melted down into bars, (containing 135 marcs each,) in either of which shapes it may be transmitted to the mints.
The loss of quicksilver at Salgado in the whole process, in the year 1825, amounted to nine ounces on each marc of silver; but this was thought to be an instance of very successful management on the part of Mr. Bĕlāūzărān, as the proportion is, in other Haciendas, from ten to eleven ounces. He attributed the difference to the excellence of the "Molienda," which he always caused to be continued until there was nothing harsh, or gritty, in the mass upon which the mercury was to act. He added, that the residue of the Torta, when washed, might contain some small portion of silver, but it had not been found that the quantity was sufficient to repay the cost of any farther process, as at Chico; (Vide Section IV. of preceding Book,) and it was consequently thrown away.
The best of the "mŏntōnĕs" which I saw at Sălgādŏ, were expected to produce fourteen marcs of silver; and those of an inferior quality, eight marcs. Two marcs and a half pay the costs of reduction, which amount to twenty dollars on the mŏntōn. Allowing as much more for raising the ore, and the share in the general expences, there would remain a profit of three marcs, or twenty-five and a half dollars, on each monton of the poor "Azogue" ores; while on the richer "montones" it would amount to seventy-six and a half dollars, in-
