Bolivian Tin Mining

A detailed Summary of Bolivian Tin Mining

Bolivia has a long history as a mining country. During the Colonial period, the Cerro Ricco de Potosi mine enriched the Spanish Empire with the enormous quantities of silver it produced for over four hundred years. And throughout the years of tin was often found along side the silver being mined. At the tail end of Colonial silver mining, large quantity of tin was discarded as waste.

In 1865 the price of silver began declining in response to several factors; rich deposits were found in California; a declining demand in Eastern Countries and the increased use of paper as currency. When silver collapsed on the International Market, it was impossible to transfer the technology and communications to other metals. Yet, an expansion of world demand for tin, in canning and other industrial uses, allowed Bolivia to capitalize on its resources and quickly respond to international demand.

The availability of cheap labor and railroad transportation in Bolivia meant suddenly it became profitable for Bolivia to ship this mineral, making the transition from silver to tin a relatively easy one for the Bolivian economy to make. (Klein 163)

Around the same time in 1894, a man named Simon Patino p

Richardson, James B. People of The Andes. Montreal: St. Remy p., 1994

In all of the mine's disease is rife, particularly tuberculosis and silicoses. Also accidents are frequent because of defective machinery and safety requirements.

Queiser Morales, Waltraid. Bolivia: Land of Struggle. Bolder: Westview p., 1992. 51-52

By the 1930's the big three Mining Barons dominated tin production in Bolivia. Even though the monopoly of the three men gave them great wealth, most of it

Several measures were designed to improve the status of the lower class, especially the Indians, which a large percent worked as tin miners. In 1936, the first president of Bolivia, German Busch, tried to regulate the financial activities of the mines. In 1936 when he was about to sign a decree introducing state control of mineral exports, he ended up committing suicide in strange circumstances.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1315
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

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