Juan Godoy (1800 – 1842) was a Chilean farmer and miner who in 1832 discovered an outcrop (reventón) of silver 50 km (31 mi) south of Copiapó in Chañarcillo sparking the Chilean silver rush. Godoy was born to Flora Normilla, an indigenous woman, in the San Fernando in 1800. Later he was baptised in the town of Copiapó. Godoy is referred to in sources as a mestizo, implying his father was not indigenous. His surname Godoy is a hispanization of Normilla. He worked variously as goatherd and farmer with his mother but also as miner and woodcutter before the discovery of Chañarcillo. Godoy was very likely illiterate. It is said that Godoy found the outcrop while hunting guanacos. Godoy was able to recognise the silver outcrop since he had previously worked in mining as explosives driller (barr