Mercury, Mining, and Empire

Nicholas A. Robins

Description

Mercury pollution's effects on the indigenous peoples of Peru and Bolivia

Visit the author's website, The Environmental Health Council

On the basis of an examination of the colonial mercury and silver production processes and related labor systems, Mercury, Mining, and Empire explores the effects of mercury pollution in colonial Huancavelica, Peru, and Potosí, in present-day Bolivia. The book presents a multifaceted and interwoven tale of what colonial exploitation of indigenous peoples and resources left in its wake. It is a socio-ecological history that explores the toxic interrelationships between mercury and silver production, urban environments, and the people who lived and worked in them. Nicholas A. Robins tells the story of how native peoples in the region were conscripted into the noxious ranks of foot soldiers of proto-globalism, and how their fate, and that of their communities, was—and still is—chained to it.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Amalgamating an Empire
2. Toxic Travails: Mining in Huancavelica
3. Blood Silver
4. Connecting the Drops: The Wider Human and Environmental Costs
5. From Corrosion to Collapse: The Destruction of Native Communities
Conclusion
Glossary
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• Public Health
• Environmental Science
• Social Science
• HISTORY
• Histoire
• América del Sur
• General officer
• Social sciences
• South America
• Latin America
• History of the Americas
• Anthropology
• General
• Caribbean

Informations

• Publié par: Indiana University Press
• Date de parution: 25 juillet 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780253005380
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

MERCURY, MINING, AND EMPIRE
MERCURY, MINING, and EMPIRE
The Human and Ecological Cost of Colonial Silver Mining in the Andes

NICHOLAS A. ROBINS
INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESS
Bloomington and Indianapolis
This book is a publication of
Indiana University Press
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Bloomington, Indiana 47404-3797 USA
www.iupress.indiana.edu
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2011 by Nicholas A. Robins
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences-
Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. Manufactured in the United States of America
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Robins, Nicholas A., [date]
Mercury, mining, and empire : the human and ecological cost of colonial silver mining in the Andes / Nicholas A. Robins.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-253-35651-2 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Silver mines and mining-Bolivia-Potos (Dept.)-History. 2. Silver mines and mining-Health aspects-Bolivia-Potos (Dept.) 3. Silver mines and mining-Environmental aspects-Bolivia-Potos (Dept.) 4. Mercury mines and mining-Peru-Huancavelica-History. 5. Mercury mines and mining-Health aspects-Peru-Huancavelica. 6. Mercury mines and mining-Environmental aspects-Peru-Huancavelica. 7. Indians, Treatment of-Bolivia-Potos (Dept.)-History. 8. Indians, Treatment of-Peru-Huancavelica-History. 9. Environmental degradation-Bolivia-Potos (Dept.) 10. Environmental degradation-Peru-Huancavelica. I. Title.
HD 9537. B 63 P 676 2011
363.738 49-dc22
2011001625
1 2 3 4 5 16 15 14 13 12 11
This book is dedicated to
the residents of
Huancavelica and Potos ,
past, present, and future.
And to
Marjorie McGann Robins
CONTENTS

PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Introduction
1. Amalgamating an Empire
2. Toxic Travails: Mining in Huancavelica
3. Blood Silver
4. Connecting the Drops:
The Wider Human and Environmental Costs
5. From Corrosion to Collapse:
The Destruction of Native Communities
Conclusion
GLOSSARY
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
PREFACE

