Transporte de mercurio desde Huancavelica a Potosí en el Perú colonial

espanolLa mina de mercurio (azogue) de Huancavelica fue de capital importancia para la economia colonial al aportar el elemento que permitia recuperar la plata de las menas argentiferas de Potosi y de otras minas menores como Porco u Oruro. En este sistema productivo, el transporte desde Huancavelica a las minas del altiplano, a 1.700 km de distancia, constituyo un reto que el virrey Toledo supo afrontar y resolver logrando que, durante la mayor parte de la epoca colonial, el azogue de Huancavelica estuviera a disposicion de los mineros potosinos para su uso en la amalgamacion. En el presente trabajo se describe la problematica del transporte del azogue entre las minas de Huancavelica y Potosi, su complejidad e incidencia, que es justo se reconozca por su importancia en la recuperacion de la plata que contribuyo a modificar el orden economico europeo y mundial en los siglos XVI y XVII. EnglishThe mercury (quicksilver) mine of Huancavelica played an essential role in the colonial economy, as it provided the mercury needed to recover silver from the silver-bearing ore extracted from the mines of Potosi, as well as smaller mines such as Porco and Oruro. This production system required transporting the mercury from Huancavelica to the high plateau mines of Potosi, a distance of 1,700 km, which posed enormous logistical challenges. Viceroy Toledo was responsible for meeting and overcoming these challenges, which he did so successfully that for most of the colonial era the mercury mined at Huancavelica was used by the miners at the Potosi´s mines in the amalgamation process. This paper discusses the complex transportation issues that were involved in transporting mercury from Huancavelica to Potosi, and analyses its crucial role in the economy, as the silver recovered from this mercury significantly contributed to shaping the European and world order in the XVI and XVII centuries.