Lima, Peru). 16
volumes (only the first 4 have been translated to english). Not easily
available, even in university libraries.
According to Volume 4, the deposit you refer to is worked by indians collecting
water from saline springs. The springs are fed by rock salt deposits that are
desolving. They are not 'commercial' economic deposits as we would know them
but are viable for the local market.
I have no other references for this. I hope this helps.
– Bill
Hi,
Thank you very much for your reply.
I have done some research since I posted this question and found something
different from what you said. (I am no specialist in geology though).
I understand that one of the methods of the surface rock-salt mining used since
ancient times in many countries (China , for one) is actual cutting small
pieces of rock-salt and boiling them in water afterwards. When salt is mined
this way, the hillside gets covered by terraces , or benches on which a few
workers can stand, and which make the transporting of the cut rocks easier.
What interests me most, however, is whether they did the same thing in late
Byzantium (11 c.).
Thank you again,
Gregory