Ruinas de Huanchaca
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Ruinas de Huanchaca (Quechua: "bridge of sorrow") is a former silver smelter in Antofagasta, Chile. The smelter was built from 1888 and 1892.[1][2] Compañía Minera Huanchaca built the smelter together with Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarril de Antofagasta. In 1902 this smelter ceased operations due to the instability of silver prices in the international market and the use of outdated smelter technology.[3][1][4] In addition, the Pulacayo mine in Bolivia that supplied the smelter was flooded.[1] Since January 7, 1974, it has been officially categorized as a National Historical Monument by Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales.