Why The Most Dangerous Silver Mine In The World Could Collapse | Risky Business
TLDRThe Cerro Rico mountain in Bolivia, once the world's largest silver deposit, has been extensively mined for over 500 years, leaving it unstable and dangerous. Indigenous people, originally forced into mining by the Spanish in the 1500s, continue this hazardous work, with generations knowing no other occupation. Despite the risks, including high fatality rates and silicosis, miners, many of whom are members of cooperatives, still seek wealth from the mountain's remaining resources like zinc, tin, and lead. The mining has led to extreme poverty for nearly half of Potosi's residents, with the city now one of Latin America's poorest despite its 16th-century wealth. Attempts to stabilize the mountain and halt further damage, such as a presidential decree limiting mining above 14,000 feet, face challenges due to non-compliance and the lack of coordination among miners. The mountain's unstable state and its historical significance as a site of immense loss and toil represent a complex mix of pride, fear, and sorrow for the Bolivian people.
Takeaways
- 🏔️ The mountain in Bolivia, known as Cerro Rico, was once the world's largest silver deposit but has been extensively mined over 500 years.
- 💥 Indigenous people were initially forced into mining by Spanish colonizers in the 1500s, and many continue this dangerous work today due to limited other opportunities.
- 🔍 Modern miners primarily find zinc, tin, and lead, contributing to the mountain's instability with extensive cave-ins visible from aerial photos.
- ⛏️ Despite its rich history, Potosi, once the wealthiest city in Latin America, is now one of the poorest, with many residents working mining-related jobs and living in extreme poverty.
- 🍻 Luciano, a semi-retired miner, still mines occasionally to make ends meet, highlighting the harsh living conditions and reliance on mining for income.
- 🚪 There are nearly 500 mines in the area, many abandoned, and miners make offerings to El Tio, a local deity, reflecting the cultural and spiritual importance of mining.
- 💣 Miners use simple tools and dynamite to extract ore, facing high fatality rates and risks of silicosis, a deadly lung disease from constant exposure to dust.
- 👥 Cooperatives provide some miners with health insurance and the ability to keep what they find, potentially leading to significant earnings or educational opportunities for their children.
- 📦 The extracted minerals are sold to middlemen and exported, with Bolivia earning significant revenue from zinc sales, particularly to South Korea for further processing.
- 🏗️ The Bolivian government funds projects to fortify and stabilize Cerro Rico, recognizing the mountain's cultural and economic importance, despite the risks it poses.
- ⛰️ Despite a presidential decree to halt mining above 14,000 feet due to safety concerns, some cooperatives continue to work in these areas, risking further destabilization of the mountain.
- 🕊️ Cerro Rico remains a symbol of pride, fear, and sorrow for Bolivians, with a history marked by immense wealth and tragic loss.
Q & A
What was the primary mineral resource of the mountain in Bolivia?
-The mountain in Bolivia, known as Cerro Rico or Potosi, used to hold the most silver in the world.
Who forced indigenous people into mining work in the 1500s?
-Spanish colonizers forced indigenous people into mining work in the 1500s.
What are the current main minerals that miners find in the mountain?
-The current main minerals that miners find in the mountain are zinc, tin, and lead.
Why is Cerro Rico considered unstable?
-Cerro Rico is considered unstable due to the non-stop mining that has left it porous and with large holes from cave-ins, making it infamously known as the 'mountain that eats men'.
What is the current state of Potosi in terms of wealth compared to its past?
-While Potosi was the wealthiest place in Latin America back in the 16th century, today it is one of the poorest.
What percentage of Potosi's residents work in mining related jobs?
-About 40 percent of Potosi's residents work in mining related jobs.
What is the fatality rate inside small-scale mines like those in Potosi?
-The fatality rate inside small-scale mines like those in Potosi is 90 percent higher than in industrialized countries.
What is the average lifespan of miners working in the mines of Potosi?
-Most workers in the mines of Potosi do not live past the age of 40.
What are the benefits of being a member of a mining cooperative?
-Members of a mining cooperative can keep whatever they find, which could potentially be very lucrative. They also have access to health insurance and can hire contractors to work on their behalf.
Why was a presidential decree passed in 2014 regarding mining in Cerro Rico?
-A presidential decree was passed in 2014 to stop excavation above the 14,000 foot mark to prevent further destabilization and cave-ins in Cerro Rico.
What is the current situation regarding the structural safety of Cerro Rico?
-The State mining company Komibol is in charge of keeping the mountain structurally safe, even though it doesn't own the mines. They are working on projects to fortify parts of the mountain.
What is the significance of Cerro Rico for Bolivia and its people?
-Cerro Rico is an endangered world heritage site and a source of pride, fear, and sorrow for Bolivians. It is also crucial for the livelihoods of thousands of locals who work in the mines.
Outlines
🏔️ The Legacy and Struggles of Potosi's Silver Mountain
This paragraph discusses the historical significance of the Bolivian mountain that was once the world's largest source of silver. It details the exploitation of indigenous people and the environmental impact of centuries of mining. The paragraph also introduces Luciano, a semi-retired miner, and describes the harsh living conditions and economic struggles faced by the people of Potosi. It outlines the current mining activities, which primarily yield zinc, tin, and lead, and the dangerous working conditions within the unstable mountain.
⛏️ The Harsh Reality of Modern Mining in Potosi
This segment focuses on the current state of mining in Potosi, with 16,000 miners working in the region, most of whom are descendants of the indigenous people who were forced into mining during the colonial era. It describes the rudimentary tools used and the physical labor involved in extracting ore. The paragraph also highlights the risks miners face, including silicosis and the high fatality rate. It explains the cooperative system that allows miners to keep what they find, potentially leading to life-changing financial gains, but also notes the lack of benefits and protections for day laborers.
📦 Mineral Exports and the Impact on Bolivia's Economy
This paragraph explores the economic aspect of mining in Bolivia, particularly the export of minerals such as zinc, which are used in various industries. It discusses the process of mineral sorting, selling to middlemen, and eventual transportation to processing factories, mainly in South Korea. The paragraph also touches on the extraction of indium, a valuable mineral for high-tech applications. However, it points out that Bolivia does not benefit financially from the export of unrefined zinc and that the continuous mining has led to the destabilization of Cerro Rico, posing significant risks to the miners and the region.
🏞️ The Environmental and Human Cost of Mining
The final paragraph addresses the environmental and human toll of mining on Cerro Rico. It mentions the efforts by the state mining company to reinforce the mountain's structure and the presidential decree to halt excavation above a certain altitude. The paragraph also reflects on the cultural and emotional significance of the mountain to the people of Bolivia, as well as the personal losses suffered by individuals like Luciano, who visits the cemetery to pay respects to his late cousin. It concludes with a somber reminder of the millions of miners who have died in the mines since the 16th century.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cerro Rico
💡Indigenous People
💡Mining
💡Potosi
💡Spanish Colonizers
💡Silver
💡Zinc, Tin, and Lead
💡Cooperativas (Cooperatives)
💡Silicosis
💡Cave-ins
💡Komibol
💡Global Trade
Highlights
The mountain in Bolivia, known as Cerro Rico, was once the world's largest source of silver.
Indigenous people were forced into mining by Spanish colonizers in the 1500s, and it remains their primary occupation.
Modern miners mostly find zinc, tin, and lead, as the silver has been largely depleted.
Cerro Rico is now unstable due to centuries of mining, with the mountain becoming porous and prone to cave-ins.
Despite its dangers, miners continue to work in the mountain due to limited alternative job opportunities.
Potosi, at 13,000 feet, is one of the highest cities globally and was once the wealthiest in Latin America.
Luciano, a semi-retired miner, lives in extreme poverty, representative of many in Potosi.
About 40% of Potosi's residents work mining-related jobs, with nearly half the population in extreme poverty.
Miners perform rituals, including offerings to El Tio, a devil-like figure, a tradition possibly stemming from Spanish colonial times.
The mountain was taken over by the Bolivian state mining company, COMIBOL, after silver prices dropped in the 1980s.
There are approximately 16,000 miners working in Cerro Rico, many of whom are descendants of the indigenous communities.
Miners use simple tools and dynamite to extract ore in an environment with a high fatality rate due to unsafe conditions.
Silicosis, a deadly lung disease, is common among miners due to constant exposure to dust.
Cooperatives provide miners with benefits and the ability to keep what they find, potentially leading to significant earnings.
Non-cooperative miners, known as daily brewers, do not receive benefits and only earn a small daily wage.
Bolivia's mineral exports, including zinc, are crucial to its economy, with most processed in South Korea.
Cerro Rico's unstable condition is a result of decades of mining, with a presidential decree in 2014 to halt mining above 14,000 feet.
The lack of coordination among cooperative miners contributes to structural problems within the mountain.
COMIBOL is working on projects to fortify and stabilize parts of Cerro Rico to prevent further collapse.
Cerro Rico is an endangered world heritage site, and its future is uncertain, affecting the livelihoods of thousands.
The mountain represents a complex mix of pride, fear, and sorrow for the Bolivians.
Transcripts
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