silver mine - potosí (bolivia) - 23 photos

The Candelaria mine is one of the oldest silver mines of Potosí, and it has been active for more than 200 years.

But the rich silver ore veins are long gone, and the remaining ore contains less than 15% of silver and various other metals.

Working in mines like this one is probably one of the worst job on earth. The air is thin because of the high altitude, and in the mine, the air is very bad, loaded with thick rock dust and chemical fumes from blasted dynamite. It is hot and cramped, the galleries are narrow, steep, dangerous, poorly maintained and often cave in. there is no electricity, no water, no ventilation, no safety or communication equipment, and most of the work is done with manual tools (picks, hammers, wheelbarrow).

After spending a few hours in this mine, just walking around and taking photos, I was drained and I just wanted out.

mine tunnel - bocamina - entrance - adit, adit, bocamina, bolivia, cerro rico, door, entrance, gate, grid, man, masonry, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, underground mine, vault, working
Mine Tunnel - Bocamina - Entrance - Adit
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Mine Tunnel - Bocamina - Entrance - Adit
mine tunnel (potosí), adit, bocamina, bolivia, cerro rico, entrance, man, masonry, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, underground mine, vault
Mine Tunnel (Potosí)
mine tunnel (potosí), adit, bocamina, bolivia, cerro rico, entrance, man, masonry, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, underground mine, vault
Mine Tunnel (Potosí)
trolley in mine tunnel - potosi (bolivia), adit, beams, bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, pipes, potosí, safety helmet, underground mine, working
Trolley in Mine Tunnel - Potosi (Bolivia)
trolley in mine tunnel - potosi (bolivia), adit, beams, bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, pipes, potosí, safety helmet, underground mine, working
Trolley in Mine Tunnel - Potosi (Bolivia)
mine worker with drill, bolivia, cerro rico, compressed air, drilling, fuses, fuzes, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, power drill, respirator, rubber boots, safety helmet, underground mine
Mine Worker with Drill
mine worker with drill, bolivia, cerro rico, compressed air, drilling, fuses, fuzes, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, power drill, respirator, rubber boots, safety helmet, underground mine
Mine Worker with Drill
miner hammering chisel to drill blasting hole, bolivia, cerro rico, chisel, drilling, hammer, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, squatting, underground mine, working
Miner Hammering Chisel to Drill Blasting Hole
miner hammering chisel to drill blasting hole, bolivia, cerro rico, chisel, drilling, hammer, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, squatting, underground mine, working
Miner Hammering Chisel to Drill Blasting Hole
miner grinding metal, bolivia, cerro rico, cutting, grinder, grinding, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, sparks, underground mine
Miner Grinding Metal
miner grinding metal, bolivia, cerro rico, cutting, grinder, grinding, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, sparks, underground mine
Miner Grinding Metal
miners - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, underground mine, working
Miners - Potosi (Bolivia)
miners - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, underground mine, working
Miners - Potosi (Bolivia)
el tio - the spirit of the mine, altar, bolivia, cerro rico, cigarette, el el, icon, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mining, offerings, potosí, red, serpentine throws, spirit, tio, tío el, underground mine
El Tio - the Spirit of the Mine
el tio - the spirit of the mine, altar, bolivia, cerro rico, cigarette, el el, icon, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mining, offerings, potosí, red, serpentine throws, spirit, tio, tío el, underground mine
El Tio - the Spirit of the Mine
"el tio" in potosi silver mine (bolivia), altar, bolivia, cerro rico, cigarette, el el, icon, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mining, offerings, potosí, red, serpentine throws, spirit, tio, tío el, underground mine
"El Tio" in Potosi Silver Mine (Bolivia)
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"El Tio" in Potosi Silver Mine (Bolivia)
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Potosi Mine Tunnels
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Potosi Mine Tunnels
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Trolley Carrying Ore Out of the Mine
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Trolley Carrying Ore Out of the Mine
