Before discussing the minerals of Venezuela we shall touch briefly on some of the predominant features of the topographical formation of the country, without, however, entering on a detailed description of the geologic aspects of the rocks and soil. The location of minerals is directly connected with geologic formations, and the findings of geologists should be consulted before we can take up the more intimate study of mineral ores for commercial and industrial purposes.
It has been stated that one of the most ancient land surfaces in the world is the Guayana Highlands, and from observation made on this point they may be said to offer many striking analogies to the western highlands of Scotland, which furnish such frequent opportunities for exalted poetical allusion in the writings of Robert Burns. The great, elevated platform, from which rises the peaks and mountain chains of Guayana appears everywhere to be composed of rock which during the process of integration and disintegration has preserved traces of a primitive land of long ages ago when living organisms, if there were any, had not reached such a stage in their development as to leave relics in the deposits of the time. The mountains are thought to be composed of similar rocks, gneisses, hornblendes, schists, and granite, all containing evidence of great antiquity in point of geologic time. This Guayana complex, as it is called, has been considered by geologists as more or less equivalent in age to the Lewisian gneiss of Scotland and therefore one of the oldest members of the Archaean system.
While in all probability northern Venezuela has no rocks quite as ancient as those of Guayana, the geological history of this part of the country has been much more eventful and the number of earthquakes suggest that even now the form of the earth's crust in this region is undergoing comparatively violent changes. As is commonly the case, to find the oldest rocks one must search the hills. The masses of gneiss, silvery mica, schist, marble, etc., which form the highest part of much of the mountain region, were first studied by Mr. G. P. Wall in the Caribbean Hills in 1860 and named by him theCaribbeanSeries. The silvery mica flakes of this region are sometimes mistaken for the precious metal and many valueless specimens have been offered for sale as silver to credulous fortune hunters.
The mineral wealth of Venezuela although not as extensively developed as conditions would seem to invite, is without doubt of very great extent, especially in the states of Bolívar and Yuruari. The principal mineral resources consist of gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, lead, quicksilver, asphalt, petroleum, coal, sulphur and precious stones. There exists hardly any known mineral product that is not found in some part of the vast territory of Venezuela.
The yellow lure that drew the early European venturers to the West is still one of the principal sources of wealth in Venezuela. Since the Conquest gold has always been one of the chief attractions offered by Venezuela to prospectors and capitalists. In 1904 Venezuela occupied fifth place in the production of gold in the American Republics and it is acknowledged that the evidence obtained in the various expeditions in search of this precious metal indicates that gold exists in greater quantities than statistics tend to show. The greatest output is in the region of Yuruari, which includes "El Callao." Lack of experience and carelessness of management on the part of early companies have led to the shutting down of mine after mine when once the accessible ore of the vein was exhausted, or lost by faulting. Among the earlier mines, the Callao was perhaps the most famous, though at all times the mining industry in this region has been hampered by the cost and difficulty of transportation, a drawback only to be removed through the construction by the government either of macadamized roads or railroads, at the outset preferably the former. There are rich veins in all the mountainous lands between the Yaracuy River and the cities of San Felipe, Nirgua, and Barcelona. Near Carúpano large mines are being exploited by New York capitalists, who have been able to extract seven ounces per ton out of the ore mined; besides these there are also mines in the vicinity which contain rich deposits of silver, copper and lead.
The value, in average years, of Venezuelan gold production since 1896 has been:
1896$948,50018971,057,40018981,089,3001899593,5001900321,2001901321,2001902433,8001903600,00019151,280,21719161,479,2181917898,431
Copper ores are fairly common in the northern cordilleras, and likewise in the mines of Aroa in Yaracuy, 112 kilometers from Puerto Cabello. Here the pyrite veins occur in the Capache Limestone not far from the point where it has been crossed by a mass of granite. Copper ores are believed to exist in many other places in the mountains of Venezuela, especially in the mines of Seborneo and Bailadores. A rich deposit has recently been opened up near Pao in the northern part of the state of Cojedes. But the development of metals has been so retarded during the past year, that the South American Copper Syndicate Ltd., one of the principal concerns, has practically suspended operations and very little production has been realized since March, 1919. The normal output could not be maintained after the termination of the European war, which accounts for the disproportion observable between the years 1918-1919 in the production of gold and copper. In 1919, 653,456.77 grams of gold were mined as against 712,007.08 in 1918. In 1919, 2,090,290 kilograms of copper were produced as against 29,708,195 kilograms in 1918.
Many signs of hematite and magnetic iron occur in the coast of the Cordilleras in the mountains above Cora, Barinas, Barcelona, Cumaná and in many spots in the mountains of Parima; the most valuable ore is found near the river Imataca, a tributary of the lower Orinoco, eighty-six kilometers from the mouth. At one point the iron is only 487 meters from the river. There are inexhaustible deposits of magnetic mineral which give 80% pure metal, easily accessible and presenting little if any difficulty in transportation. The veins are said to be numerous and extensive. In 1901 seven hundred tons were shipped to Baltimore where the ore was examined and described as magnetic with 60-70% of iron content. The main deposit isknown as Imatoca, but there are several other well known deposits in close proximity such as El Salvador, Nicaragua, La Magdalena, El Encantado, Costa Rica and Yucatan.
