paradas method

{{short description|Process to extract nitrate from caliche by leaching}}

The paradas method ({{langx|es|método de paradas}}, sistema de paradas) was a process to extract nitrate from caliche by leaching. In this method caliche was boiled in water in large pans called "paradas".{{Cite journal|title=Quehacer y planteamientos del cura Luis Friedrich en el oasis de Pica durante la chilenización de Tarapacá, 1903-1907|journal=Revista de Historia Regional y Local|last=Castro Castro|first=Luis|volume=7|pages=224–257|last2=Figueroa Cerna|first2=Carolina|issue=13|year=2015|language=Spanish|trans-title=Work and Approaches of the Priest Luis Friedrich in the Pica Oasis during Tarapacá Chilenization, 1903-1907|last3=Hernández Opazo|first3=Héctor}} It was a firewood and labour-intensive process. The paradas method was phased out in the 1850s by a new system invented by Pedro Gamboni which required less fuel and labour.{{Cite journal|title=El consumo de energía en la minería chilena. 1906 - 2013|trans-title=Chilean mining energy consumption. 1906 - 2013|journal=Historia|last=Garrido Lepe|first=Martín|pages=131–161|year=2018}}

The paradas method led to a massive deforestation of Pampa del Tamarugal around La Tirana and Canchones and some areas to the south of these localities.{{Cite journal|title=El bosque de la Pampa del Tamarugal y la industria salitrera: El problema de la deforestación, los proyectos para su manejo sustentable y el debate político (Tarapacá, Peru-Chile 1829-1941)|journal=Scripta Nova|url=https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/ScriptaNova/article/viewFile/26507/31629|last=Castro Castro|first=Luis|date=2020-07-01|volume=XXIV|publisher=Universitat de Barcelona|issue=641|language=Spanish|trans-title=The Forest of Pampa del Tamarugal and the Saltpeter Industry: The Deforestation Problem, the Projects for their Sustainable Management and the Political Debate (Tarapacá, Perú-Chile 1829-1941)}}