Juan Godoy

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Juan Godoy
Statue of Juan Godoy in Copiapó
Born
Juan Godoy

1800
Died1842(1842-00-00) (aged 41–42)[1]
Known forDiscovered 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.

La Descubridora (lit. The Discovery).[7] Just a week later Gallo bought all rights from Godoy and his brother.[4] The finding attracted thousands of people to the place and generated significant wealth.[8] The amount paid for the rights to the Godoy brothers amounted to as little as 0.5% of the earnings of the mine in 1834.[1]

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cortés 2017, p. 8.
  2. ^ a b c Villalobos, Sergio; Silva, Osvaldo; Silva Fernando and Estelle, Patricio. Historia de Chile. Editorial Universitaria 1995. First Edition: 1974. p. 469-472.
  3. ^ a b c d "Juan Godoy". cmn.cl (in Spanish). Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales de Chile. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cortés 2017, p. 7.
  5. ^ a b "Juan Godoy y Chañarcillo". mch.cl (in Spanish). 17 November 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  6. .
  7. ^ "Juan Godoy". cmn.cl (in Spanish). Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales de Chile. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  8. ^ Los ciclos mineros del cobre y la plata. Memoria Chilena.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Cortés 2017, p. 9.
  10. ^ Reconocimiento a los personajes de la geología de Chile a través de la mineralogía
Bibliography