The treasure beds of the Andes, as they have been exploited for centuries, are in the Sierra, though the output of the precious metals in the Coast Region has been great. The Department of Ancachs, which comes down to the sea, has enormous mineral wealth. The district lies within the two Andean chains which parallel the Pacific, and which are known as the White Cordillera and the Black Cordillera, the latter being nearer the coast. Raimondi, whose studies and surveys were the basis of much subsequent exploitation, estimated that this Department could supply for export 700,000 tons of minerals annually for an indefinite number of years. Silver, gold, and copper are the chief sources of mineral wealth. In the Cerro de Pasco district, since control was secured by the American syndicate, the copper output is more important than the silver production. Yet it is doubtful whether, notwithstanding the possibilities of the nobler metals, Peru has not more to hope from coal as a new industry during the next few years and especially during and after the Panama Canal construction period, than from gold and silver.
The petroleum deposits are in the north between Tumbez and Paita, around Talara, Zorritos, and Cape Blanco. Several of the English companies were not very successful, owing to bad management. The French company seemed to have the promise of better results. No contention is made that the oil is not there. In 1905 the output of the districts of Amotope and Tumbez was placed at 12,000,000 gallons. The supply which is now obtained is utilized as fuel on the railways and in many of the smelters. The value of the annual production is approximately $750,000.
Government data regarding mining often are tinctured with the enthusiasm of the private prospector, yet for guidance the distribution of the minerals as they are given in official publications may be quoted. I have not undertaken to present the complete statistics of production, not only because they are confusing and unsatisfactory, but also because local and temporary conditions destroyed their value as an index of the normal output.[8] An example of this was afforded by the practical suspension of silver and copper mining in the Cerro de Pasco properties of the American syndicate until the new railroad could be completed and the smelters built and put in operation. But for the prospector and the capitalist the preliminary information that is desired may be accepted in the form adopted by the government, that is, the geographical distribution of the minerals:
Gold—Paucartambo, La Mar, Union, Angaraes, Cajamarca, Otuzco, Luya, Huamachuco, Arequipa, Aymaraes, Huamalies, Carabaya, Sandia, Tayacaja, Ica, Huanuco.
Gold Washings—Marañon, Inambari, and nearly all the rivers that flow from the eastern side of the Andes.
Silver—Hualgayoc, Recuay, Yauli, Huancavelica, Pallasca, Pataz, Cailloma, Castrovirreyna, Cerro de Pasco.
Copper—Huaylas, Huaraz, Camana, Yauli, Cerro de Pasco, Ica.
Mercury-Cinnabar—Huancavelica, Chonta, Dos de Mayo, Puno.
Iron—Piura, Larez, Calca, Huaraz.
Sulphur—Tumbez, Paita, Chancay, Huaraz, Huarochiri, Cangallo, Arequipa, Camana, Moquegua, Tarata.