From Galena to Pure Silver: The Process of Mining and Refining

🔍Galena, a mixture of silver, lead, sulfur, and silica, is the ore from which pure silver is extracted.

⚒️Mining in the 1800s involved grueling work, with miners toiling for 12 hours a day in hazardous conditions.

🧪The smelting process is used to separate silver from the impurities in Galena, such as lead, sulfur, and silica.

💰Company script was a form of currency used by mining towns to control the flow of money and keep workers indebted to the company.

💡The discovery of a historic company store coin shed light on the history of the mining town and the use of company script.

What is Galena?

—Galena is a mineral composed of silver, lead, sulfur, and silica, and it is the primary ore from which silver is extracted.

How did miners get paid in the 1800s?

—Miners in the 1800s were often paid in company script, a form of currency issued by mining companies. This currency could only be used within the company town, creating a form of debt bondage for the workers.

What was the purpose of smelting?

—Smelting was the process used to extract silver from Galena. It involved heating the ore with a flux, such as iron oxide and calcium carbonate, to remove impurities and separate the silver from the lead.

What is company script?

—Company script was a form of currency used by mining towns to control the flow of money. It was often only accepted within the company town and created a dependence on the mining company for basic necessities.

What is the significance of the historic company store coin?

—The discovery of a company store coin shed light on the use of company script in the mining town and provided a glimpse into the history and economic practices of the time.

00:00In this video, we explore the process of mining and refining Galena to obtain pure silver.

01:30The mining town of Sarog Gordo in the 1800s relied on Galena as the main mineral for silver extraction.

03:00Company script, a form of currency, was used in mining towns, keeping workers indebted to the mining companies.

05:00The smelting process is crucial in separating silver from impurities like lead and sulfur in Galena.

07:00Join us on a journey into the Union mine to experience the challenging conditions miners faced in the 1800s.

09:30The discovery of a historic company store coin provided insights into the economic practices of mining towns.

11:30The refining process involves separating lead carbonate and other impurities from the molten Galena to obtain pure silver.

13:00The process of mining and refining silver is not just a historical practice but also showcases the endurance and challenges faced by miners.