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The use of Nitratine or Chilean Saltpeter once an important source of nitrates for fertilizer and other chemical uses including gunpowder and fireworks.

The commencement of the export of nitrates to the Europe and the US in the 1830s marked the most important milestone in the history of the nitrate industry and brought consequences for the economies of the three countries sharing the Atacama Desert: Chile, Perú and Bolivia.

Antofagasta was founded in 1868, in October 1869 the extraction of nitrates commenced in Oficina Salar del Carmen, the first nitrate producing plant. In 1871, the Nitrate Railway was inaugurated, running from Iquique to La Noria in Peru. In 1873, the Peruvian Government established the Nitrate Trust (state monopoly), which was controlled from Tarapacá until the 1879–1883 "War of the Pacific". This political event was based on the boom of new "Oficinas salitreras" ("Saltpeter works") of quarrying nitratine to extract nitrate.

Since World War I the industry has been supplanted by fixing nitrogen from the air as the main source of nitrogen.

This is a list of saltpeter works in the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions. The information regarding Saltpeter works on this page is compiled from the data supplied by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Country Files (GNS). Unique Feature Identifier (UFI) is a number which uniquely identifies a Geoname feature. Same UFI means same feature.

List of Saltpeter works in Tarapacá and Antofagasta Region

Oficina Latitude Longitude UFI Trinidad -19.550751 -70.085782 -894178 Paccha -19.565059 -70.023938 -894115 Jazpampa -19.572428 -70.023959 -894089 San Antonio de Zapiga -19.617482 -69.978589 -894147 AragonAragón -19.625763 -69.959791 -894032 Enriqueta -19.651981 -69.961225 -894076 Sacramento -19.658865 -69.960986 -894143 Carolina -19.666667 -70.05 -894055 San Patricio -19.671302 -69.949181 -894156 Los Pozos -19.673801 -69.983738 -894102 California -19.676873 -70.049429 -894048 Dolores -19.677805 -69.945837 -879800 Victoria -19.694192 -70.011317 -894184 UnionUnión -19.70017 -69.953725 -894179 Sal dei Obispo -19.701493 -69.970242 -894165 Santa Rita -19.701493 -69.970242 -894165 CaminaCamiña -19.705671 -69.917204 -894050 Porvenir -19.714015 -69.931426 -894129 LimonLimón -19.7 -69.966667 -894099 Angela ViejaÁngela Vieja -19.741527 -69.908196 -894029 Chinquiquiray -19.744675 -69.940149 -894060 La Patria -19.755316 -69.935761 -894092 Aguada -19.774055 -69.908088 -894021 Asturias -19.787698 -69.897289 -894035 Amelia -19.837628 -69.861603 -894026 Aurora -19.845979 -69.856975 -894037 Mercedes -19.855886 -69.859302 -894109 Josefina -19.872306 -69.82562 -894090 Progreso -19.872555 -69.835088 -894131 Agua Santa -19.881435 -69.876308 -894022 Barcelona -19.888829 -69.791632 -873177 Slavia -19.891475 -69.852938 -894174 Primitiva -19.918645 -69.804353 -894130 Las Tres MariasLas Tres Marías -19.942453 -69.813213 -894094 ValparaisoValparaíso -19.952048 -69.830192 -894181 San Jorge -19.958356 -69.813581 -894151 Santa Rosa de Huara -20.000584 -69.781812 -901160 Constancia -20.010831 -69.775747 -894065 RamirezRamírez -20.050269 -69.743608 -894135 Santiago -20.051856 -69.768544 -894166 Mapocho -20.083333 -69.75 -894104 San Donato -20.108486 -69.74967 -894148 Pena GrandePeña Grande -20.116667 -69.783333 -894121 Baquedano -20.134625 -69.755307 -894042 San José -20.16164 -69.777209 -900430 Pena Chica, OficinaPeña Chica, Oficina -20.166667 -69.833333 -895706 Kerima -20.177153 -69.78238 -885584 Pena ChicaPeña