Business history of the coastal area of the Atacama desert. The exploring society of José Santos Ossa Vega

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the relevance of the Atacama Desert Exploration Society as a pioneering business initiative in mining exploitation in the Atacama desert, promoted by chilean businessmen and capital invested in bolivian territory prior to the Pacific War. Through a qualitative documentary analysis, data is presented about the chilean businessman José Santos Ossa Vega and his business activity in the Atacama desert based on the mining concessions granted by the Bolivian government during the second half of the 19th century, for saltpeter exploitation in the sector of the salar del Carmen which will lead to the founding of the port and the city of Antofagasta, a direct result of the growing business activity from the discovery of salt and silver deposits. It is concluded that business history allows us to identify relevant antecedents for the case of the city of Antofagasta, linked to the mining industry.