Every natural advantage is afforded in the working and developing of iron ore deposits in Venezuela. In a metallic mine, value depends more upon its fertility and less upon its situation.
It is otherwise with coal. The value of a coal mine to a proprietor frequently depends as much upon its situation as upon its fertility; hence we may deduce the conclusion that the iron mines of Venezuela being both fertile and commercially well situated, should have a compelling interest for foreign capital, especially American capital, in its search for profitable fields of investment.
In many parts of the Caribbean Hills, the Segovia Highlands, the Andes as well as Maracaibo and the Coco Lowlands, deposits of coal exist, but have only been worked in a perfunctory manner in scattered regions. The coal mines west of Maracaibo have produced the best specimens, and seams of a similar nature have been opened near Coco by shallow workings. The most extensive coal mines are those of Naricual some fifteen miles east of Barcelona, where the partially explored area has revealed some hundred deposits of coal of regular formations measuring from 10 centimeters to 2 meters in thickness.
Coal, however, is not one of the great revenue paying staples, due to the fact that the mines are located in a country thinly inhabited, and without good roads or facilities for transportation by water.
Salt is perhaps the most profitable mineral for the government, due to the fact that it is a government monopoly. The State allows only certain specified companies to mine or otherwise obtain this staple. One of the richest deposits is the salina of Aroga, discovered by Nino in 1499. An extensive surface of pure sodium chloride is found here, which yields large annual incomes to the government. Salt is found in almost all regions of Venezuela as follows:
States and TerritoriesDeposits and MineZulia5Falcón20Carabobo5Anzoátequi7Sucre4Nueva Esparta10Guayana1Apure1BolívarGoagira6Colón564
The states of Táchira, Trujillo and Mérida use great quantities of yellow salt, white salt only being consumed in the regions near the salinas of Zulia. From 1874 to 1904 this commodity yielded $2,753,761.44 in revenue to the government.
In 1918 the extent of the mining industry was so broad that a special directory service was suggested by the Minister of Fomento, separate from the present Union of Mines, Government Lands, Industry and Commerce. Mining concessions in 1917 included 9 in iron, 14 in gold, 1 in copper and iron, 8 in copper and 1 in mica. In 1918, 9 were granted in gold, and 5 in iron. The production totalled:
Gold958,304gramsCopper42,270,900kilogramsAsphalt54,071,700"Petroleum18,248,524"Coal20,164,915"
Exports in 1917Companies.Metal.Quantity.Value.South American Copper Syndicate, Ltd.Gold902,510gramsB. 2,669,599.19La Cumaragua Sindicato BuriaCopper43,701,500KilogramsNat. GovernmentAsphalt47,124,000"So. American CoN. Y. & Bermúdez Co.Caribbean Petroleum Co.Petroleum8,650,700"
The general mining output of Venezuela in 1918 exhibited the following characteristics:
The production of coal was 25,332 tons in 1918 against 20,165 tons in 1917, all from the two mines operated by the government. Considerable improvements were made at the Naricual mines, and plans have been formulated involving the installation of briquetting machines, and the electrification of the mine by means of the falls of the Neveri River as the power source. The cost of coal at the pit was 13 bolivares ($2.51) per metric ton, and 40 bolivares ($7.72) when delivered to private parties.Copper production fell from 42,270 tons in 1917 to 29,708 tons of ore in 1918, probably owing to lack of vessels for transportation and the falling off of demand for the metal following the cessation of hostilities in Europe.Twelve companies were engaged in mining gold, the output being 958,304 grams in 1916 and 712,007 grams in 1918.Only one company produced commercial asphalt (46,453 tons). (See Report on Petroleum and Asphalt, p. 102.)The number of mining claims of all kinds taken out was 97 in 1917, 119 in 1918 and 135 in the first three months of 1919.
The production of coal was 25,332 tons in 1918 against 20,165 tons in 1917, all from the two mines operated by the government. Considerable improvements were made at the Naricual mines, and plans have been formulated involving the installation of briquetting machines, and the electrification of the mine by means of the falls of the Neveri River as the power source. The cost of coal at the pit was 13 bolivares ($2.51) per metric ton, and 40 bolivares ($7.72) when delivered to private parties.
Copper production fell from 42,270 tons in 1917 to 29,708 tons of ore in 1918, probably owing to lack of vessels for transportation and the falling off of demand for the metal following the cessation of hostilities in Europe.
Twelve companies were engaged in mining gold, the output being 958,304 grams in 1916 and 712,007 grams in 1918.
Only one company produced commercial asphalt (46,453 tons). (See Report on Petroleum and Asphalt, p. 102.)
The number of mining claims of all kinds taken out was 97 in 1917, 119 in 1918 and 135 in the first three months of 1919.
James J. O'Neil.