THE MERCURY AND ITS USE, DECISIVE FACTORS IN THE SPANISH COLONIAL ECONOMY

Abstract

The Spanish Colonial economy based its profitability thanks to the getting of silver from the large and rich Mexican and
Peruvian mines. From here that mercury take on a decisive prominence when the acquirement of that depended on the
amalgamation with silver metals.
The smelting method Overtaken because of its expensive price of the first years of the colony it is instituted like “court profit,
simpler and less expensive, that will last since 1555 until the end of XVIII century when new and more modern metallurgical
techniques be inserted.
Silver and mercury will suppose a shared responsibility which can not be arguable. The mines in Almaden Spain, and
Huancavelica in Peru that ones supply respectively the mining deposits of silver from Mexico and Peru. Mercury is the
monopoly of the Spanish crown, will become one of its most reorganized incomes.