【Haichuan Chemical Industry Site】Ancient saltpeter refining site in Dajiadong, Liupanshan

The ancient saltpeter refining site of Dashe Cave is located in Xiaotun Village, Yuezhao Township, Zhongshan District, Liupanshui City. It was formed during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. The entrance of the cave faces the river, about 150 meters above the river. Based on the analysis of the number of existing salt-making furnaces and reservoirs, it is estimated that the daily output of the salt-making site is about 600 kilograms. ； From the analysis of slag accumulation and comprehensive survey data, at least 300 people are working every day. Therefore, this should be a large-scale nitrate refining factory.

Salt boiling is an industry that has disappeared. Who still remembers this ancient craft? Liupanshui Dashie Cave Knows What to Pay attention to/Writer/2017-08-06 12:19 The ancient salt smelting site of Dashie Cave is located in Xiaotun Village, Yuezhao Township, Zhongshan District, Liupanshui City, within the Aare River Scenic Area, a provincial-level scenic spot. It was formed during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. The west entrance is the entrance, about 150 meters wide and 50 meters high. The east entrance is the exit, about 100 meters wide and 30 meters high. The cave is spacious and bright, and is filled with dozens of slag accumulations. Preliminary estimates indicate that the total accumulation volume is about two million cubic meters. Between the slag accumulation, there are now 23 salt boiling furnaces, 20 sedimentation tanks, 2 water reservoirs (with water) remaining irregularly, and 2 water diversion facilities from the cave roof. A catchment pool was manually cut out on a huge calcification pile that was 12 meters long, 4 meters wide and 2 meters high and shaped like a steamed bun. Two water diversion troughs 5 centimeters wide and 3 centimeters deep were cut out on both sides of the catchment pool to direct the water in the catchment pool into the artificially built pool next to it. Other pools are built directly below the dripping water on the roof of the cave. To boil saltpeter, you first need to dig a pit, which usually needs to be very large. The size of the pit depends on the thickness and quality of the saltpeter soil in the hole. The reason why you need to dig a big pit is because boiling saltpeter requires a long time and a lot of physical labor, and a lot of energy is invested. Naturally, you want to have a larger output of boiling saltpeter at one time. After the pit is dug, use tools to tamp the walls and bottom of the pit. To what extent the pit should be compacted, the old man said that to be as smooth as a mirror, the soil must be compacted very tightly. Then dig a small pit for water storage right below the saltpeter pit. The pit is actually not small, it should be as big as the super large pot used for cooking in rural areas, and it should be equally compacted. Go back to the saltpeter pit, drill a hole at the bottom of the pit, and connect the hole to the reservoir. The hole should not be too big. If it is larger, the concentration of the saltwater flowing out will not be high. The reason is very simple. If the hole is larger, the water will flow faster, and the time the water will be in contact with the saltpeter soil will be shorter, and the role of the water will not be fully exerted. After the basic work is completed, wood is placed at the bottom of the pit to form a space, and then a thick layer of corn stalks is laid to separate the saltpeter that will be poured into the pit from the bottom of the pit to facilitate water seepage from behind. (The highest level of nitrate ash in the cave is about 20 meters high.) The next step is to dig out the nitrate soil. Digging out the nitrate soil is very particular. The taste of the nitrate soil is divided into four types: sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. Of the four flavors, spicy is the best, followed by bitter, then sweet and sour. Generally, when digging nitrate soil, you don't dig too deep. A shallow dig of about ten centimeters is enough. If you dig too deep, the nitrate content in the soil will be less. After digging, pick out the soil and pour it into the pit where the corn stalks are laid. Any work that involves the purification or concentration of substances has always been somewhat different in terms of physical strength, and the same goes for pouring saltpeter and soil. You don't just have to pour mud into it! When you start pouring, pour it slowly to achieve even distribution, and spread it like drying millet to ensure the appropriate tightness. When the soil is poured to one-third of the depth of the pit, it is necessary to pour the soil while stepping on it gently. It is said that this strength is also particular, and I can't explain it in a few words. When the nitrate soil has reached half the height of the pit, the fallen nitrate soil must be tamped down with thick tree trunks. I asked to what extent? The answer is: “Very tight. ”At this point the civil engineering work is basically over! (Relics of life in the cave) Next, the most basic solvent: water. It is a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The water poured into the saltpeter pit must be the water in the cave, preferably the stagnant water in the cave. The water in the cave has higher mineral content than surface water, and there is more dissolved calcium carbonate, and the pH value is also different. But salt water also has taste. The fresh salt water has the richest taste and is the best. (Fragments of life relics in the cave) The entrance of the cave faces the river (the mainstream of the upper reaches of Wujiang River), about 150 meters above the river surface. The cave is a huge cave hall with a total length of more than 900 meters, an average width of about 100 meters, and an average height of about 60 meters. Based on the analysis of the number of existing salt-making furnaces and reservoirs, it is estimated that the daily output of the salt-making site is about 600 kilograms. ； From the analysis of slag accumulation and comprehensive survey data, at least 300 people are working every day. Therefore, this should be a large-scale nitrate refining factory. Is such large-scale mining for military or civilian use? It remains to be further studied. The time when mining stopped was around the Yongzheng period or later. There is a huge accumulation of slag. According to the currently known information, this site should be the largest single cave saltpeter refining site in the country. Pictures and texts related to Li Xingsha jointly released by Liupanshui Municipal Development and Reform Commission and Power Supply Bureau: Electricity prices for general industrial and commercial businesses have been reduced by an average of 10%. What do you know? Comments 8 hours ago Yuezhao Police Station "Stop the murderer from thousands of miles away and deliver justice" to rescue people trapped in pyramid schemes Yuezhao Police Station Comments Yesterday Liupanshui: Children's dance "New Campus" from the most beautiful time of childhood. What do you know? 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