In October, 1985, discussions were held in Santiago in regard to the possibility of organizing a minerals industry conference in Chile in November, 1986, under the auspices of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy and in association with other bodies and organizations. I, in turn, was asked to chair the Organizing Committee and at our first meeting in London in November, 1985, we realized how little time we had if we were to meet the date proposed. In the event, thanks to considerable support from the Organizing Committee and others, coupled with the very good response from authors, we were able to put together a programme on a variety of topics, with some particular emphasis on operations in South America, and with special reference to Chile, that we regard as attractive. This is the first conference to have been organized by the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy in Chile, but it is intended that it should initiate a series to be held in Latin American countries. Chile has a long and healthy mining tradition and it is fitting, therefore, that it should have been chosen for the first such conference.

In November, 1986, the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy held the 'Mining Latin AmericalMineria Latinoamericana' conference in Chile - a conference covering a broad range of topics relevant to South America and, in that sense, complementary to its regional 'Asian Mining' and 'African Mining' series of events. This first conference proved to be a resounding success and confirmed that Chile, in particular, and South America, in general, were indeed ideal for the Institution in the pursuit of its objective of disseminating information related to the international minerals industry. In relation to South America, the Chilean conference was followed, in 1988, by that entitled 'Silver - exploration, mining and treatment', * which was held in Mexico City; in February, 1995, Caracas will host the 'Mineral resources of VenezuelalRecursos minerales de Venezuela' conference, serious planning for which is under way as I write. The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, in association with the Instituto de Ingenieros de Minas de Chile, Mineria Chilena and Latinomineria agreed that the second 'Mining Latin AmericalMineria Latinoamerica' conference should be held, again in Santiago, in May, 1994, on the occasion of the 1994 Expomin show, which had been been particularly successful in attracting visitors from mining countries worldwide in 1992 and which will continue, at two-yearly intervals, to the year 2000 and, no doubt, beyond.

For twenty-five years, Kendall Brown studied Potosí, Spanish America's greatest silver producer and perhaps the world's most famous mining district. He read about the flood of silver that flowed from its Cerro Rico and learned of the toil of its miners. Potosí symbolized fabulous wealth and unbelievable suffering. New World bullion stimulated the formation of the first world economy but at the same time it had profound consequences for labor, as mine operators and refiners resorted to extreme forms of coercion to secure workers. In many cases the environment also suffered devastating harm. All of this occurred in the name of wealth for individual entrepreneurs, companies, and the ruling states. Yet the question remains of how much economic development mining managed to produce in Latin America and what were its social and ecological consequences. Brown's focus on the legendary mines at Potosí and comparison of its operations to those of other mines in Latin America is a well-written and accessible study that is the first to span the colonial era to the present.

Mineral resources, mining, Latin America, statistical tables and statistical analysis - trends, industrial production, industrial policy, employment of miners, etc. Maps, photographs.

This volume of the Minerals Yearbook provides an annual review of mineral production and trade and of mineral-related government and industry developments in more than 175 foreign countries. It is normally published in separate books that cover specific regions. In this publication, the regional books are combined into one commemorative volume. These annual reviews are designed to provide timely statistical data on mineral commodities in various countries. Each report includes sections on government policies and programs, environmental issues, trade and production data, industry structure and ownership, commodity sector developments, infrastructure, and a summary outlook. More information is available on the three volumes of the Minerals Yearbook. Regional Areas Covered: Africa and the Middle East Asia and the Pacific Europe and Central Eurasia North America, Central America, and the Caribbean South America

This volume of the Minerals Yearbook provides an annual review of mineral production and trade and of mineral-related government and industry developments in more than 175 foreign countries. It is normally published in separate books that cover specific regions. In this publication, the regional books are combined into one commemorative volume. These annual reviews are designed to provide timely statistical data on mineral commodities in various countries. Each report includes sections on government policies and programs, environmental issues, trade and production data, industry structure and ownership, commodity sector developments, infrastructure, and a summary outlook. More information is available on the three volumes of the Minerals Yearbook. Regional Areas Covered: Africa and the Middle East Asia and the Pacific Europe and Central Eurasia North America, Central America, and the Caribbean South America

This landmark work constitutes a complete historical, sociological, and political view of religion as a cultural expression in Latin America. Parker shows how, beginning with the arrival of the conquistadors, religion has played a transcendent role in shaping the national cultures of the region, particularly its popular cultures, and continues to do so. Parker argues that while capitalistic modernization and urbanization do lead to secularization, this process is not linear or progressive. Secularization in Latin America does not destroy its religious fabric but rather transforms it, accentuating its pluralistic character. Christianity, and particularly Roman Catholicism, has influenced Latin American identity and culture most profoundly. But it has by no means been the sole influence, nor has Christianity itself remained unchanged in the process. As a product of history and capitalistic modernization, the trait of religion that emerges most clearly is that of cultural and religious pluralism.

First published in 1997, this is the first of two volumes. It looks at the process of European expansion which brought into contact societies and cultures across the world which had been initially alien to one another. Conflict, and violent conflict, was one aspect of this interaction, but accommodation, mutual adaptation, and institutional and behavioural synthesis were also present though often biased in favour of European norms. The intent of this book is to avoid treating ’colonization’, ’dominance’ and exploitation’ as the only focuses of attention. In the first volume Robert Forster explores issues of formative influences, the impact of Eurocentrism on historiography and the reaction against it, and the differing approaches and perceptions of the Europeans, notably the Spanish, French and English. In this period he distinguishes three modes of interaction: that of the trading empires, generally in Africa and Asia, where the European control of the encounter was slighter; and those of the regions of settlement, as in North America, and of exploitation, typified by the Caribbean, where the European impact was profound. The second volume focuses on the Americas, and uses the topics of religion, class, gender, and race as its points of entry.

The years between 1930 and 1979 witnessed a period of intense labor activity in Latin America as workers participated in strikes, unionization efforts, and populist and revolutionary movements. The ten original essays AEMDNMOin this volume examine sugar mill seizures in Cuba, oil nationalization and railway strikes in Mexico, the attempted revolution in Guatemala, railway nationalization and Peronism in Argentina, Brazil's textile strikes, the Bolivian revolution of 1952, Peru's copper strikes, and the copper nationalization in Chile--all important national events in which industrial laborers played critical roles. Demonstrating an illuminating, bottom-up approach to Latin American labor history, these essays investigate the everyday acts through which workers attempted to assert more control over the work process and thereby add dignity to their lives. Working together, they were able to bring shop floor struggles to public attention and--at certain critical junctures--to influence events on a national scale. The contributors are Andrew Boeger, Michael Marconi Braga, Jonathan C. Brown, Josh DeWind, Marc Christian McLeod, Michael Snodgrass, Andrea Spears, Joanna Swanger, Maria Celina Tuozzo, and Joel Wolfe.