Santa Barbara Mine
Huancavelica
The Santa Barbara Mine, located near Huancavelica, Peru, is a historic mercury (quicksilver) mine that played a crucial role during the Spanish colonial era. Discovered in the mid-16th century, it became the primary source of mercury in Spanish America, essential for extracting silver via amalgamation in mines such as Potosí. The mine is situated in the Andes at altitudes between 3,800 and 4,400 meters, within the Cerro Chacllatana area. It was notorious for its extremely hazardous working conditions, including high mortality rates due to mercury poisoning and frequent accidents like the 1786 collapse that killed over a hundred miners. The mine's exploitation led to the founding of the city of Huancavelica in 1572 by Viceroy Francisco de Toledo. The mining complex included extensive tunnels, some accessible by horseback, and even a small mining town with streets and a bullring, now lost. Today, the mine is closed to the public due to toxic gases, but visitors can view its historic entrance and surrounding sites. Santa Barbara Mine remains a significant cultural and historical landmark reflecting the colonial mining heritage and the human cost of mercury extraction in Peru.
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Tip: Visitors should be cautious as the mine interior is closed due to dangerous gases. It is best to visit during the dry season (February to August) for safer travel conditions around Huancavelica. Guided tours to the mine entrance and nearby abandoned mining equipment are recommended. Advance planning is advised as access is limited and the site is fragile. No entry into the tunnels is permitted for safety reasons. Visitors can also explore the nearby town and its historical church under reconstruction.
Interesting facts
- •The mine produced over 1,400,000 flasks of mercury from 1571 to 1790, making it the most prolific mercury source in Spanish America.
- •Miners could access some tunnels on horseback, and the mining complex once included a plaza de toros (bullring), now lost.
- •A mass for the dead was held daily before miners descended due to the high fatality rate.
- •Mercury from Santa Barbara was so vital that the Spanish Crown levied taxes on precious metals based on mercury consumption.
- •The mine's toxic mercury caused a high mortality rate; indigenous miners poisoned by mercury were called 'azogados'.
- •The mine entrance still displays an emblem or shield above it, marking its historical importance.
History
The Santa Barbara Mine was discovered around 1564-1566, reportedly revealed by an indigenous leader to Spanish encomendero Amador de Cabrera.
It became the principal mercury source for the Spanish Empire, vital for silver mining operations.
The mine was administered by a miners' guild from 1577 to 1782 and was central to colonial taxation based on mercury consumption.
In 1786, a major collapse killed over a hundred workers, highlighting the dangerous mining conditions.
The mine operated until the early 19th century, with ownership changes in the 20th century.
Its exploitation led to the establishment of Huancavelica city in 1572.
The mine's history is marked by the exploitation of indigenous labor under the mita system and the high mortality from mercury poisoning.
Place Guide
Belén Tunnel Entrance16th century
The main historic entrance to the Santa Barbara Mine, now sealed for safety. Visitors can observe the original gateway featuring a colonial emblem and imagine the perilous paths miners once took.
Abandoned Mining Equipment Area20th century
Near the mine entrance, visitors can see relics of modern mining machinery from the later stages of the mine's operation, illustrating the evolution of mining technology in the region.
Ruins of the Abandoned Mining TownColonial and republican periods
Close to the mine are the remains of a mining settlement that once housed workers and their families, including a church undergoing reconstruction since 2006.
