Cortar pilar. (to cut a pillar). To finish a pillar by making a cross cut, and forming a landing place, also called tapextle. See tapextle. Cortar sogas (to cut away the ropes.) To abandon a mine. Crestones (crests.) Ridges consisting of crude ore, the effect of fire; spar or rocks on the surface, which have burst out from the pressure of the vein, in the form of a cock's comb, so as to be visible at a league's distance. They are, as it were, the crust of the vein. Criadero. A kind of cul de sac or vault, in which the ore lies loose. It is also called a bohedal. Crucera (cross-cut.) Dar crucero, is to work horizontally along or across the vein, to give air to the works, or to avoid some insuperably hard mass of rock; or to drive in search of the vein, in which case the work is also called a level (cañon). A crecero crosses the principal work, which is carried on by winzes in the inclined veins, or by ends in the horizontal veins. Cuña (wedge). An iron tool, usually of two pounds weight for soft ground, and one pound or under, for hard ground. The edge is of steel, and it is struck with the pick. D Denuncio (denouncement). Properly, denunciacion; the giving information that a mine has been insufficiently worked more than four months, in order that it may be adjudged to the denouncer, with the due solemnities of proclamation and summons. Demasias. Unappropriated grounds. Derrumbe or derrumbamiento (a falling down). The falling in of a mine, from the roofs and works giving way through weakness. Also called hundido (a sinking in). Desagues (unwatering, draining). The drawing off water from the lower works of the mine by the pits, or by means of adits. Descargue (discharge). The last and largest ingot reduced in a smelting furnace, To descargar the furnace is to demolish it. Desmonte (that which has been cut away). All the barren rock removed from the sides and roof of the vein, which, when the rubbish, rock and barren ground are removed, is left clear. Despensa (pantry). A safe room for storing up the rich ores; the shed (galera) serving for the common ores. Despueble (dispeopling). Abandoning the mine; neglecting to employ four laborers about some external or internal work, agreeably to the ordi nance. E Echadero (resting place). Platform on the hill, for loading the mules, for spreading out, cleaning and weighing the ore. Echado (inclination). Lateral inclination of the vein. Emborrascarse la mina (from borrasca). Is applied, when instead of ore, spar is found, or when the vein loses itself. Ensayes (assays). Trial of a small quantity of ore by fire or quicksilver, in order to ascertain its standard, and whether it will answer to work it. It is also said when the assayer determines the standard of gold or silver, marking each piece. Escaleras (ladders). Round pieces of 8, 10 or more yards in length, with notches, which serve for stairs, in ascending the pits. The landing places between, enable the workmen to ascend and descend without interfering with each other. Escorial (slag heap). Vide grassero. Espejuelo (glassy substance). A kind of spar less consistent than the com mon spar, with an oily lustre, like talc or gypsum. Estaca fixa (fixed stake). The principal pit by which the mine is regis tered, and which is not to be altered when the miner measures out or alters his boundaries. The boundary stakes set out between the mine and that of a neighbor, are also called fixed stakes. F Faenas (fatigues). Dead works which are not carried on in ore, but in barren ground, and which tend to bring the mine into a working state; such as driving an air hole, adit, level or work of drainage. To work a faena is to pay less wages to the barman, sharing the ore equally with him. (Vide tequio). Fierros (iron). Dross removed from the ingots after letting off the lead into the float; or from the ore first smelted. Fronton (wall). Is a work which the laborers carry on standing, proceeding onwards, or straight forward. Fuelles (bellows). Applied both to those used for the forges (above ground or beneath), where the bars and picks are sharpened, and to those used in the smelting furnaces, for smelting and refining the ore and metal. Galeme. See cendradilla. Galera. See dispensa. G Gallos (cocks). Rich ore, with threads and grains of gold and silver. Golpeador (striker). The person who strikes the head of the borer with the pick, to bore the rock for the insertion of the cartridge. Grassas (grease). Scum or scoriae removed from the metal, when it runs out of the smelting furnace into the float. From this scum the plomillos are detached. Grassero or escorial (slag heap.) Where the scoria are thrown out. Guarda-raya (limit or boundary mark). A mark or boundary of stone and mortar, or stone and mud, erected at the spot where a communication has occurred between two mines; the boundary being first ascertained. Guardas (guards.) Rock at the sides of the vein, and roof of the work. Guia (guide). An indication, guiding or conducting to the rich part of a vein, or to the discovery of a new vein. Also applied to the ingredients added to the montons of ore, when mixed for reduction, to ascertain their state. Guija (spar or gravel). Is a hard flint of a dusky color; or a more crys talline substance of not very firm texture, which breaks to pieces with a slight blow. It varies in color, and affords the best indication of ore when black. Guija Iron spike on which the mortar (of the stamping mill?) rests. Hueco (hollow). Vide demasias. H Hundido (sinking in). See derrumbe. I Incorporadero (mixing place). A place, court, yard or shed, where the quicksilver and other ingredients are mixed with the ore, in the process of reduction by amalgamation. J Jaboncillos (diminutive of jabon, soap). Whitish, unctious ore, which is an indication and forerunner of treasure. Jalsontles. Portions