Catavi
Encyclopedia
Catavi is a tin
mine
in Bolivia
, near the city of Llallagua
in the province of Bustillos, Potosí Department
. Along with the Siglo XX
mine, it is part of a mining complex in the area.
By the late 1920's, after Patiño bought the Chilean Llallagua mining company, the region was still called Llallagua - a name that was retained by the large town next to the mining concession. Under Patiño, those facilities grew, since he consolidated the operations of his Salvadora mine and mills he had in Uncia (a few miles away), and of the other mines he acquired in the region. The main mine in the Llallagua mountain has been known as Siglo XX since then. But, folklore has mixed up the use of names for that large mining complex.
What is clear is that there never was a mine named Catavi. Catavi was the name of the large complex of mills, administrative buildings, warehouses, repair shops, etc. In addition, there were some large housing camps, church, school, hospital and other facilities that served the mining population.
Patiño's first struck it rich in his La Salvadora mine, on the far SW side of the Llallagua mountain complex; that mine allowed him to buy other mines in the area, capping his efforts with the Llallagua purchase in the mid-1920s. After that, Simón Iturri Patiño was dubbed the "King of Tin." The Catavi-Siglo XX comples was the site of continual labor strife since the early 1940s, and its mineworkers were active in the Union Federation of Bolivian Mine Workers
(FSTMB).
The mine was nationalized
following the "Bolivian National Revolution" of 1952, when the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
(MNR) and its allies overthrew the military junta
. Catavi and other mines were placed under the control of a new state agency, the Corporación Minera de Bolivia (COMIBOL). The Catavi-Siglo XX complex became the largest component of COMIBOL, employing up to more than 5,000 workers.
On June 24, 1967, government troops under the orders of General René Barrientos
and a new military junta marched on the mine and committed the largest massacre of workers in Bolivian history. The massacre occurred on St John the Baptist's Day, an indigenous holiday.
Over the following decades, the grade of the tin ores decayed, mines got deeper and production costs made it unprofitable. In 1987, as part of an economic restructuring deal with the IMF
and World Bank
, the government shut down production at Catavi.
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, near the city of Llallagua
Llallagua
Llallagua is a town in the Potosí Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Llallagua Municipality, the third municipal section of the Rafael Bustillo Province.- External links :*-References:*...
in the province of Bustillos, Potosí Department
Potosí Department
Potosí Department is a department in southwestern Bolivia. It comprises 118,218 km² with 709,013 inhabitants . The capital is the city of Potosí....
. Along with the Siglo XX
Siglo XX
Siglo XX is a tin mine in Bolivia. It is located in the city of Llallagua in the province of Bustillos, Potosí Department...
mine, it is part of a mining complex in the area.
History
Catavi was generally used as the name for the mining region or complex. After the Nationalization of mines of 1952, the company was known as Catavi Mining Co. (Empresa Minera Catavi); it was the largest mining company of the national corporation, COMIBOL.By the late 1920's, after Patiño bought the Chilean Llallagua mining company, the region was still called Llallagua - a name that was retained by the large town next to the mining concession. Under Patiño, those facilities grew, since he consolidated the operations of his Salvadora mine and mills he had in Uncia (a few miles away), and of the other mines he acquired in the region. The main mine in the Llallagua mountain has been known as Siglo XX since then. But, folklore has mixed up the use of names for that large mining complex.
What is clear is that there never was a mine named Catavi. Catavi was the name of the large complex of mills, administrative buildings, warehouses, repair shops, etc. In addition, there were some large housing camps, church, school, hospital and other facilities that served the mining population.
Patiño's first struck it rich in his La Salvadora mine, on the far SW side of the Llallagua mountain complex; that mine allowed him to buy other mines in the area, capping his efforts with the Llallagua purchase in the mid-1920s. After that, Simón Iturri Patiño was dubbed the "King of Tin." The Catavi-Siglo XX comples was the site of continual labor strife since the early 1940s, and its mineworkers were active in the Union Federation of Bolivian Mine Workers
Federación Sindical de Trabajadores Mineros de Bolivia
The Union Federation of Bolivian Mine Workers is a labor union in Bolivia that represents miners. Bolivia's miners are commonly regarded as the country's most class-conscious workers. The FSTMB has played an important role in Bolivia's recent history....
(FSTMB).
The mine was nationalized
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
following the "Bolivian National Revolution" of 1952, when the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement is a Bolivian political party, perhaps the most important in the country during the 20th century. At the legislative elections in 2002, the party won, in an alliance with the Free Bolivia Movement, 26.9% of the popular vote and 36 out of 130 seats in the...
(MNR) and its allies overthrew the military junta
Military dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
. Catavi and other mines were placed under the control of a new state agency, the Corporación Minera de Bolivia (COMIBOL). The Catavi-Siglo XX complex became the largest component of COMIBOL, employing up to more than 5,000 workers.
On June 24, 1967, government troops under the orders of General René Barrientos
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
and a new military junta marched on the mine and committed the largest massacre of workers in Bolivian history. The massacre occurred on St John the Baptist's Day, an indigenous holiday.
Over the following decades, the grade of the tin ores decayed, mines got deeper and production costs made it unprofitable. In 1987, as part of an economic restructuring deal with the IMF
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
and World Bank
World Bank Group
The World Bank Group is a family of five international organizations that makes leveraged loans, generally to poor countries.The Bank came into formal existence on 27 December 1945 following international ratification of the Bretton Woods agreements, which emerged from the United Nations Monetary...
, the government shut down production at Catavi.