Oruro always had mining vocation, basing its economy on the lead exploitation, antimony, silver and tin. In the Colony it was the silver, starting from the 20's of the XX century were the tin, until in 1985 the prices fell down, it was caused by the closing of operations that meant the dismissal of about 30.000 workpeople of the subsoil. Now it is the peak of the gold that is exploited by transnational companies.

At the moment, the biggest item occupies it the mining of the gold. The most important mining companies are: Huanuni, Inti Raymi and others in reactivación process like the mine of  San José that is in the same city. In their jurisdiction it is also the Metallurgical Company of Vinto, the most important foundry of the country.

After the recovery of the prices of the metals, Oruro again is constituted in an important factor to generate economic resources. In 2003, for the Tax Complementary Miner (ICM) it contributed to the arks of the Prefecture with 3.490.450 dollars; in 2004 with 4.631.769 dollars, in accordance with the data registered in the Address of Sectoral Politics of Viceministery of Mining.

La Salvadorar has a dear production of monthly tin of 1.051 kilograms; the cooperative 10 de Febrero 581 fine kilograms of lead and 247 of silver, while the cooperative Corazón de Jesús extracts 4.867 kilos of lead and 334 kilos of silver per month.