of ore not properly ground, and which have to be reground. Also the slime or dust from the washing vats in the amalgamation works, which is afterwards made into montons (for reduction?) L Labor (working). Generally, all mining labor is so called. It is either performed in an end, which is when the workman drives straight for ward; in a back or rise, which is when he works upwards; or it may be downwards. Lamas (slime). The earthy matter taken from the vats in the amalgamation works, and which is again made into montons (for reduction ?). Lamero. A place in the amalgamation establishments for the slime and ore after grinding. Lampazo (mop). An instrument formed of green boughs, fixed to the end of a long pole, which is used to moderate the heat of the smelting furnaces, when excessive. Lavadero (washing place.) A large wooden vat, in the middle of which is a contrivance for stirring, in the form of a chocolate mill. The montons of ore are washed in this vat, and this earthy matter being separ ated, is carried off through a channel, with the water; the silver remaining at the bottom. Llaves (keys). Supports of oak, with notches and circular joints, which extend to the four corners of the pit, and support the lining or timber covering. Also the two timbers which support the shed for draining. Lazadores (persons who use a lazo or noose). Persons employed to collect hands for working the mines, in case of a scarcity of workinen; so called from their remarkable dexterity in throwing a lazo. Leñador (woodman) Workman employed in carrying or supplying wood for the smelting furnaces. Limadura (filings.). A film with which the metal becomes coated in the small assays made for the purpose of ascertaining the state of the monton, and what additions of quicksilver or other ingredients it may require. Lis. The silver is said to form lis, when the quicksilver is resolved into almost imperceptible particles, which occasions the loss and consumption in washing and stirring the montons of ore, in the course of the reduction by amalgamation. Lumbreras (sky-lights). Communication between two works, for the sake of ventilation, and to make the lights burn. M Malacate (whim). A machine moved by mules or horses. It consists of a wheel, a cage or drum, and an axle (exe). It is used for winding, the ropes, so as to raise and let down the bags of ore or skins of water by the pit. Mantas (blankets). Sacks made of the thread of the aloe, and filled with ore or rubbish. Mantos (cloaks). Veins of ore spreading horizontally through the mountain, but of no depth. Marca (mark). The royal arms, stamped on a piece of assayed silver, as a token of its having paid the duties to the crown. Mecha (match). A twist of cotton and grease, ma le by the workman called cohetero or golpeador, usually from his drawers or shirt, and used for firing the cartridge. Medidas de mina (dimensions or boundaries of a mine). As to silver mines, they form a parallelogram of 160 varas in length and 80 in width, in the discoverer's, and 120 and 60 in an ordinary mine. As to gold mines, the discoverer's is 100 varas in length, and 50 in width; and an ordinary mine, 80 in length, and 40 in width. The internal dimensions should correspond with the external ones. Metal de ayuda (assistant ore). What the words denote, that is to say, ore used to assist the smelting of other ore, and to temper it. Metal de cebo. Very rich ore, which is smelted in refining tests. Metal pepena. Rich picked gold or silver ore; the common ore is called ordinario. Mina (mine). The descubridora is the first mine discovered on the vein, or on a new vein in the same hill; all others are called ordinary mines. Mogrollo. The same as metal de cebo, being very rich. It is not smelted in a furnace, being safer in the hollow of a test. Molonque. A piece of ore, of uniform richness, containing more silver than extraneous matter, or at any rate, equal parts. N Natas or escorias (scum or scoria). Dross thrown off in the smelting fur nace; in which case the furnace is said to texear well. P Panino. A person is said to know the panino, when he possesses experience and skill in judging from the appearance of the ground, the colour or shade of the ore, and other signs, whether there be metal. Parcionero (partner). Part-owners of mines. Partido (share). The division of the ore amongst partners in their respec tive shares. Also, the division made by the barmen, of the ore they raise-over and above the tequio, or quantity they have to contribute at stated hours. Also a payment made by the miners to the owner of an adit, or general work of draining, for getting out the rubbish and ore, and for the draining. Pepe (short for Joseph). Boy who lights each barman at his work, and assists him in it at certain hours. Pepena. Sce metal pepena. Pico (pick). A kind of iron hammer, tipped with steel at both ends, of 8, 10 or 12 pounds in weight, and longer or shorter, according to the fancy of each barman. Piedras de mano (stone carried by hand). Ore of good quality, which the miners usually set apart for various pious purposes, which is called, giv ing a piedra de mano. Pilar (pillar). Part of the substance of the hill, left between the excava tions made cross-wise upon the vein; in other words, a support for the roof or back of the work, being the intermediate ground left between the winzes, cross-cuts and levels. It ought to be lined with timber, and should not be worked into or weakened. Pileta (cistern). In which the waters within the mine are collected, to prevent them from pouring down and inundating the lower works. In a smelting furnace, the breast pan or vessel into which the melted metal flows down from the bottom stone. Pina (pine apple,) or Pella (mass.) The amalgum of silver and quicksilver, before the latter is driven off. |