In the Andean mining tradition pallaqueo, palleo[1] or pirquineo[2] is the hand selection of rock fragments with ore for further processing.
[5][3] However, historically in places like Potosí, Bolivia, pallaqueo has been regarded as an integral part of the mining operation.
[11] Those that practice pallaqueo are variously referred to as buscones, pallacos, pallaqueros, pallaqueadores and, in Bolivia, palliris.
[11] In some places like La Rinconada in Peru,[9] this activity is primarily made by women known as pallaqueras, as they are otherwise not allowed to work inside the mines.
[13] The work of pallaqueros and pallaqueras can be physically demanding given uncomfortable stances and – in the high Andes – also because of the cold climate.