Silver refining in the New World: A singularity in the history of useful knowledge

Historians have thoroughly documented the development of mercury-based silver refining in Spanish America in the late sixteenth century, and its use for over 300 years on an industrial scale unknown in Europe. However, we currently lack any consensus about the significance of this technology in the global history of knowledge. This article critically reassesses the invention and improvement of this refining method with the aim of addressing two interrelated issues. Firstly, how experiential knowledge and practical skills in silver refining were deliberately harnessed to solve a specific technical problem. Secondly, how economic incentives and patronage set the stage for empirical practices and a collaborative culture that facilitated the widespread use of this novel technique. In so doing, this article places silver refining within the theoretical constructs and historiography of useful knowledge, and bridges narratives that have remained largely isolated.

Automated summary

This article examines the development of mercury-based silver refining in Spanish America in the late sixteenth century and its significance in global knowledge history. It reassesses the invention and improvement of this refining method, focusing on the utilization of experiential knowledge and practical skills, as well as the role of economic incentives and patronage in facilitating its widespread use. By placing silver refining within the context of useful knowledge and bridging different narratives, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of this technology.