A primitive mill or machine used to grind ore or minerals by means of rotating heavy stones, historically used in Spanish mining.
From Spanish 'arrastra,' possibly from 'arrastrar' meaning to drag or draw. This word traveled from Spanish colonial mining operations into English during the gold rush era of North America.
Arrastra mills show up throughout California and Mexican history—they're basically early mining technology that used animal power (usually horses) walking in circles to grind gold and silver ore, and some still exist as historical monuments.
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