Peruvian mercury production at Huancavelica and its role in silver extraction (1570–1800)

1. Cerro Rico silver discovery transforms Potosí

   Apr 1, 1545Labels: Cerro Rico, Potos

   • Britannica
   • Potos Wiki

2. Patio amalgamation process developed in New Spain

   Jan 1, 1557Labels: Patio process, New Spain

   • Britannica
   • UNESCO

3. Huancavelica mercury deposits disclosed to Spaniards

   Jan 1, 1563Labels: Huancavelica, cinnabar

   • Cambridge
   • UNESCO

4. Potosí production shifts toward lower-grade ores

   Jan 1, 1565Labels: Potos, low-grade ore

   • Potos Wiki
   • Cambridge

5. Spanish Crown appropriates Huancavelica mercury industry

   Jan 1, 1570Labels: Spanish Crown, Huancavelica

   • Huancavelica Wiki
   • Cambridge

6. Toledo founds Huancavelica as a mining city

   Aug 5, 1572Labels: Francisco de, Huancavelica

   • Huancavelica Wiki
   • UNESCO

7. Royal expropriation and asiento leasing system begins

   Dec 1, 1572Labels: asiento, Huancavelica

   • UNESCO
   • Cambridge

8. Colonial mita labor draft imposed for Huancavelica

   Jan 1, 1573Labels: mita, Huancavelica

   • Cambridge
   • Mit a Wiki

9. Potosí mint and coinage expand silver’s global reach

   Mar 28, 1574Labels: Potos mint, coinage

   • AN Sdl
   • Enumismatic

10. Huancavelica mita expands to thousands of workers

    Jan 1, 1577Labels: mita, Huancavelica

    • PMC
    • Cambridge

11. Mercury production peaks then begins long decline

    Jan 1, 1650Labels: Huancavelica, mercury peak

    • UNESCO
    • Huancavelica Wiki

12. Mine collapse in 1786 accelerates Huancavelica downturn

    Jan 1, 1786Labels: Santa B, mine collapse

    • UNESCO

13. Late-1700s output falls, disrupting silver amalgamation

    Jan 1, 1790Labels: Huancavelica, amalgamation

    • UNESCO
    • Cambridge