Chica -20.180779 -69.801984 -894120 Humberstone (Ex-La Palma) -20.208047 -69.795423 -884741 Santa Laura -20.211143 -69.812979 -901026 Nebraska -20.2 -69.85 -893375 Cala-Cala -20.227976 -69.799378 -874636 Buen Retiro -20.233333 -69.816667 -894047 Carmen Bajo -20.273339 -69.789996 -894054 San Andrés -20.283333 -69.783333 -894145 San Manuel -20.287568 -69.772137 -894153 Serena -20.296056 -69.775357 -894172 San Esteban -20.316667 -69.75 -894150 Sara -20.325079 -69.753255 -894168 Las Carpas -20.333333 -70.016667 -887732 La Tirana -20.335518 -69.656707 -888534 Paposo -20.35 -69.866667 -894118 Limeña -20.366667 -69.9 -894098 Cholita -20.373378 -69.878587 -894061 Sebastopol -20.383333 -69.916667 -894171 CondorCóndor -20.392843 -70.011505 -894064 San Enrique -20.407103 -69.84198 -894149 Viga -20.414768 -69.893692 -894187 Sacramento -20.416667 -69.833333 -894142 San Pedro -20.416667 -69.9 -894157 San Antonio -20.416667 -69.9 -900125 AdriaticoAdriático -20.4 -69.933333 -894020 San Enrique -20.4 -69.866667 -900257 Victoria -20.433333 -69.05 -894185 Argentina -20.435847 -69.864649 -872551 Pirineo -20.449232 -70.031223 -894126 Santa Elena -20.45 -69.783333 -894161 Providencia -20.453338 -69.993508 -894133 San Pablo -20.457292 -69.848845 -894155 Ponte Vedra -20.460112 -69.902208 -894128 Diana -20.466667 -69.766667 -894070 Santa Ana -20.47645 -69.905884 -894159 Gloria Victoria -20.477913 -69.953576 -894084 CorunaCoruña -20.483333 -69.883333 -894067 ResurreccionResurrección -20.483333 -70 -894137 San Lorenzo -20.483333 -69.966667 -894152 Virginia -20.483333 -69.8 -894188 Felisa -20.5 -69.9 -894080 San Remigio -20.5 -69.9 -894158 Santa LuciaSanta Lucía -20.525699 -69.959426 -894164 Anita Pintados -20.548496 -69.750143 -894030 Mosquitos -20.554971 -69.722058 -893068 Gloria -20.574362 -69.993051 -894083 Mena Vilana -20.596196 -69.702188 -894112 Aurrera -20.642482 -69.630034 -894038 Pan de AzucarPan de Azúcar -20.694895 -69.734185 -894117 Diez de Septiembre -20.696103 -69.701583 -894071 Victoria -20.716667 -69.683333 -894186 Brac -20.733333 -69.7 -904339 Victoria -20.733333 -69.7 -904339 Victoria -20.740547 -69.659977 -894183 Alianza -20.766667 -69.7 -871794 Pozo Granja -20.819409 -69.540906 -897214 Bellavista -20.82276 -69.720449 -894043 Buenaventura -20.835575 -69.717824 -874162 Slavonia -20.85 -69.733333 -894078 La Granja -20.902554 -69.619369 -886390 Iris -20.911023 -69.632315 -894088 Lagunas Norte -20.968118 -69.67982 -893853 Lagunas -20.982377 -69.672023 -876096 Lagunas Sur -20.999419 -69.666116 -886469 Andrés -21.858587 -69.563535 -894146 Santa Fé -21.86256 -69.565618 -894162 Joya -21.885144 -69.434945 -894091 Iberia -21.942359 -69.594399 -894087 Grutas -21.966667 -69.616667 -894086 Prosperidad -21.975523 -69.607833 -894132 Rica Aventura -21.985481 -69.60945 -894138 Esperanza Nitrate Company -22.016667 -69.633333 -874154 Buena Esperanza -22.022513 -69.626972 -894046 Empresa -22.038651 -69.621618 -894075 Peregrinos -22.066667 -69.6 -894122 Toco -22.070638 -69.613741 -894176 Santa Isabel -22.083333 -69.6 -894163 Santa Ana -22.116667 -69.583333 -894160 Maria ElenaMaría Elena -22.344486 -69.661775 -894107 Coya (later María Elena) -22.416667 -69.633333 -894069 Vergara -22.466667 -69.633333 -894182 Pedro de Valdivia -22.597292 -69.667393 -894119 Los Dones -22.71236 -69.775475 -890182 Lina -22.823529 -69.312331 -894100 Higinio Astoreca -22.872456 -69.818544 -894025 Aconcagua -22.950104 -69.372866 -871203 Angamos -22.977802 -69.463233 -894028 ConcepcionConcepción -22.983333 -69.383333 -894063 CuricoCuricó -22.989206 -69.391872 -878180 Filomena -23.007874 -69.408899 -894081 Maria -23.033501 -69.456395 -894106 MariaMaría -23.034766 -69.455049 -894105 Luisis -23.038865 -69.518268 -894103 Perseverancia -23.049155 -69.397168 -894123 Cecilia -23.05 -69.516667 -875984 Anita Antofagasta -23.059285 -69.499304 -894031 Ausonia -23.068968 -69.542286 -894039 Araucana -23.085246 -69.450338 -894033 Pinto -23.086443 -69.510422 -894125 Arturo Prat -23.100142 -69.505954 -894034 Carmela -23.104632 -69.564754 -894052 Edwards -23.120286 -69.544241 -894074 Ossa -23.130208 -69.584115 -894114 Ercilla -23.134143 -69.875888 -894077 Chacabuco -23.146229 -69.617448 -876218 Celia -23.148974 -69.667476 -894059 Aurelia -23.15 -69.616667 -894036 Carlos Condell -23.157893 -69.679395 -894051 Lastenia -23.166667 -69.6 -894093 Puelma -23.184007 -69.662477 -894134 Sargento Aldea -23.200132 -69.686464 -894169 Blanca Encalada -23.210429 -69.618437 -894044 Lautaro -23.519651 -69.343335 -894096 San Antonio -23.519651 -69.343335 -894096 Domeyko -23.783333 -69.35 -894072 Savona -23.785888 -69.406553 -894170 Pissis -23.8 -69.366667 -894127 Cochrane -23.823816 -69.288788 -894062 Castilla -23.899985 -69.838636 -894056 Americana -23.953655 -69.772849 -894027 Pampa Rica -24.050691 -69.9351 -894116 Oriente -24.055048 -69.790865 -894113 Yugoslavia -24.056345 -69.829087 -894190 Pepita -24.076474 -69.865386 -894068 Eugenia -24.133333 -69.9 -882460 Avanzada -24.137808 -69.743245 -894040 Petronila -24.15 -69.85 -896003 Esmeralda -24.156086 -69.885505 -894079 Eugenia -24.175166 -69.869258 -887038 Santiago -24.179758 -69.917254 -894167 Maria TeresaMaría Teresa -24.20824 -69.855852 -894108 Renacimiento -24.224715 -69.803595 -894136 San Gregorio -24.224715 -69.803595 -894136 Bonasort -24.226065 -69.894478 -894045 San MartinSan Martín -24.264648 -69.826443 -894154 ValparaisoValparaíso -24.264648 -69.826443 -894154 Rosario -24.313322 -69.970278 -894140 Dominador -24.366667 -69.516667 -894073 Salinitas -25.04149 -69.946783 -894144 José Antonio Moreno -25.058774 -69.880203 -894111 Sud America -25.119174 -69.661046 -894175 Chile -25.15 -69.9 -876923 Alemania -25.155954 -69.907162 -894024 Atacama -25.201029 -69.842443 -872737 CaupolicanCaupolicán -25.2 -69.716667 -894058 Santa Luisa -25.232142 -70.134263 -882494 Rosario -25.240858 -69.789199 -894139 Portezuelo -25.295212 -70.097356 -897026 Ballena -25.305827 -69.684102 -894041 Flor de Chile -25.316667 -69.8 -894082 Lilita -25.323511 -69.66812 -894097 Esperanza -25.333333 -69.733333 -882317 UnionUnión -25.340371 -69.79449 -894180 Tricolor -25.356213 -69.886314 -894177 Los Amigos -25.443238 -69.929322 -894101 Miraflores -25.444734 -69.822048 -894110 RepublicaRepública -25.467907 -69.801817 -894173 SeverinSeverín -25.467907 -69.801817 -894173 Catalina del Sur -25.494402 -69.783583 -894057

Some of the works can be found in the maps

See also

• Pedro Gamboni
• Media related to Category:History of saltpeter works at Wikimedia Commons
• Media related to Category:Saltpeter works of Chile at Wikimedia Commons

References

1. "Album Desierto - History about Nitrate (English)".
2. History of the Haber process
3. The data was retrieved on 19 January 2013 and was selected from records with "Oficina" as a place name.

External links

• Album del Desierto maps, fotos, facts.
• Fichas Salitreras gives a list of salitreras, but without coordinates.

• Saltpeter works in Chile
• Atacama Desert
• History museums in Chile
• Museums in Tarapacá Region
• Ghost towns in South America
• Buildings and structures in Tarapacá Region
• Former populated places in Chile
• World Heritage Sites in Chile