Why was the patio process named after a patio?

The patio process is named after the Spanish word for "courtyard" or "patio" because of the specific location where the chemical treatment of the ore took place.

After the silver ore was crushed into a fine mud using arrastras, it was spread out over a large, flat, paved courtyard or patio. Once spread, the ore was mixed with mercury, salt, and copper sulfate by driving horses or mules through the mass to ensure thorough integration. This open-air method was particularly advantageous in regions like Mexico, where fuel and waterpower were scarce, allowing for the extraction of silver from low-grade ores.123