Kami Mine

Kami Mine sits in the heart of the Andean cordillera, Ayopaya Province, Cochabamba, Bolivia, at coordinates 17° 23' 15'' S, 66° 49' 39'' W. This remote area, with elevations ranging from 2,900 m to 4,350 m, is surrounded by hilly, unstable terrain, with nearby settlements like Colchani (14.2 km away) and Colquiri (31.7 km away). The landscape features sinuous roads and deep valleys, rich in aquifers and peat, making it a challenging yet captivating destination.

The mine is a treasure trove for collectors, producing tungsten and tin as primary commodities, alongside 36 valid minerals. Standouts include arsenic, arsenopyrite, augelite, baryte, bismuth, bismuthinite, brannerite, cassiterite, chalcanthite, chalcopyrite, dravite, ferberite, fluorapatite, fluorite, galena, gold, hematite, jamesonite, jarosite, jeromite, langite, lazulite, limonite, magnetite, malachite, marcasite, melanterite, muscovite, pitticite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, quartz, scorodite, siderite, sphalerite, tungstite, vivianite, and wurtzite. Notably, it’s famous for Japan-law twinned quartz with inclusions and is the first known locality for jeromite not produced by a mine fire.

Geologically, Kami Mine features high-temperature hydrothermal veins within tourmalinized hornfels country rock. Japan-law twinning in quartz is common, often with inclusions of arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, or marcasite, and coated with scorodite and pitticite. Brannerite inclusions surrounded by radiation halos in quartz crystals add to its scientific interest, showcasing the dynamic processes of the Andes.

Historically, Kami Mine was operated by the state-owned Corporación Minera de Bolivia until the late 1960s, now managed by cooperatives. It extracts tungsten, tin, and traces of silver, gold, and antimony. Working conditions are harsh, with narrow shafts requiring crawling entry and manual extraction using ropes and wheelbarrows. Miners face "mal de mina," a tuberculosis-like lung disease, often leading to early death, leaving widows and children who sometimes work as "palliris."

The mining center is a vibrant, disorganized community with houses of adobe and tapial, roofs of straw or calamina, scattered along the main road. Key landmarks include the Hospital María Auxiliadora and Unidad Educativa Simón Bolívar. The economy blends mining with agriculture (potatoes, oca, barley, wheat, corn, fruits) and livestock (sheep, llamas), with indigenous communities relying on farming. Women contribute as "palliris," manually extracting minerals from discarded earth.

At altitudes of 3,600–4,500 msnm, Kami Mine experiences a cold Andean climate, with winters dropping to -15 °C. It has two seasons: a cold dry period (April–October) and a cold wet period (December–March). The unstable terrain necessitates lightweight buildings, with the landscape featuring the Andean cordillera, deep valleys, and rich aquifers and peat.