The present town of El Volcán, located about 1400 meters 80 kilometers from Santiago and 30 kilometers from San José de Maipo, the fixed settlement was more than a thousand workers exploited the medium mining copper, thereby contributing to the development of our community, and even our country at great profit for the time, becoming, as mentioned Mauricio Folchi (Volcano, 1841 1976 History of a mining site. Mauricio Folchi), a major producing mines copper nationally in late 1800 and early 1900.
Located in the middle range and bordered by the river volcano, this town is known for its extreme climate, bitter cold and snow in winter and intense heat in summer
Historia
To know the history of the town El Volcan it is necessary to remember that the origin of our commune or old Villa San José de Maipo, founded in 1792, responds exclusively to the need to create, by order of the Governor of Chile Ambrosio O Higgins, a place that will shelter the population that worked in the works of the silver mine San Pedro de Nolasco. However, not only was this mine exploited by workers who needed to settle, but since 1700 mining was already developing in different parts of our district, as in El Volcán.
The current town of El Volcán, located about 1400 meters high 80 kilometers from Santiago and 30 kilometers from San José de Maipo, was the permanent settlement of more than a thousand workers who exploited the medium-sized copper mining sector, contributing to the development of our commune, and even of our country, with great profits for the time, becoming, as mentioned by Mauricio Folchi (El Volcán, 1841-1976. History of a mining enclave, Mauricio Folchi), one of the main producing mines of copper nationwide in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Located in the middle of the mountain range and bordered by the Volcán River, this town is characterized by its extreme climate, strong cold and snow in winter and intense heat in summer. These geographical and climatic conditions lived the miners who exploited the mines of the town since ancient times. This is the case of the first indigenous miners: hunter-gatherers who lived or traveled these lands and who dedicated themselves to the artisanal exploitation of silver and copper by means of the manufacture of kilns with stones that, after heating them, melted the ore and then fell into a "tray", from where it was removed.
Following what was reported by Don Eitel Miller, former administrator of Merceditas, the main mines exploited in this way were La Carlota and San SimĂłn. After this initial period of mining exploitation, this task was carried out by different independent miners, who exploited the mines autonomously until 1884, when they were grouped and formed the Maipo Mining Company, headed by Gregorio Donoso.
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