Nicholas A. Robins holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University and is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of History at North Carolina State University. He is the author of numerous books concerning Latin America, and founder of the non-profit Environmental Health Council.

• Acknowledgements ixGlossary xiIntroduction 11. Huaca-villca: From Geological Formation to Spanish Conquest 212. The Pachacuti: Colonization, Catastrophe and the Rise of Mercury 363. “A Horrible Business”: The Mita 734. The Bourbon Era: Reform and Resentment 965. “They All Come to Die”: Mining, Mishaps and Mercurialism 1086. Desuetude, Decay and Neglect: The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 141Epilogue 155Bibliography 165Appendix 199Table 1 Total mercury (Hg) in soil in mg/kg remedial investigation Huancavelica, Peru 199Table 2 Total mercury in Earthen homes (dust, walls, floors, and vapor) remedial investigation Huancavelica, Peru 201Table 3 Mercury, Arsenic and Lead in Huancavelica and area rock samples 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 204 Table 4 Food stock, water, and sediment sample results 2016 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 206Table 5 Residential vapor results 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 208Table 6 Soil sample results using X-ray florescence 2016 field event Huancavelica, Peru 209Table 7 Total mercury in fish tissue 2016 field event Huancavelica, Peru 212Table 8 Residential sample results using X-ray fluorescence 2016 field event Huancavelica. Peru 213Index 215

"Based on a wide range of primary documents, this very accessible and well-researched book on the historical evolution of mercury mining in Peru from the pre-Columbian era to the present explores the characteristics of production and its environmental consequences. [...] Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries" - A. Vergara, California State University, Los Angeles, in: Choice, February 2018

Nicholas A. Robins holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University and is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of History at North Carolina State University. He is the author of numerous books concerning Latin America, and founder of the non-profit Environmental Health Council.

• Acknowledgements ixGlossary xiIntroduction 11. Huaca-villca: From Geological Formation to Spanish Conquest 212. The Pachacuti: Colonization, Catastrophe and the Rise of Mercury 363. “A Horrible Business”: The Mita 734. The Bourbon Era: Reform and Resentment 965. “They All Come to Die”: Mining, Mishaps and Mercurialism 1086. Desuetude, Decay and Neglect: The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 141Epilogue 155Bibliography 165Appendix 199Table 1 Total mercury (Hg) in soil in mg/kg remedial investigation Huancavelica, Peru 199Table 2 Total mercury in Earthen homes (dust, walls, floors, and vapor) remedial investigation Huancavelica, Peru 201Table 3 Mercury, Arsenic and Lead in Huancavelica and area rock samples 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 204 Table 4 Food stock, water, and sediment sample results 2016 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 206Table 5 Residential vapor results 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 208Table 6 Soil sample results using X-ray florescence 2016 field event Huancavelica, Peru 209Table 7 Total mercury in fish tissue 2016 field event Huancavelica, Peru 212Table 8 Residential sample results using X-ray fluorescence 2016 field event Huancavelica. Peru 213Index 215

"Based on a wide range of primary documents, this very accessible and well-researched book on the historical evolution of mercury mining in Peru from the pre-Columbian era to the present explores the characteristics of production and its environmental consequences. [...] Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries" - A. Vergara, California State University, Los Angeles, in: Choice, February 2018

Nicholas A. Robins holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University and is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of History at North Carolina State University. He is the author of numerous books concerning Latin America, and founder of the non-profit Environmental Health Council.

• Acknowledgements ixGlossary xiIntroduction 11. Huaca-villca: From Geological Formation to Spanish Conquest 212. The Pachacuti: Colonization, Catastrophe and the Rise of Mercury 363. “A Horrible Business”: The Mita 734. The Bourbon Era: Reform and Resentment 965. “They All Come to Die”: Mining, Mishaps and Mercurialism 1086. Desuetude, Decay and Neglect: The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 141Epilogue 155Bibliography 165Appendix 199Table 1 Total mercury (Hg) in soil in mg/kg remedial investigation Huancavelica, Peru 199Table 2 Total mercury in Earthen homes (dust, walls, floors, and vapor) remedial investigation Huancavelica, Peru 201Table 3 Mercury, Arsenic and Lead in Huancavelica and area rock samples 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 204 Table 4 Food stock, water, and sediment sample results 2016 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 206Table 5 Residential vapor results 2015 pilot study Huancavelica, Peru 208Table 6 Soil sample results using X-ray florescence 2016 field event Huancavelica, Peru 209Table 7 Total mercury in fish tissue 2016 field event Huancavelica, Peru 212Table 8 Residential sample results using X-ray fluorescence 2016 field event Huancavelica. Peru 213Index 215

"Based on a wide range of primary documents, this very accessible and well-researched book on the historical evolution of mercury mining in Peru from the pre-Columbian era to the present explores the characteristics of production and its environmental consequences. [...] Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries" - A. Vergara, California State University, Los Angeles, in: Choice, February 2018