In many ways, this book is as much about colonial mining as it is about contemporary Huancavelica, Peru, and Potos , Bolivia, where mercury and silver respectively were produced throughout the colonial era, and where the effects of the colonial amalgamation economy continue to reverberate. Today, the residents of both cities shoulder these tragic and toxic legacies, which were central to the rise of the modern global economy. While more mercury was released into the environment in colonial Potos than Huancavelica (approximately 45,000 metric tons versus 17,000 tons), sampling results suggest that the soils of Huancavelica are more contaminated. This may partially be a result of the steeper valley formation in Huancavelica, its smaller size, and the more concentrated placement of the smelters. The situation today is compounded by the prevalence of mud brick homes in Huancavelica that are constructed with contaminated materials, and underscores the fact that Huancavelica is the capital of Peru s poorest department. Indeed, such is the contamination that there is off-gassing of elemental mercury vapors from the interior walls of many homes there. While Potos is more prosperous, better integrated into Bolivia, and has a greater percentage of homes built from brick, the mining of a variety of metals and its accompanying contamination continue there to this day. Despite these differences, many of the residents of both cities continue to breathe toxic air, ingest mercury-laced dust, and are otherwise exposed to the myriad risks of mercury intoxication.
Both cities must contend with their poisonous pasts and the health risks that they present, most notably to women and children. Solutions will be complex and, given the scale of the problem, will need to be developed and funded at local, national, and international levels. For those interested in learning more, or helping, please visit the website of the Environmental Health Council ( www.ehcouncil.org ), which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing these issues in Huancavelica and Potos .
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This volume is the result of a series of journeys: historical, scientific, theoretical, and physical. Research in documentary archives opened the door and introduced me to the archive of the land and the lethal legacy of colonial mining, much of which today is literally bound with the soil. Many have been the parallels with mining itself, such as the prospecting for data sources, the descent into the darkness of the unknown, the selection and excavation of documents, the extraction of fragments of valuable information, and the process of amalgamating, refining, and making sense of it all. Many, too, are the differences, for unlike countless colonial miners, my work has been free of the coercion, abuse, toxicity, and despair which framed their lives.
Instead, I have been immensely fortunate to have had the assistance of many people who have, in diverse ways, contributed to this book. I would especially like to thank Professors David Cahill, Tristan Platt, and Kendall Brown for their strong support of this project when it was in its conceptual stage, and for their critiques, suggestions, and insights as it progressed. They played a vital role in getting it off the ground and keeping it on course. In Bolivia, I would like to offer special thanks to Marcela Inch Calvimonte, director of the National Archive and Library of Bolivia, who has supported this project from its inception and has always been most generous with her time and assistance. Likewise, I would like to express my gratitude to Joaqu n Loayza Valda, subdirector of the National Archive and Library of Bolivia, and the staff of this institution, including Mar a del Carmen Mart nez L pez, Judith Teran R os, Alvaro L pez Donoso, Leonor Ferrufino Fern ndez, Oscar Hurtado Borja, Cecilia Mardo ez Barrero, Ana Mar a Nava, Mar a Renee Pareja Vilar, Mar a Elizabeth Mollinedo, Jos Iber Laguna, Jhonny Ru z Ledezma, Mar a Alc cer Osorio, and Jos Luis Gonzales. They set the standards for professionalism and kindness, and turned what could have been an arduous task into an enjoyable and productive endeavor.
I would also like to express my appreciation to Guillermo Calvo Ayaviri, former director of the Archdiocesan Archive Library Monse or Taborga in Sucre, and to Margoth C spedes La Madrid. Their intimate knowledge of the archive was immensely helpful in researching the clerical aspects of this work.
In Potos , I would like to offer my thanks to Rub n Julio Ru z Ort z, director of the Casa Nacional de Moneda; Jos Antonio Fuertes L pez, director of the Casa Nacional s Historical Archive; and his assistants Silvia Flores and Luis T rrez Ameller. Special thanks also go to Sheila Beltr n Lop z, director of the Casa Nacional s museum. All provided crucial-and very much appreciated-support for this research.
In Cuzco, I was especially fortunate to benefit from the guidance of Sabino Roberto C ceres Olivera, director of the Departmental Archive of Cuzco, as well as his assistant Efra n Valencia Guill n. Their courtesy, deep knowledge of, and guidance in the archive made my time there both enjoyable and rewarding. I would also like to thank the former director of the General Archive of the Indies in Seville, Pedro Gonz lez Garc a, and his staff, including Braulio V squez, for their support of this research. I am also indebted to Isabel Scarborough for her valuable assistance in translations, patience, and wonderful collaborative spirit.
One of the most interesting facets of this project has been applying what we know now to what happened in the past through computer modeling and toxicology. This book would not be what it is without the immense contributions of scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the support of a fellowship with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. I would like to offer my profound gratitude to Dr. John Vandenberg, director of the Research Triangle Park Division of the National Center for Environmental Assessment. He has been the fulcrum for this scientific research, helping to navigate it from nebulous concept to reality, consistently and generously offering his time, insights, and suggestions, and introducing me to many other people who have played similar roles in this work. A mentor by nature, he leads by deeds punctuated by subtlety and patience.
Dr. Mark Morris took the lead on the air dispersion modeling which is so crucial to this study. His expertise is only matched by his perseverance, and in many ways this book is the product of both. He explored different scenarios, incorporated new information, and continually refined the analysis to achieve and present the most accurate results possible. He has been tremendously generous with his time as he educated me during the entire process, and his support is immensely appreciated.
I have a similar debt of gratitude to Nicole Hagan, ORISE Environmental Management Fellow in the EPA s Research Triangle Park Division of the