Juan Godoy
Juan Godoy | |
---|---|
Born | Juan Godoy 1800 |
Died | 1842[1] | (aged 41–42)
Known for | Discovered silver ore in Chañarcillo, sparking the Chilean silver rush |
Juan Godoy (1800 – 1842) was a Chilean farmer and miner who in 1832 discovered an outcrop (reventón) of silver 50 km (31 mi) south of Copiapó in Chañarcillo sparking the Chilean silver rush.[2]
Godoy was born to Flora Normilla, an indigenous woman, in the reduction of San Fernando in 1800.[1][3] Later he was baptised in the town of Copiapó.[1] Godoy is referred to in sources as a mestizo, implying his father was not indigenous.[1] His surname Godoy is a hispanization of Normilla.[3] He worked variously as goatherd and farmer with his mother but also as miner and woodcutter before the discovery of Chañarcillo.[2][1][3] Godoy was very likely illiterate.[3][4] It is said that Godoy found the outcrop while hunting guanacos.[5] Godoy was able to recognise the silver outcrop since he had previously worked in mining as explosives driller (barretero) and apire (apir).[1][5] According to folklore Godoy was guided to the riches of Chañarcillo by an alicanto, a bird pertaining to Chilean mythology.[6]
He successfully claimed the associated mining rights for the silver outcrop for himself and his brother José Godoy.
Having squandered the fortune earned from the selling of his minings rights Godoy sought and was granted work in La Descubridora by Gallo.[9] The conditions of work offered by Gallo were favourable and Godoy was able to make a small fortune again which allowed him to quit work and move to the city of La Serena.[9] In La Serena Godoy settled as a farmer and married again.[9] Godoy is known to have died in his 40s and left his second wife and children in poverty.[9] When this came to light the Mining Council of Copiapó (Junta Minera de Copiapó) made a grant to Godoy's widow and sons.[9]
The settlement at the foot of the Chañarcillo mountain was named Pueblo de Juan Godoy in 1846.[9] The mineral juangodoyite (Na2Cu(CO3)2) was named after him in 2005.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Cortés 2017, p. 8.
- ^ a b c Villalobos, Sergio; Silva, Osvaldo; Silva Fernando and Estelle, Patricio. Historia de Chile. Editorial Universitaria 1995. First Edition: 1974. p. 469-472.
- ^ a b c d "Juan Godoy". cmn.cl (in Spanish). Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales de Chile. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Cortés 2017, p. 7.
- ^ a b "Juan Godoy y Chañarcillo". mch.cl (in Spanish). 17 November 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ISBN 978-956-324-375-8.
- ^ "Juan Godoy". cmn.cl (in Spanish). Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales de Chile. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Los ciclos mineros del cobre y la plata. Memoria Chilena.
- ^ a b c d e f Cortés 2017, p. 9.
- ^ Reconocimiento a los personajes de la geología de Chile a través de la mineralogía
- Bibliography
- Cortés Lutz, Guillermo (2017). Chañarcillo, cuando de las montañas brotó la plata (PDF). Cuadernos de Historia (in Spanish). Vol. II. Museo Regional de Atacama.