mine trolley carrying the silver ore - potosi (bolivia), bins, bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, ore, potosí, safety helmet, trolley, underground mine, working
Mine Trolley Carrying the Silver Ore - Potosi (Bolivia)
mine trolley carrying the silver ore - potosi (bolivia), bins, bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine tunnel, mine worker, miner, mining, ore, potosí, safety helmet, trolley, underground mine, working
Mine Trolley Carrying the Silver Ore - Potosi (Bolivia)
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Potosi Mine Entrance - Adit
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Potosi Mine Entrance - Adit
silver mines on the cerro rico - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, mining, silver mines
Silver Mines on the Cerro Rico - Potosi (Bolivia)
silver mines on the cerro rico - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, mining, silver mines
Silver Mines on the Cerro Rico - Potosi (Bolivia)
refining the sludge - ore processing plant - candelaria silver mine - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, factory, machine, man, mina candelaria, mine, mining, ore processing plant, potosí, sludge, worker
Refining the Sludge - Ore Processing Plant - Candelaria Silver Mine - Potosi (Bolivia)
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Refining the Sludge - Ore Processing Plant - Candelaria Silver Mine - Potosi (Bolivia)
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Sludge - Ore Processing Plant - Silver Mine - Potosi (Bolivia)
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Sludge - Ore Processing Plant - Silver Mine - Potosi (Bolivia)
ore processing plant - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, factory, machines, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, ore processing plant, potosí, safety helmet, sludge, workers
Ore Processing Plant - Potosi (Bolivia)
ore processing plant - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, factory, machines, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, ore processing plant, potosí, safety helmet, sludge, workers
Ore Processing Plant - Potosi (Bolivia)
"use su equipo protector" safety sign - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, kissing, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety equipment, safety helmet, safety sign
"Use Su Equipo Protector" Safety Sign - Potosi (Bolivia)
"use su equipo protector" safety sign - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, kissing, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety equipment, safety helmet, safety sign
"Use Su Equipo Protector" Safety Sign - Potosi (Bolivia)
"para su proteccion uselos" - safety sign - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, proteccion, safety sign
"Para Su Proteccion Uselos" - Safety Sign - Potosi (Bolivia)
"para su proteccion uselos" - safety sign - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, proteccion, safety sign
"Para Su Proteccion Uselos" - Safety Sign - Potosi (Bolivia)
safety goggles sign - "protección de los ojos", bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety goggles, safety sign
Safety Goggles Sign - "Protección De Los Ojos"
safety goggles sign - "protección de los ojos", bolivia, cerro rico, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety goggles, safety sign
Safety Goggles Sign - "Protección De Los Ojos"
screw conveyor - candelaria silver mine ore processing plant (bolivia), auger, bolivia, cerro rico, endless screw, factory, machines, mina candelaria, mine, mining, ore processing plant, potosí, screw conveyor
Screw Conveyor - Candelaria Silver Mine Ore Processing Plant (Bolivia)
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Screw Conveyor - Candelaria Silver Mine Ore Processing Plant (Bolivia)
miner buying dynamite and ammonium nitrate (anfo) at the corner store - potosi (bolivia), ammonium nitrate, anfo, blasting caps, bolivia, cerro rico, dinabol, dynamite stick, fertilizer, flash lights, fuses, fuzes, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, sticks
Miner Buying Dynamite and Ammonium Nitrate (ANFO) at the Corner Store - Potosi (Bolivia)
miner buying dynamite and ammonium nitrate (anfo) at the corner store - potosi (bolivia), ammonium nitrate, anfo, blasting caps, bolivia, cerro rico, dinabol, dynamite stick, fertilizer, flash lights, fuses, fuzes, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet, sticks
Miner Buying Dynamite and Ammonium Nitrate (ANFO) at the Corner Store - Potosi (Bolivia)
dynamite sticks - potosi (bolivia), bolivia, cerro rico, dinabol, dynamite sticks, flash light, man, mina candelaria, mine worker, miner, mining, potosí, safety helmet
Dynamite Sticks - Potosi (Bolivia)
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Dynamite Sticks - Potosi (Bolivia)

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