Cerro Rico was once the world's largest silver deposit, leading to the exploitation of indigenous labor by Spanish colonizers.

• Over 500 years, miners have nearly depleted the silver in the mountain.
• Forced labor under Spanish rule in the 1500s began the mining tradition for many indigenous families.
• What remains today are mostly zinc, tin, and lead, as the mountain is now porous and unstable.

Potosi, once rich due to the mountain's silver, is now one of the poorest areas, and the mountain's stability is compromised.

• Potosi is situated at a high altitude, and the Rich Mountain, or Cerro Rico, looms over it.
• Luciano, a semi-retired miner, lives in a modest home at the base of the mountain.
• Many residents are connected to mining, with a large portion living in extreme poverty.

Luciano, a miner, prepares for his work in the mine by purchasing essential items and making an offering to El Tio.

• Luciano buys alcohol, coca leaves for energy, and dynamite before entering the mine.
• He makes an offering to El Tio, a practice that dates back to Spanish colonization.
• The mountain is riddled with numerous mines, many of which are now abandoned.

The history of Cerro Rico's exploitation is detailed, and the current mining operations are described.

• The mountain was discovered by an indigenous farmer, but the Spanish exploited its resources.
• More than 13,000 indigenous people and enslaved Africans were forced to work in the mines.
• Today, descendants of those communities still work the mines, with many living in poverty.

The cooperative system gives miners ownership and potential profits, but also comes with risks and instability.

• About 16,000 miners work in cooperatives, linked by a network of tunnels.
• Miners use simple tools and techniques that have been in use for centuries.
• The cooperative system allows miners to keep what they find, but it leaves many without benefits or security.

Luciano chips away at a vein of tin and uses dynamite to explore uncharted areas, competing with other miners for resources.

• Luciano locates a vein of tin and uses dynamite to access larger pieces.
• After the explosion, he collects the ore and brings it to the surface.
• The process is competitive and dangerous, with each miner vying for valuable finds.

Mining in Cerro Rico is fraught with risks, including high fatality rates and the prevalence of silicosis among miners.

• The fatality rate in these mines is significantly higher than in industrialized countries.
• Silicosis, a deadly lung disease from dust exposure, is common after a decade of mining.
• Luciano was hospitalized for over a year due to silicosis, highlighting the health risks.

Miners earn a meager income, and the minerals they extract are sold to foreign companies, often without benefiting from the full value.

• Miners like Luciano find little silver, mostly zinc, and earn modest amounts for their labor.
• Minerals are sold to middlemen, then transported to Chile and shipped to countries like South Korea.
• Bolivia exports significant amounts of zinc, but the miners do not see profits from the more valuable byproducts.

The mountain is being stabilized to preserve its heritage, but mining continues to pose risks to its structural integrity.

• The Bolivian government is working to fortify the mountain to prevent collapse.
• Despite its status as an endangered site, many cooperatives continue mining, creating further instability.
• Technicians like Gregorio Socano Kuro oversee stabilization projects, but the mountain's future is uncertain.

Luciano reflects on the legacy of mining and the toll it has taken on the community, visiting a cemetery to pay respects.

• Luciano visits a cemetery to honor his late cousin, reflecting on the dangerous legacy of mining.
• Estimates suggest 8 million miners have died over the centuries due to the perilous conditions.
• Cerro Rico continues to be a symbol of pride and a source of suffering for the local community.