Several related tin-silver mines are found within the city of Oruro, including the San Jose, Itos, Socavon, Colorada, Tetilla, all hosted in the same intrusion of highly altered volcanic rock. The rapid growth of residential areas around the mines has resulted in shortage of space to dump waste rock. An old silver mine gallery accessed through the Virgen del Socavon church is open for tourist visits and hosts an undergroung mining museum.
Ref.: Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 872, 963.
